Keep or Cut Down a Black Walnut Tree?

10 years ago

I get a hard time deciding on the fate of this young black walnut tree.

This tree is young, but it grows very fast. It is about 20'-25' tall and same size around. It sits at the edge of woods, which is mainly native oaks, wild cherry and other mature trees.

The real problem is that, this black walnut tree starts to shade my vegetable bed. With its fast growing, this will only get worse. I can always relocate the bed to another part of the property if I have to.

The last thing to consider is that, black walnut has a bad reputation as a bad tree. Its fruits can be messy.

We have 2 very large mature black walnuts trees at the far end of the property. There are many seedlings all over the places.

Let me know what you think. My sentiment is to cut it down before it grows into a monster.

Comments (6)

Toronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis
10 years ago
If you have two black walnuts already

And you want to garden near it (junglone is not friendly to many veggies)

And you will plant something else in its place

I say cut it down. A good walnut stick feels right anyway.

Any ideas what you would replace it with?
joeinmo 6b-7a
10 years ago
i would keep it, those walnuts don't stick around for long, we have people come by collect them and give has a few bucks every year for them.

Vegetable gardens come and go, but a nice 20 year old black walnut is nice to have year round.
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achang89
Original Author
10 years ago
This black walnut tree is about 20 to 30 feet tall, not 20 years old. It grows as a seedling that I did not pay lose attention to my property.

Our property is a previous farm land with a strip of windbreaker woodland. This tree just grows at the edge of the woodland (outside the original woodland). It will be out of its place when mature. On the other hand, the other two mature trees are in the conservation easement and are far far away from anything.

If I cut it down, I won't plant anything else. That tree just does not belong there, but just escapes my eyes.
nurseryman33
10 years ago
I like black walnut trees, but as toronado says, it is the roots as much as the shade you have to worry about. Google "Black walnut toxicity."
Toronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis
10 years ago
Yeah, I like them also. Just I figured if you have a few diversify if one is in he way.

I have a thicket of the things. Great trees. Look neat at night. The fruit is as much fun for the kids as it is trouble so thats a wash. just since I own several I don't plant more. I feel like if I wanna look at a walnut I don't need another.
joeinmo 6b-7a
10 years ago
achang,

I realize it's not 20 years old, but when it gets to be 20 years old it will be a grand tree, gardens come and go, have about a 3-5 month shelf life per year and then thats it. But you asked, sounds more to me that you already knew you want to cut it down, but just want others to back your decision.

Unless you have trees on all sides of your garden, the sunlight difference will be indifferent to actual garden growth with the walnut tree growing. I have giant trees about 10 ft from my garden, they get the needed sun the rest of the day and grow perfectly.