Do You Want Better Pecans?

By Aubie Keesee

Hughes County Extension Educator Ag / 4-H / CED

I get many calls throughout the year from people wanting to fertilize their pecan trees.  While I can guess at what nutrients the trees need, the best way is to perform a leaf analysis.  This method is the most reliable indicator of fertility needs and must be done during the month of July to be the most accurate.

Pecan trees that are nutrient deficient will have poor shoot growth and reduced nut set.  The trees also become more susceptible to damage by insects.  Pecan trees can be stimulated by cultivation, pruning, irrigation, and fertilizer application.  A combination of these practices should be employed to provide the vigor necessary for optimum nut production.

Leaf samples are somewhat more difficult to obtain than the soil sample most of us are accustomed to.  For pecan trees, you will need to collect 50 leaves and pull off the middle pair of leaflets for a total of 100.

While collecting the leaves, be sure to remove the leaves with a downward or backward pull so that the leaf stem (petiole) remains attached.  Immediately after sampling, dip each leaf into clean tap water to clean the leaf.  After washing, spread the leaves out to air dry until they will crumble.  Don’t expose the leaves to the sun while drying or allow them to dry in a bag.  Next, place the dried leaves in a bag and bring them to the OSU Extension Office.  We will mail them for you and should have the results back in 10-14 days.  Most samples will cost less than $20.

As always, please call the OSU Extension Office with any questions at (405) 379-5470.  OSU Fact Sheet # HLA-6232 contains information about fertilizing pecan and fruit trees.   

Oklahoma State University, U. S. Department of Agriculture, State and Local Governments Cooperating:  The Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, disability, or status as a veteran, and is an equal opportunity employer.