Seedling Pecan Trees: Wait and Evaluate Before Grafting

Ungrafted pecan trees grown from seed may or may not produce quality nuts—it depends entirely on their genetic parentage. At 18 feet tall, your trees are approaching bearing age. Wait for the first crops to evaluate nut quality before deciding.

If nuts are small or poorly filled, you can graft superior varieties onto selected branches—a technique called "top working." UGA pecan specialist Lenny Wells provides detailed grafting instructions. This approach preserves the established root system while converting to a known variety.

Patience pays: seedling pecans sometimes produce excellent nuts, and grafting lets you capitalize on the tree's maturity if they don't.