Is my soil good enough for pecans?

Pecans will not grow under low, wet conditions. A pecan orchard growing on poor, unproductive soil produces only disappointment. Many new growers struggle for 10 to 20 years before realizing that their problems began with the soil where they planted their trees. Generally, pecans grow as native plants in river bottoms, and the alluvial soils found in these bottoms usually make the best orchard sites. Pecans require at least 3 feet of well-drained soil above the minimum depth of the water table to develop a strong root system. Pecans planted on shallow soils having poor internal drainage never develop into large, productive trees.

The planting site should have good surface and internal drainage, receive full sun, and be at least 30 feet from a building, other trees, or a power line.