Pignut Hickory

Year-round

Pignut hickory is a slow growing native shade tree for Memphis yards, known for its deep taproot, fall nuts that feed wildlife, and a long life once it gets established.

• Plant it in full sun to light shade in well drained soil. It does not tolerate wet or soggy ground for long.
• It grows a long taproot early on, so choose the permanent spot before planting. A tree more than a couple of years old is very hard to move.
• Water a young tree regularly for its first two to three years while the root system establishes. After that it becomes drought tolerant.
• It is one of the more shade tolerant hickories and can live a very long time once mature.
• The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center lists pignut hickory as native to Tennessee, and its nuts feed squirrels, chipmunks, deer, and other wildlife. The tree also serves as a larval host for several native moth species.
• Pignut hickory is not on the ASPCA toxic plant list for dogs, cats, or horses, though whole nuts can still cause choking or stomach upset if a pet eats them.

Fall

Fall is nut drop season for pignut hickory in Memphis, and dormant late fall is a second good window for planting a young tree.

• Nuts typically drop from September into November, so expect some litter under the tree during this stretch.
• Fall foliage turns yellow before it drops.
• Once the tree goes dormant in late fall, that is another good time to plant a young tree, similar to early spring.
• Squirrels, deer, and other wildlife will clear away a good share of the dropped nuts on their own.

Raking up dropped nuts and husks from the lawn, driveway, and sidewalk during nut drop keeps the front yard tidy for HOA-conscious upkeep.

Winter

Winter is dormant season for pignut hickory in Memphis, with mostly mild cold and the occasional hard freeze, and it is a good time for structural pruning.

• Memphis winters are generally mild with occasional freezes into the 20s Fahrenheit. An established pignut hickory handles this without protection.
• Prune any dead or damaged branches while the tree is bare and dormant, since the structure is easier to see with no leaves.
• Avoid heavy pruning on a young tree. Limit winter pruning to dead, damaged, or crossing branches.
• A newly planted tree does not need winter watering once the ground turns cold, unless the winter is unusually dry.

Trimming out dead wood while the tree is bare keeps its shape neat for curb appeal through winter.

Spring

Spring is the best time to plant a young pignut hickory in Memphis, and the one season to watch for a late frost on fresh growth.

• Plant a bare root or young container tree in early spring while it is still dormant or just breaking bud. The deep taproot makes it much harder to move later.
• Memphis can see a late frost into early April. Keep an eye on tender new leaves on a young tree, though an established tree handles a cold snap fine.
• Water a newly planted tree deeply once or twice a week if spring rain is light, to help the taproot and root system settle in.
• Hold off on fertilizer the first spring and let the tree put its energy into root growth.

Summer

Memphis summers are hot and humid, and a young pignut hickory needs steady moisture until it is established enough to handle drought on its own.

• Water a young tree deeply once a week during hot, dry stretches, more often if it sits in full sun all day.
• Spread two to three inches of mulch around the base, kept a few inches back from the trunk, to hold moisture and keep roots cooler.
• A mature, established pignut hickory tolerates Memphis summer drought well and usually does not need extra water.
• Watch young trees for leaf scorch or wilting during the hottest weeks and add extra water if you see it.