At my grandparents’ home, there was never a shortage of pecans. Growing up, they had a pecan tree in the backyard, and their neighbor had one or two of her own. I could play outside and pick up freshly fallen pecans to chow down on at any time, and there were usually buckets more on the kitchen counter waiting to be cracked open.
When I got older, I stumbled upon a strange object in my grandparents’ game room. It sat there in a corner for years, and one day, it mysteriously made its way into the living room. ‘What is it?’ I finally asked, and right then and there, my grandfather took me outside for a full demonstration. ‘It’s a pecan picker upper,’ he bragged.
What is a pecan picker upper?
Pecan picker uppers are tools that make collecting pecans super easy. They’re made of broom-length poles with wire cages at one end. Some have cages that rotate, while others are fixed, but each has the same basic purpose:
gather pecans.
How do they work?
You begin by placing the cage end on the ground and rolling it over stray pecans. Applying pressure allows the pecans to push through the cage wires, where they are trapped inside. Carry a bucket or bag with you, and once you’ve collected enough, you can empty them in and keep going.
What are the benefits of pecan picker uppers?
Collecting pecans manually can be a lot of work. You have to bend over frequently to pick them up off the ground, and it can wear on your back over time. Pecan picker uppers become an extension of your limbs, allowing you to gather while standing upright.
They’re also great for picking up walnuts, sweet gum balls, and other small items.
At my childhood home on the east side of Ruston, LA, we had sweet gum ball trees in our back yard, and they were a nightmare to deal with when it came time for yard work. We would fill trash bags with them, and they would rip right through!
A picker upper would have come in handy.
Where can I get one?
You can purchase your own pecan picker upper at speciality stores or online. The Corona LG 3694 ComfortGEL Grip QuickCOLLECTOR is reminiscent of the one my grandparents had, and it worked well. This one has a strong carbon steel body with a red gel handle that’s easy to hold on to.
Other tools
If a simple pecan picker upper doesn’t do it for you, there are other tools you can use. One such tool is the Bag-A-Nut, which uses a larger basket and ridged wheel to collect pecans on a mass scale. It’s much more industrial than a standard picker upper, so it’s best for when who need to pick up nuts in mass quantity.
The Verdict
Are pecan picker uppers worth it? Do you have pecan trees? Sweet gum balls? If so, then the answer is:
Yes, absolutely.
A pecan picker upper is a golden tool for anyone who has loads of pecans to gather. They’re also convenient if you have issues with sweet gum balls.
My grandparents definitely got their money’s worth with theirs, and it often came in the form of gallon-sized bags of nuts. Many of which ended up in our party mix, pecan pies, and pralines.
Just bought a home with 16 pecan trees. Looks like the perfect solution.
Best of luck to you!