Hickory trees are known for their strength, longevity, and delicious nuts. They provide shade, valuable timber, and edible harvests, making them a great addition to homesteads, orchards, or wildlife areas. Before adding hickory to your landscape, there are three important things to keep in mind: chill hours, planting location, and variety selection with pollination requirements.

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Chill Hours: Setting Up for Success

Chill hours are the number of hours a tree spends in temperatures between 32°F and 45°F during winter. They allow the tree to reset and prepare for bud break in spring.

Hickories typically need 1,000–1,200 chill hours to thrive:

• Northern states like Michigan, Wisconsin, and New York often receive well over 1,200 chill hours, perfect for hickory production.
• Midwestern and mid-Atlantic regions average 800–1,000 hours, suitable for some varieties but occasionally on the lower side.
• Southern states like Georgia, Alabama, and Texas may fall below 600–800 chill hours, making hickory growth more challenging unless you choose adapted cultivars.

Matching your region’s climate with the chill needs of hickories is crucial for consistent nut yields.

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Planting Location: Soil, Sun, and Protection

Hickory trees grow best in full sun with at least 6–8 hours of direct light daily. They prefer deep, fertile, well-drained soils with loamy or sandy textures. Heavy, poorly drained soils should be avoided as they can limit root development.

When planting, give your trees a head start with:

• Nutra Pro First-Year Fertilizer Packs to provide balanced, slow-release nutrients.
• A transplant mix with moisture-holding polymers to reduce watering stress.
• Tree shelters to protect young trees from browsing deer, rabbits, and sunscald on tender bark.

Space trees at least 30–40 feet apart, as mature hickories can grow very large with wide canopies.

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Varieties and Pollination

Two standout hickory varieties include:

• Shagbark Hickory – Recognized by its peeling bark and prized for its sweet, edible nuts. It is also valued as a timber tree.
• Shellbark Hickory – Produces some of the largest hickory nuts and is a favorite for both people and wildlife.

Hickories are not self-pollinating and require at least two trees of different varieties or cultivars planted within 50–100 feet for cross-pollination. Planting both Shagbark and Shellbark together not only ensures pollination but also provides a variety of nut sizes and flavors.

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Recipe: Hickory Nut Banana Bread 🍌🌰

Hickory nuts add a rich, buttery flavor to classic banana bread.

Ingredients:

• 3 ripe bananas, mashed
• ⅓ cup melted butter
• ½ cup sugar
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp baking soda
• Pinch of salt
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• ½ cup chopped hickory nuts

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F and grease a loaf pan.
2. Mix mashed bananas with butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla.
3. Stir in baking soda, salt, and flour until just combined.
4. Fold in chopped hickory nuts.
5. Pour batter into loaf pan and bake 50–60 minutes until golden brown.

This bread is moist, sweet, and packed with nutty flavor—perfect for breakfast or snacking.

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🛒 Where to Buy Hickory Trees

For quality and value, the best place to shop is Ty Ty Plant Nursery, LLC:

✅ Best prices on premium bare root hickory trees
✅ Non-GMO, climate-appropriate selections like Shagbark and Shellbark
✅ Fast shipping so trees arrive healthy and ready to plant
✅ Free 1-Year Plantsurance™ Guarantee – store credit if your tree doesn’t survive 🛡️

At Ty Ty, planting hickory trees is always zero stress and all success.

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🌟 Final Thought

Hickory trees are long-lived, majestic, and rewarding. By considering chill hours, preparing the right planting site, and planting multiple varieties like Shagbark and Shellbark for pollination, you’ll enjoy nuts, shade, and beauty for generations.

Order your bare root hickory trees today from Ty Ty Plant Nursery, LLC and start a legacy in your orchard.