As pecan trees grow in an orchard, their tree canopies encroach upon one another, causing excessive shading, which can increase alternate bearing intensity and reduce tree health and orchard profitability. Historically, limb pruning and tree removal have been the most common methods of dealing with this problem, particularly in the low-light environment of the southeastern United States. Mechanical hedge pruning has been used successfully in high-light environments to mitigate the effects of orchard shading and has become the standard method used for this purpose in the arid production regions of the western United States. The southeastern United States is a relatively low-light environment, exhibiting significant cloud cover and atmospheric water vapor throughout the growing season, which can further limit sunlight in orchard systems. Mechanical hedge pruning offers a solution to this problem, which can also help minimize issues related to pecan scab, hurricanes/tropical storms, and alternate bearing.
Status and Revision History
Published on Oct 30, 2023