Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Monday - July 07, 2014
From: Canyon Lake, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Non-Natives, Planting, Trees
Title: Growing pecan and fruit trees near Canyon Lake, Texas
Answered by: Guy Thompson
QUESTION:
I just bought a property on the north side of Canyon Lake in the Hill Country of Texas. Most of the trees around are cedar, and a few live oak. I know I have seen beautiful Pecan trees as well as several varieties of fruit and plum trees growing in the Texas Hill Country. The previous owner cleared all the trees from the quarter acre lot and I wanted to plant some shade as well as fruit trees. It currently has one crepe myrtle with white blooms that seems to be doing fairly well. I was going to purchase large trees for the pecan (10 foot range) and have them professionally planted and plant the fruit trees myself. Before I go spend money on these trees, will they survive in this area? I know just up the road in Blanco they have lots peach and pecan trees.ANSWER:
Carya illinoinensis (Pecan) requires fairly specific growing conditions for success. The trees you have seen in the Canyon Lake area are probably growing in or near creek bottom land, where the soil is deep and moist. You should check your property for similar conditions. Creating proper growth conditions from scratch would be difficult and expensive. Even if you do have good pecan growing conditions, you will need frequent deep watering of newly planted large pecan trees for the first year.
Fruit trees require similar conditions. Peaches are the preferred fruit in Central Texas. In addition to soil and moisture requirements, successful peach production requires attention to other factors, such as susceptibility to Spring frosts. A Texas A&M web site discusses the factors that must be considered and lists peach varieties that are recommended for your area. Varieties you select must have at least the recommended number of nights below 45 degrees in order to overcome winter dormancy. And you also need varieties that flower late enough to avoid damage from late frosts. I recommend that you contact your Comal County agricultural extension agent for advice on suitable varieties. He can also help you select varieties of plum, which requires conditions similar to those needed by peaches. Of course, you realize that trees should be planted in winter, when they are dormant.
I should point out that there are several varieties of native plums that grow in Texas. These do not produce very desirable fruit, but they are quite beautiful (see examples below) when blooming in the Spring, and they are much less demanding in their soil and moisture requirements.
From the Image Gallery
More Trees Questions
Difference between Styrax platanifolius and Styrax patanifolius ssp. texanus
November 18, 2011 - What is the difference between a Styrax platanifolius and a Styrax platanifolius texanus?
view the full question and answer
Webbing on the bark of a hackberry tree.
October 03, 2007 - Dear Mr. Smarty Plants. We have a large hackberry tree in our back yard that has what appears to be extensive spider webbing covering large areas of the bark at the trunk . . and extending well up th...
view the full question and answer
Need help identifying a tree with wintergreen-flavored bark that grew in my backyard during my youth in Cumberland, RI.
March 24, 2010 - Growing up in Cumberland, Rhode Island (a town in the northern part of the state) there was a tree in our backyard with thin, brown peel-able bark. The bark itself had white stripes. Under the layer o...
view the full question and answer
Trimming a bur oak in Llano, TX
February 06, 2009 - We have a beautiful, large Burr Oak next to our house. This tree has many large lateral branches. I have trimmed dead branches, but no other trimming. It grows a lot of "suckers" during growing sea...
view the full question and answer
Is Carolina laurel (Prunus caroliniana) a good choice for San Juan Islands, Washington?
November 03, 2007 - What are the prospects for Carolina laurel here on San Juan Island, mixed in with thin stand of douglas fir, about 50 feet from shore, eastern exposure? Water is available but little sun because of l...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |