How to Grow Black Walnut Trees

Black walnut trees can either be purchased as a young tree or grown from the nuts from an existing tree. Black walnut saplings can be very pricey if ordering from a nursery or buying from a landscaping supply outlet. Growing the black walnut saplings takes a bit of preparation, but more patience than anything else.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Black walnut nuts, still in husks
• Black walnut leaves
• Large black walnut limb

1. Lay out a semi-straight black walnut limb at the lower edge of a southern facing slope. This limb will help retain the dirt that washes down the sloped area.

2. Remove the grass from the area in front of the tree limb. Loosen the dirt with a hoe or rake. If you can acquire a layer of soil from around a black walnut tree, spread this over the exposed soil.

3. Lay out black walnut nuts approximately six inches apart on the soil. The nuts should still be in their husks, which will range in color from dark green to black.

4. Cover the entire area with several inches of black walnut leaves. Water the area heavily. Water the area anytime the leafy covering appears dry. As the leaves compost down they provide the perfect growing medium for the black walnut seedlings.

5. Transplant the saplings when they are approximately a foot tall. This may take up to a year, depending on when the black walnuts were sprouted.

Tips & Warnings

• Often friends and family will be more than happy for you to rake the leaves from beneath their black walnut trees. This is a good way to get not only the leaves, but the whole nuts also.
• Black walnuts can be poisonous to many animals including horses. Take this into consideration when you plant seedlings or trees.