Proper care techniques for a Walnut Tree

Transplant your Walnut Tree in the Spring.

Walnut Trees are a great additional to any property and landscaping design, of course with the size in mind. You can add a walnut tree to your property in one of two ways. The first is by planting it from a seed. This method is fairly difficult and requires a lot of attention and care for the seed to properly germinate. If the seed does not properly germinate, your walnut tree will not survive. The easiest way to add your addition of a walnut tree is to transplant one that is already a few years old.

Transplanting a walnut tree comes with its own set of issues, however, transplanting it in the spring will help the young tree over come the stress and increase the chance of survival. The main problem with transplanting is that the roots can not dry out. They must remain moist and alive. Spring transplanting helps ensure that they remain cool and with moisture.

Keep your Walnut Tree moist.

Like we mentioned above, the roots on your new walnut tree must not dry out. Letting the roots dry out will result in certain death. Whenever you first transplant your walnut tree, be sure to water it frequently with large amounts of water. It needs a good bit of water to ensure that is properly propagates.

Watering is also needed after you transplant the tree. During the spring, summer, and fall months besure to keep the soil around your new tree moist. The most important part of a walnut tree is making sure that the roots are kept moist. You will be able to tell if the tree is not receiving enough water by the leafs. If they begin to droop and crack, your tree is in need of water.

Walnut Tree roots grow deep.

The main root of a walnut tree can grow as deep as the tree is tall itself. This giant root is called the "Tap Root". Due to the giant tap root, as hard as it is, try to make sure that your newly transplanted walnut tree is placed in a 'softer' area of your property. Trying to allow for growth in the early years of the trees life will help reduce the level of stress required to break through harder dirt. Whenever the tree becomes older, it has a better chance of breaking the harder soil and surviving.

Keep the mulch a few inches thick.

Keep a few inches of mulch around your new walnut tree. Keeping mulch around your walnut tree will help keep the roots moist and stop the overgrowth of weeds around the tree. It also provides a blanket for the roots so they don't freeze on colder nights. Do not go over a few inches or it will be too dense and have the adverse effect.

Fertilize often.

If your soil is not all that rich in nutrients, the walnut tree will need to have regular fertilizing. Walnut trees, especially when producing fruit, will use up a lot of the nutrients in the soil. They can not handle a soil with a lot of alkaloids so keeping it topped up with fresh nutrients will help to keep it healthy. Spread the fertilizer on the ground and not on the trunk of the tree.

Prune your tree.

Pruning your young walnut is a very important step. Spring is the ideal time for pruning. You really should set some time aside to spend pruning your new tree. Spring pruning will help to allow the tree spend time and energy developing new branches and blossoms instead of trying to revive un restorable dead limbs. If you forget to prune during the spring, fall is your next best option. A fall pruning will help the tree become dormant for the winter months ahead.