- 1). Dig a post hole 32 inches deep and 8 inches wide at the planting site before planting a pecan tree. Pour 5 to 7 gallons of water in the hole. If the water is gone within 24 hours, you have good drainage. If the water is gone within 48 hours, you have adequate drainage. If water still remains after 48 hours, plant pecan trees in raised beds or insert drain tiles to provide adequate drainage.
- 2). Plant pecan trees in December through January, when the trees are dormant. Dig a hole twice as wide and as deep (minus 2 inches) as the pecan tree's root ball. Place the pecan tree in the hole, which should sit slightly above the surrounding soil. Backfill the soil into the hole halfway. Fill with water and allow the hole to drain. Fill the hole entirely and press down firmly with your foot.
- 3). Apply granular 8-8-8 fertilizer at a rate of 3 lbs. per one inch of the tree's diameter in February or March. Broadcast the fertilizer by hand in an area 1 foot from the tree's trunk to 1 foot beyond the tree's branches to reach the pecan tree's entire root system. Water the fertilizer thoroughly by running a sprinkler for one hour.
- 4). Manage pests and diseases. Consult your local extension office to properly diagnose pests and diseases and receive treatment advice. Signs of disease include broken sticks on the ground, spots or holes on the leaves and orange rust on the bark. Minimize risks by choosing pecan trees that are more resistant. The Louisiana State University Agricultural Center recommends "Candy," "Elliott," "Sumner," "Caddo" and "Jackson" varieties. Avoid "Schley," "Wichita" and "Desirable," which are especially vulnerable to scab disease.
- 5). Water pecan trees only during dry periods when no rain has fallen for more than two weeks. Dry periods are rare during Louisiana summers, but more common in September. Lay a slow-trickling hose next to the tree and allow it to run for one or two hours once a week.
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