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Sun, May 27, 12 at 13:49
| I have three or four volunteer Black Walnut trees in pots, ready to plant. Because of their toxicity, I am limited on where they can be planted and am wondering if anyone has experience with or knows whether Black Walnuts can be planted as a clump/multi-trunk tree (like Birches)? If they can't, I guess I'll plant one and get rid of the rest. If it's possible, I'll plant three in one hole and grow them as one multi-trunk tree. Any advice? |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Sun, May 27, 12 at 14:15
| i would recommend that you plant them in fall when the leaves fall off.. not 25 minutes before the heat of summer hits ... you dont mention how big they are.. but if you disturb the roots.. and all the leaves fall off ...a small tree will have a very hard time releafing.. in july/august ... also.. the toxicity issue is much over rated .. what are you protecting from such ???? many things simply dont care ... as to clumping.. you can do whatever you wish .. the issue is usually that there are no problems for 25 to 50 years. and then.. it costs money to remove the severe leaners... i would suggest you plant just one ... or if you insist in doing it in the wrong season.. like now.. plant them all and then if all but one die.. you are all set ... and if more do live.. then select the best.. and kill the excess .. ken |
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| They will be planted this fall. Spring or late Aug to mid Sept is good fall planting time in my zone, although I have planted many young trees in the middle of the hot summer with 100% success....as long as they're given the extra TLC required. The trees are young and about 12-18" tall, thriving and very healthy. Their toxicity is a consideration in this situation since, other than this spot, all other space is too close to the vegetable garden (tomatoes, potatoes, etc). I'm not worried about 25-50 yrs from now, but 10-15 yrs, yes. I'm wondering if, all other things being "ideal", can this tree can be planted in a clump? |
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| "and if more do live.. then select the best.. and kill the excess." Does this mean, no, Black Walnut cannot/should not be planted as a multi-trunk/clumped tree? |
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| Well, given the massive size of a mature black walnut and its trunk size, it wouldn't be ideal to clump them together in one planting hole. If, as you say, you really have limited room and want to have more than one to ensure proper pollination, would probably would work would be to plant them in a triangle formation at least five feet apart, if not further if space would allow, and prune as they grow to keep the interior branches which would compete and cross to a minimum. Functionally, what you would end up with would be a rather normal looking crown with three trunks (assuming all grew). |
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| Thank you, that answers my question and does make sense (as far as the size of the trunk). I'm not familiar with the size of a full grown Black Walnut, other than from what I've read. We just moved and had only one Black Walnut in our previous yard, about 6-7 yrs. old. It, too, came up on its own, and, remarkably, in an ideal location so we let it be. I was SO impressed by how fast it grew. All we did was snip off some lower branches the first couples years, it grew like Jack's beanstalk and was well on its way to becoming a big, beautiful tree. Wherever that nut/seed came from, the squirrels brought in others and buried them in my flower garden, which is where these youngsters came from. I dug them up late last summer when they were 3-4" tall, put them in pots, set them on the deck, brought them with us when we moved, overwintered them in the garage, set them back outside this April, and they're now 12-18" tall with an impressive "canopy" for such small trees. I guess I'll plant the nicest one and call it good. I have a hard time killing something so healthy; maybe I can give the others away, but I'll heed your advice and not sabotage success by forcing them into a multi-trunk. Thanks much for your input! :-) |
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| I've given away seedlings by posting them on Craigslist, surely someone will want these! |
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