Initial Pruning

• The Aggie Horticulture website article on pecan production states that pecan trees should be pruned after planting. Cutting bareroot trees back by one-half improves their rate of survival. The University of Florida IFAS Extension article on the pecan tree states that newly planted trees should have between one-half and one-third of their tops removed to balance the roots and shoots.
  
  

Training Trees

• Pruning trees encourages upward and lateral growth, according to the texaspecantrees.com website. The University of Florida IFAS Extension website article titled, "The Pecan Tree," states that pecan trees should be trained to a central leader. Select a strong upright shoot as the main leader and remove adjacent shoots. Do not allow lateral branches to form from the central leader until the tree is five feet tall. Most of the major pruning comes during the first 10 to 15 years of the pecan tree's life, according to texaspecantrees.com.
  
  

Pruning Mature Trees

• Large pecan trees seldom need major pruning. The Aggie Horticulture website states that the normal time to remove dead wood, and broken or low hanging limbs, is when trees are dormant during the winter months. The article goes on to state that pruning can be done when necessary. The authors of texaspecantrees.com recommend pruning during early spring, prior to bud break, as this enables the tree to immediately begin its healing process.