So... Back to the OP... In general - Zinc is used to help with flowering and fruit set... It won't do much for a tree that's growing too slow.... Usually - there are 4 elements that you have to have for tree growth... and you gotta look at what's limiting.... Trees in a Forest will sit at some stable, small size for YEARS until some larger trees die/fall over - and then they SHOOT up to fill the hole.... So... We have: Water Light Minerals Space for roots and branches If you are only getting a few hours of light a day - and it's growing near/under LARGER trees - then likely Water, Light, and Space are all lacking.... First thing I would look at is to prune back the larger trees so you get more light - especially morning light if possible.... This is very important Then, make sure you are watering plenty - especially through the heat of June thru August...... Large, mature trees can literally suck every drop of moisture out of the soil away from younger trees - especially in the heat of summer.... Might be worth looking into a soaker hose laying in the root zone of your Pecan... That's where I would start since you already did a soil test to rule out mineral deficiencies.... Thanks

If it's a Callistemon, they're as tough as old boots. The traditional time to prune is after the flowers die, and just cut off behind the spent flowers as the seed pods form. Otherwise, it'll start looking like this, with fewer and fewer flowers over the years... And it's a common practice to cut the whole tree/bush back to near ground level, where it'll come back bushier and healthier than ever. They do like moisture, and I've commonly seen them growing on the banks of rivers and dams, where some of the roots are constantly wet. They're not bothered by frosts or summer heat. They grow here happily through -5C (23F) winters and 40C (104F) summers.

I just feel like it drags on the ground and needs some space under. ??? ==>> actually ... given a big enough garden.. many conifer collectors specifically collect trees the 'skirt' ... that is.. grow to the ground and spread out ... but then.. i have 5 acres ... and space for such ... besides... once you lift the canopy.. you have to weed and mulch in the bare ground you created .. all that said ... its your plants.. do whatever you want with them .. make yourself happy ... and who cares what the rest of us say .. or think ... ken btw:.. a horticulturist walks into a bar and sees a biologist .. and says to himself.. who cares ..lol ... and his friend says.. but hes a professor ... and the horticulturist says... so what ... well this is an epic fail...lol: https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffnt&q=conifer+skirts&iax=images&ia=images somewhat better: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=pendulous+conifer+that+grow+to+the+ground+and+create+skirts&t=ffnt&iar=images&iax=images&ia=images do whatever you want to your trees ... ken

There are 2 potential answers. 1. Most likely this is an off year for your tree. Pecans are a masting tree (bear fruit irregularly). This is natural and happens in the wild. The purpose of this is that by producing a large crop, the tree makes more seed than the predators can eat (crows, squirells, weevils) so some is left for new trees. The next year there are no nuts and the predators starve and the population lowers. Often all the trees in the forest will be on a similar schedule and one year there are few nuts, the next year plenty. Even good pecan growers struggle with this problem, and it is the focus of much pecan research. 2. The other potential problem is pecan scab. This is a disease that affects the leaf and shucks, producing black velvety spots. If the young nuts are heavily infected they will drop off in the summer. In a wet year this disease can devastate your crop. If you see a lot of catkins on the tree in spring, there were probably female flwers as well and if you then don't have nuts something like scab took the crop. If you don't see catkins then the female flowers were probably never there and it is an off-year for your tree.