Pecan Trees in Abilene: Pruning, Limb Drop and Problems

The pecan is the Texas state tree, and plenty of Abilene homes have one shading the back yard or the driveway. They are long-lived, generous trees, but they are also large, heavy and prone to a few specific problems that owners of other shade trees rarely see. In this post, we cover the issues we are most often called out for on pecans and what you can do about them. If your tree needs attention now, our tree trimming crews work on pecans throughout the year.

Why Pecan Limbs Break in Late Summer

Two things account for most of the broken pecan limbs we see. The first is crop weight. In a heavy year, the nuts and husks add a surprising amount of load to the ends of long branches, and limbs that were already stretched out horizontally can crack at the point where they join the trunk. The second is what arborists call sudden limb drop: a large limb that falls on a still, hot afternoon with no wind at all. There is no single agreed cause, but it is most often reported during long spells of heat and drought, and pecans are one of the species where it shows up.

You cannot prevent either entirely, but you can lower the risk. Keep people, vehicles and play equipment out from under long, heavy limbs in late summer, and have long horizontal branches reduced so less weight sits far from the trunk.

Pruning a Pecan the Right Way

The best time to prune a pecan in Abilene is the dormant season, from late winter before the buds swell. With the leaves off, it is easy to see crossing branches, narrow forks and deadwood. Good pecan pruning removes dead and rubbing limbs, thins the crown so wind can pass through, and shortens the longest limbs by cutting back to a healthy side branch. It never means topping. A topped pecan sends out dense, weakly attached sprouts that break far more easily than the original limbs. Our tree trimming tips for Abilene homes explain the cuts in more detail.

Small, Crinkled Leaves: Zinc Deficiency

Many Abilene soils are alkaline, and alkaline soil makes it hard for pecans to take up zinc. The classic sign is rosette: small, narrow, crinkled leaves bunched on short shoots, often with dieback at the tips of branches. Texas A&M's horticulture program recommends foliar zinc sprays in spring as leaves emerge, because adding zinc to alkaline soil does little. Texas A&M's fact sheet on evaluating pecan problems is a useful guide to telling nutrient problems from pests and disease.

Nut Drop, Webworms and Other Common Complaints

Green nuts dropping in late summer are usually a sign of water stress, though insects can also be responsible. A deep watering every couple of weeks during a dry spell, soaking the ground out toward the edge of the canopy, does more than frequent light watering. The silky tents you see on pecan branches in late summer are usually fall webworms. They look alarming but rarely do lasting harm to an established tree, and the nests can be pruned out where they are within reach. For more on how heat and drought affect every tree in the yard, see our post on maintaining trees in the Abilene climate.

When a Pecan Should Come Down

A pecan with a large split in the trunk, extensive decay at the base, or a heavy lean toward the house is a different conversation. Our post on the signs you need tree removal covers what to look for, and our tree removal team can take down a large pecan safely in a tight yard, with stump grinding afterward if you want to replant.

At Abilene Tree Service, we look after pecans all over town, from established trees in Butternut and North Park to newer plantings out in Antilley. Call (325) 225-6404 to have your pecan checked before the next heavy crop or dry spell.