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Pecan Spray Schedule
Here are lists of diseases and insects most common in pecan trees in South Texas.
DISEASES (ALL CAUSED BY FUNGI)
Pecan scab
Sticky shuck
Downy spot
Vein spot
Brown leaf spot.
INSECTS:
Pecan phylloxeraCauses galls on leaves, trigs and nuts.
Pecan nut casebearerFees on nutlets, or later in season, in the chucks.
Hickory shuckwormTunnels in and feeds on shucks.
Pecan aphidHoneydew-producing insects.
Walnut caterpillarFeeds on leaves, does not produce web.
Fall webwormCaterpillar encased in a large web, occasionally encasing entire branches.
Obscure scaleSucking insect found on trunk and limbs. Color much like that of the bark. Difficult to see except on close examination.
There are other pests that do not occur as frequently as those listed, but are usually controlled by spray procedures for the most common pests.
SPRAY SCHEDULE
MID-JANUARY - DORMANT OIL SPRAY for control of obscure scale and phylloxera. Temperature must be 40-70 F.
LATE FEBRUARY - (before buds break) - DORMANT OIL SPRAY for control of phylloxera. Spray all limb surfaces, paying particular attention to the tree trunk. This is where the phylloxera like to overwinter.
MARCH (or when leaves are half-grown, pre-pollination) - Insecticide like X-Ecute (or other suggestions on product information list below). Fungicides like Benelate 50WP or BENOMYL and Zinc Sulphate to feed leaves and control rosette.
LATE APRIL (pre-pollination) - repeat March
MAY (post-pollination when pecan nutlets turn brown and bloom ends) - Repeat March/April applications.
JUNE-SEPTEMBER - Your spray schedule now falls into 15-day cycles (10-day cycle during heavy rain). During periods of rain showers, inspect pecan leaves, nuts and bark for insects, insect egg deposits and indications of fungi.
AUGUST - Regardless of what day your spray application is due, BE SURE to apply insecticide and fungicide along with zinc sulphate on Aug. 15 or as close to this date as possible. This application is necessary to control the hickory shuckworm.
Do not spray any application after pecan shucks splits or during harvest. After harvest, spray schedule may be resumed to control walnut caterpillar, fall webworm and fall foliage diseases. It is important to try to keep your trees disease- and insect-free in order to keep the foliage on the tree as long as possible. Remember, between harvest and normal leaf drop and dormancy, the foliage is manufacturing food for next year's nut production.
PRODUCT INFORMATION:
DORMANT OIL (97% oil emulsion) - Ready available at most nuseries, garden centers and feed stores.
X-ECUTE (dimethoate) - A liquid insecticide made by Pro Tech. Made specifically for pecan trees. Avoid contact with any other vegetation around pecan tree. Also found at most full-service nurseries, solutions stores and feed stores. Other options for insecticide are Cygon 2 EC, Malathion 50%EC, Green Light Double Dursban 12.6%, and Green Light Neem Oil Concentrate for Fruit and Nut Trees.
ZINC SULPHATE - A unique combination of liquid zinc, nitrogen and other compounds. Significantly increases yield and quality and promotes even maturity. More importantly, controls the disease rosette.
DUTER (Triphenyl Tin Hydroxide) - A fungicide that has been effective in controlling certain diseases which have developed resistance to Benomyl.
BENLATE 50 WP (BENOMYL) - Getting harder to find, but still available at feed stores and solution stores. Other options include Benomyl and Green Light Neem Oil. Effective in controlling certain diseases like leaf spot, leaf curl, kernel rot and scab.
**** MOST IMPORTANT ****
CONSULT LABEL ON EACH PRODUCT FOR PROPER APPLICATION RATE.
Follow manufacturer's directions for amounts to use. Do not exceed specified rates and amounts.
READ ENTIRE LABEL CAREFULLY.
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