I think Millen and Jenkins County have the most yard pecan trees in the state of Georgia. The next time you drive through town notice how many trees are scattered about. I am very familiar with how many trees are in town, because I used to shake trees for the public. I had several encounters with power lines during my shaking career!

Speaking of pecan trees, it is time (or past time) to fertilize. Fertilization is one of the most important practices for bearing and non-bearing trees. If you are planting a new tree, do not place fertilizer in the planting hole as it may injure roots. Young trees do need a ready source of nutrients to promote rapid growth. If no soil sample was taken, use a general rate of one pound of 10-10-10 fertilizer, distributed in a 25 sq. ft. area around the tree. Make this application immediately after planting and again in June or July. The following February, apply four pounds of 10-10-10 fertilizer for each inch of trunk diameter. It is very important not to place any fertilizer within 12 inches of the trunk.

When planting pecan trees, we always plant the smallest trees that are available. The smaller trees have a better chance of survival, and with proper fertilization, they will catch up very quickly. Young trees should make from two to four feet of terminal growth each year. Where growth is less, apply one pound of ammonium nitrate fertilizer per inch of trunk diameter in June or July, plus one pound of zinc sulfate per tree for the first three years following planting. Pecan trees have a high Zn requirement, and this will help maintain high Zn levels.

For bearing trees, broadcast four pounds of a complete fertilizer 10-10-10 or five pounds of 5-10-15 per trunk diameter. In the absence of a soil or leaf analysis, apply one pound of zinc sulfate to young trees-as previously mentioned-and three to five pounds for large trees each year. A soil pH of 6.0 to 6.5 assures the availability of essential nutrients. If the pH is too low or too high, uptake and use of nutrients is impaired. Apply lime as suggested in the soil test report to correct low pH.

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