How to Landscape with Black Walnut Trees

Black walnut trees or juglans nigra as they are known botanically, are large fruiting trees grown for their prized nut meats and finely grained and richly colored hardwood timber. They are long-lived trees, surviving up to 200 years, and grow to be large trees forming broad shady canopies. Black walnut trees are also grown purely as ornamental landscape trees because of the pleasing bright yellow color of their foliage in the fall.

Things You'll Need

• Black walnut trees

Instructions

1. Choose a planting site for your black walnut trees that is in full and direct sun with no threat of shade cover.

2. Provide a planting location on higher ground where cool temperatures will not pool. Avoid tight valleys, canyons, low lands and areas with still air, where cold and frost damage can occur.

3. Find a site with good air circulation but protection from windy conditions. Walnuts do not like to be jostled by wind. If wind is a concern, plant black walnuts with other trees of similar size to form a windbreak.

4. Provide ample planting space, allowing about 500 square feet for each black walnut tree at maturity. Prevent any other trees or shrubs from establishing themselves in this zone.

5. Consider the effects of juglone on the soil and other plants when selecting a site for your black walnut tree. The compound emitted by the trees leaches into the soil and will stunt the growth of or kill many plants anywhere near the root zone. Nightshade plants such as alfalfa, blackberry, lilac, hydrangea, paper birch, Norwegian pine, Scotch pine, basswood and apple trees are particularly sensitive to these effects.

References

• University of Minnesota Extension
• West Virginia State University