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Empty shells from my pinion tree #286954

Asked October 25, 2015, 9:42 PM EDT

Why does my healthy,50 year old pinion tree produce beautiful large quantities of empty shelled cones? The nuts look great but only have a small unformed sliver of what should be nut meat. I live in Albuquerque and take good care of the beautiful tree. I have had one or two goods nuts over the 21 years I have owned the home. I've heard it could be bugs but the nuts look perfect. I've heard over watering, but that seems like nonsense to me. I've heard city pinion trees need to be sprayed with chemicals to produce. Is there such a thing as an ornamental pinion tree? If so, mine is gorgeous.

Bernalillo County New Mexico

Expert Response

There are several conditions that are needed for pinyon pines to be productive including elevation and moisture content. Elevations of 6000 to 8500 feet, with the ideal elevation at 7000 feet, are needed to provide the proper temperatures and moisture for cone production and seed filling. Higher temperatures most commonly found at elevations that are lower than 6000 feet are not conducive for seed production. Although pinyon pine are known for their ability to be drought resistant, they still need proper humidity and soil moisture to produce and fill seed. Elevations lower than 6000 ft can be too hot and dry for sufficient seed production. Although they may grow and produce at lower elevations there are conditions such as sufficient shade from canyon walls to keep temperatures cooler and to prevent excessive moisture loss. High humidity encourages cone development and trees that do not receive sufficient moisture will generally abort their cones.Elevations greater than 8500 ft usually have lower temperatures that drastically affect the state of the developing cone. Winters in arid to semi-arid climates can produce dramatic changes in temperatures along with dry winds that make the cones susceptible to damage from freeze drying that damage them permanently. Growth is stunted and the seeds wither away. Nut production is usually every 2-7 years, with abundant production averaging every 4 years. Over-watering could be an issue if you have clay soil and the soil is not allowed to drain sufficiently between watering, however frequent watering may be needed if there are periods of drought or excessively hot temperatures associated with windy conditions. The city may be spraying their trees to avoid beetle infestation and not for seed production. 
Check with your local extension office in Bernalillo County at 1510 Menaul Blvd Nw,, Albuquerque, NM. Their phone number is<personal data hidden>. They may have some additional ideas about why your tree is not producing well.  
An Ask Extension Expert Replied October 26, 2015, 1:18 PM EDT
Thank you for this information.
The Question Asker Replied October 26, 2015, 8:04 PM EDT
You're welcome. 
An Ask Extension Expert Replied October 27, 2015, 9:52 AM EDT

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