This guy just cut down a lot full of big pecan trees. I would think these would make good brushpiles. I have never had the chance to use pecans because nobody ever cuts them down. Any suggestions?
Printable View
This guy just cut down a lot full of big pecan trees. I would think these would make good brushpiles. I have never had the chance to use pecans because nobody ever cuts them down. Any suggestions?
NM,
The pecan tree is a species of hickory (Carya illinoensis). So proceed like you would with a lot full of fresh cut hickory--with excitement!
Don't see why it won't work. Just save the bigger pieces for cooking wood for the smoker.;)
I did save the bigger for my smoker. I thought these would be great trees.
I agree with NIMROD, take the pieces that are about as long as your boat and sink them on or near a drop-off. How big are they at the base? If they are too large you may just be able to use the bigger limbs.
Some of the ones I grabbed are about 4 in. at the base. So is the best place on the flat before the drop, or on the downside slope itself?
NoMinners: Go to pondboss.com. More information about structure than you'd ever want to know by some true experts who will be more than glad to share information with you. This site will truly amaze you. Try it, you'll like it.
That is a good site. Thank you.
crataegus...tell me something as you seem to be knowledgeable about trees. I do not know a botanist personally maybe you or one of my crappie.com members will know. At this time of year you see a lot of little branches cut off of hardwood trees lying all over the ground with a circular cut at the base of the branch. I notice this mostly on oak, pecan and hickory trees. This occurs this time of the year only about the time squirrels starts cutting nuts. All my life I though it was the squirrels cutting these branches off. I was told by a hunting friend the other day it was a type of worm doing this. I am somewhat skeptical and was hoping someone would know and could point me in the direction with some documentation. My friend is the type that would believe his is right...so I would have to prove it to him. Thanks for any help.
poppop,
I can't say I've ever heard anything about a worm that cuts branches. First, true worms don't really have a mouth--which is good, because if they did, they would be even uglier. There are countless beetle larvae (grubs) that chew tunnels through dead wood--and some prefer live cambium (the thin green layer right under the outer bark). But, through 4 years of horticulture training I never studied anything twig pruning insects. If there is such an insect, I would be almost positive it would be in the Lepidoptera (caterpiller-butterfly) class because larvae in that class cut through petioles, leaves, and pine needles, and other non woody plant parts.
Back in Illinois, I watched every fall about this same time as squirrels chewed through live ash twigs. I'm not sure if they were building nests or if like all other rodents, they were simply trying to keep their ever-extending teeth from growing too long--just chewing because they have to.
I'll look into it some, though.
That is what I have always though to...but would squirrel chew the branch off in a circular smooth around the branch? That is what puzzles me. I will try to take a pic and post it...might help me to explain it better.
dont mean to get way off topic but i got four pecan trees around me ive been picking up a bunch of green pecans do you think thay will ripen and dry out and be good to eat i was thinking peacans should fall sometime in november
painter...I have a bunch of pecan trees on my hunting lease...some of my most favorite memories are sitting on the porch down at the old hunting house...cracking and eating pecans and listening to the coyotes yelp..but you are correct they fall in late November. I don't think the green ones will dry out...the meat inside will probably will just dry up.
yea that makes sense poppop didnt think thay would just never paid much attention to them before must be a good year for these trees their loaded and good size nuts
PopPop, I tried to find an appropriate link to an answer but couldn't yet. There is a class of weevils and beetles that do just what you are talking about. They are commonly called twig-cutters because that is just what they do. Some girdle the twigs so as the tip will die and then they lay their eggs on the curling leaves of the dying tip. Not a complete answer I know, but perhaps gives you a direction to search in. Hope this helps.
"gene"
Were the branches dead when they were on the ground or still alive?
They were cut out of the tree alive....never a dead one.
Same thing happened to my persimmon tree one year......never did figure it out or find any info about it.....Never happened again...Didn't hurt the tree..Quote:
Originally Posted by poppop
We went from sinking them to eating them. LOL Its all good.
you might want to read up on locusts. (dry flies)
poppop,
I asked some bug people and they had much the same idea as pawpaw Gene. However, you say the twig is quickly detatched so that it is still green when it hits the ground. I'd love to see a closeup of the twig's cut end.
PopPop, Think you could have a 'Girdler' or a 'Pruner'. Noticed a couple of small oak limbs today while scouting deer. Smooth rounding on the edges, broken through the center. 'Googled' this up. Jim
You asked: 'At this time of year you see a lot of little branches cut off of hardwood trees lying all over the ground with a circular cut at the base of the branch. I notice this mostly on oak, pecan and hickory trees. This occurs this time of the year only about the time squirrels starts cutting nuts. All my life I though it was the squirrels cutting these branches off. I was told by a hunting friend the other day it was a type of worm doing this. I am somewhat skeptical and was hoping someone would know and could point me in the direction with some documentation.'
"Twig Girdler/Twig Pruner
Plants Attacked
Pecan, hickory, and oak are the most commonly attacked, but persimmon, elm, poplar, gum, basswood, honey-locust, dogwood, and some fruit trees can be damaged as well.
Description of Damage
These beetles cause very conspicuous damage in late summer. The leaves on large numbers of twigs and branches will be observed to turn brown prematurely. These twigs and branches sometimes fall from trees in great numbers and accumulate. On close examination, the twigs have one of two kinds of damage. Twigs damaged by the twig girdler are cut as neatly as by a knife. The cut end has been gnawed almost straight across with a faint rounding and is slightly roughened by the chewing. The twig girdler is more commonly found on pecan and hickory. The twig pruner causes a slightly different type of cut. The twig will be observed to have a hollowed out space at the cut end filled with sawdust like frass. The twig when split open will have a long tunnel through most of its length. The twig pruner is more commonly found on oak."
Structure is Structure is Structure is.... pecan is hardwood and will last years and years... go far it and enjoy catching crappie for many years...
Just post the Lat. & Long. where you put it so we can see if you did it right.....
JimA has described it to a tee.....in fact one of the worms fell out of a hickory today...big fat light green worm....fed it to my chickens. If my daughter ever gives me the camera back...I will post a picture of one of the twigs.
I put the trees in the water last Saturday night. Placed them on top of a ledge in 12ft. of water. Hopefully go next weekend and pull some fish off of them. Ok back to bugs. LOL
The new piles are holding fish already. Glad I caught some fish from them before the bugs ate them.