Can you compost pecan hulls??

17 years ago

I have around a 5 lb bag of pecan hulls and was just wondering if I could throw them in or not. Let me know if youve tried it?

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seamommy

17 years ago

I have over 30 pecan trees in my yard and ya, you-betcha you can add pecan shells to the compost. If it's just the hulls, they make an attractive mulch to your garden beds too, that will break down over about 18 months into nitrogen-rich compost. When we rake up last years pecans in the Spring we add them directly to the compost bins and let the microbes do the rest. Takes a little longer than the rest of the stuff, but it's worth it.

I have one acre that is made up of mostly soil that has washed down the hill where the pecan trees are growing. These are old pecans, some of them probably over 100 years. In the course of all those years and seasons of pecans all that material has built up a layer of what I like to call "pecan soil" because of the color and texture. It's rich, black, loose and fertile. If we let the weeds grow up in it, they get 4' tall. I planted some fruit trees down ther a couple years ago and the "pecan soil" is about 2' deep. The fruit on the trees has to be thinned so it doesn't break the limb it's growing on.

Pecans are good stuff for the compost, the soil and the plants it will support. Crushed hulls will break down fairly quickly.

Cheryl

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Comments (7)

celestial
17 years ago
I throw lots of shells/hulls into my compost, but have not done so in bulk quantity such as what you are describing. They seem to add a bit of texture to the soil which may add an aeration quality--from what I've seen, they don't break down as fast as other materials so if you sift, you'd likely sift them out unless they are crushed well.
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Kimmsr
17 years ago
Pecans, "Carya" species, are members of the Hickory family of trees which are members of the Walnut family of trees. There may be some of the juglan that is present in Walnuts in the pecan nut shells, or there may not be enough to make any difference. My experience with the leaves from a Black Walnut is that there is not enough of the juglan to make much difference in planting.
ajpa
17 years ago
Piggy-backing on the question --- How about pistachio shells?
blutranes
17 years ago
BrandonD asked:

"I have around a 5 lb bag of pecan hulls and was just wondering if I could throw them in or not. Let me know if youÂve tried it?"

Yes, I have composted pecans, whole and shelled (as well as other nuts without any issues), save the time it takes for them to break down. I too have found another way of using the shells that is giving even better results.

What I am now doing is "biocharring" all pecans, shells, limbs that fall, as well as other materials from the garden to add to my finished compost. Some of the pecans continue to be added to the pile, but those come from outside sources. Once charred, the shells and nuts are ground up and mixed in with the compost and allowed to cure for the "Blutranes" required time before use in the garden. Anyone who has pecan trees in their yard knows just how much material I am speaking of (we have six (6) trees in our yard alone). For those who are doing biochar, pecan waste is a very good organic foundation IMOÂ

Blutranes
fsmith7_stx_rr_com
15 years ago
Are pecan tree tassels good for composting?
stumped2
8 years ago
seamommy(7bTx) I enjoyed reading your comment. The 2ft of pecan soil from hundreds of years of pecan hulls, is very interesting. You wrote that in 2009. Has it increased much since then? I was also glad to hear that pecan hulls are great for composting.