"Pecan" is a Native American word used by the Algonquins as a blanket description for "all nuts requiring a stone to crack." According to the National Pecan Shellers Association, pecans may have once been used by pre-Colonial peoples in the fermentation process of an alcoholic drink. Pecans are now used as toppings on ice cream, salads and desserts. Spacing pecan trees properly helps achieve the harvests needed to bake the perfect pecan pie.
The first pecan planting that took place in America was on Long Island, New York in 1772, but commercialization took over 100 years. Pecan trees are the only nut-producing trees native to North America. This fact has made the pecan tree and its produce a nostalgic part of American holiday cuisines, such as the pecan pie. Several varieties of the dessert have developed since commercialization, such as adding ingredients like bourbon, chocolate and whipped cream.
Do not plant pecan trees underneath electrical lines or buildings, because the trees can reach heights up to 130 feet and will be damaged if not allowed enough growth space. The electrical lines and structures may also be damaged if invaded by pecan trees. Avoid planting pecan trees near areas that have the potential for being developed in the future. Pecan trees are slow growing and will cost you many years of having to regrow one if it is cut down to make room for other structures.
Pecan trees should be planted between 60 and 80 feet apart to allow them plenty of room for growing. Overcrowding pecan trees will hinder their growing process and decrease their harvests. If the trees are planted too closely together, some trees may become deformed when not given enough space to expand. Deformed trees will not produce healthy harvests, if they produce at all. Proper spacing enables harvesters access to all parts of the tree without getting entangled in adjacent branches from nearby trees.
Pecan orchards should be kept clear of weeds and other plant debris. Weeds attract insects that will harm pecan trees and allow them a route to reach neighboring trees. If pests have easy access to surrounding trees, they will become too rapidly infested to control insect populations. When pecan trees are planted too closely together and the grounds are not well maintained, widespread infestations can occur. Correct spacing may help isolate infestations long enough for early detection if daily checks are carried out.
- National Pecan Shellers Association: History of Pecans
- University of Georgia: Pecan Trees for the Home or Backyard Orchard
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: A Model of Pecan Tree Growth for the Management of Pruning and Irrigation
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: New Mexico Natural Resources Conservation Service: Orchard Management Guidelines
- New Mexico State University: Planting Pecan Trees
- Tom Brakefield/Stockbyte/Getty Images