Why is my pecan tree dying and what is eating my plants?



Lots of dead branches. What could it be?

These questions crossed my mind several times throughout June and July. Several branches on the main pecan tree in our backyard were dried up and some culprit was eating my plants. It's funny what moves people into action. I think plain old vanity usually does it for me. John and I were preparing to have about forty people to the house for a bridal shower in August and I didn't want the tree to look "ugly" or especially like it was dying. It was mid July before I called the people at They Might Be Monkeys and scheduled an arborist named Nevil to come and talk to John about the tree.

The charge was $85 for a very informative consultation. All I really wanted to know was whether the tree was dying or not, but Nevil gave John lots more information than that and an estimate for what it would cost to implement a plan to get our trees looking gorgeous and growing healthy. The estimate was not cheap and that item will go on our list of “Things for the House” below 1. Sound system and wall mounted television, and 2. Exterior Solar Screen Drop Shades for our western facing windows.


Nevil, the Arborist, indicated that the branches were dried up because the squirrels were chewing on the bark. It took me a couple of weeks to put this all together and realize that the squirrels were chewing on the bark and eating my plants because they were thirsty. The water fountain that I usually had running in the back yard is not in operation this summer and the only thing that was moist was the bark on the tree and my yummy plants. Once that was figured out, Operation Hydrate the Critters was launched into action. I now have “three watering holes” for the squirrels (and birds) and will report on any noticable change in behavior.

The squirrels love to lounge here.



Even the flamingos were thirsty!