Thanks, Ed. A given pecan tree will produce both male & female reproductive structures, but not at the same time, to prevent self-pollination. Some trees produce the male part 1st, some trees produce the female part 1st. You want a 'matching set' of 2 different types, so they can fertilize each other.

Different pecan varieties are recommended for different parts of the country. When I bought mine, the local nursery was sold out (I'm old the Mennonites in our area buy a bunch), and I'd despaired on getting any so late, then stumbled across those 2 varieties at Lowe's, and fairly big ones.

So far, main aggravation is tent caterpillars attack. But that can be dealt with.

Richard.

drrich,

My family home in AL was surrounded by 100 yr old pecans (which were evidently planted around the time the house was built), and I've planted pecans around my home here - but all are at least 35-40 ft away from the house. They do tend to be large, spreading trees. 19 ft is much closer than I'd want to plant one just because of their mature size and spread.

I don't think that limb breakage is any worse for pecans than for any other common 'yard' tree. Most tree species drop twigs/branches... no biggie.

The big concern for me is pecans falling in your gutters and attracting squirrels.

i am thinking.. in 40 to 60 years.. there might be concerns ... will you be around then.. to worry about it ...

i think you are confusing concern/opinion over 100 year old trees.. with 12 to 24 inch BRANCHES overhanging houses ... with new young trees ... that need a lot more tree time to become the menaces you worry about ..

i think you are extremely over planted.. for what you call a residential yard .... but you dont really define .. unless i miss it.. how many acres your yard is ...

please.. get rid of the pear ... its invasive in many areas .. based on your prime reason for keeping it.. its produces food .. which the vermin carry around ... besides.. its on your septic field .. or close enough ... be done with it.. you probably have to many trees anyway ...

ma nature.. is plus a lot.. based on your plantings .. dont go all tree hugger on removing the pear ...

ken

I have huge 100' tall pecan trees everywhere around my house. I did have some damage during hurricane Ivan from a large limb that fell, but that could have happened with any tree. The biggest gripes are the little sticks that fall everywhere after storms, and of course all of those leaf rachises that fall everywhere in the fall.

If you really don't have a great spot elsewhere, leave it be. I agree with the posters having pecans in their landscapes or having had them. They are monster trees over time and can live for a couple hundred years. While they're wood is dense, they drop a ton of branch pieces and twigs during Fall.

This seedling has a more upright branching habit than most. It was raised from seed in 1979 and planted in 1982. I estimate it to be 75' tall. Notice my friend sitting below for scale.

Dax

My answer is two fold.

First, if you were to ask me before planting, I'd probably counsel against using a pecan (or hickory) near a home, or on a small lot. general litter and limbs dropping are the primary reasons. I'd also counsel against a Liriodendron, for the same reason(s).

But then...if you really like a particular tree, go for it. There really aren't any "rules", much less laws (I have seen a few communities where you can't plant cottonwood or silver maple within a certain setback of the property line, but those have been rare instances). And if you want a particular type of tree, go for it. The world is a place of amazing and wondrous diversity, and I fully believe you should be able to embrace it.

Sometimes we get a little too uptight over how far away from things trees are planted. You name the crazy idea that people could come up with, I've heard it, and for the most part, there's more to the story.

Keep the limbs pruned off your house or over it when they get there.

Thanks everybody; big help. It's a 1.4 acre lot. My next door neighbor on one side has a nice array of oaks (less since the power company eliminated some). I'm aiming for plenty of trees, but not a total forest.

Squirrels could be a plus; some of our dogs & probably our cat love them.

Like Scotjute, I'd suggest "side banking" the tree as it grows, a funny old term for pruning up one side of a tree to keep it away from something. Probably sounds harsh but it needn't be. A limb here, a side branch there, and you've got it. And this would be far less than an annual requirement. Maybe more like once every ten years or so.

I can say from my experience it’s a bad idea. As an ignorant first time home buyer. my old ranch was for some reason built with two pecan trees only 15’ away from the house and only spaced 15’. They are like 100 years old. Huge at the base with many thick 40’+ long limbs with foliage and pecans at the end. Pecan trees have a propensity to self prune large 45 degree or less limbs at any time for any reason. With all the rain the old tree has started dropping 40 foot long limbs. One hit a glancing blow on the house. Another just fell into the other tree taking out some of its limbs, and the last one in this limb grouping extends 50’ above my house and I’m trying to get someone out ASAP to remove it before it falls. So yeah, Pecan trees can get really tall and when they drop limbs it can do a lot of damage and possible kill someone.