Planting Walnut Trees

• When deciding where to plant walnut trees, pick a place that is at least 60 feet from any other sensitive plants. This is because the black walnut tree emits a toxin that can kill other plants at the roots. They will grow best on a hillside area that is well-drained and need to be planted at least 60 feet apart (if you are planting more than one). Start by planting the trees with fresh walnuts, preferably in the fall season. Start by removing the husks. Dig small holes just large enough for the walnut to fit in, about 6 inches deep. Cover the holes with mulch or fresh soil, making sure to mark the spot with a flag or something so you know where the nuts are. After they are buried, cover the area with a cloth and cover with mulch again.
  
  

Growing Walnut Trees

• After the ground thaws in the springtime, remove the cloth from each of the nuts. By the summer, you should see all the seedlings starting to grow. If you do not wish to plant the nuts, you can find walnut seedlings at your local nursery. Plant these in the desired place in the springtime for a more reliable growth method. Upon more mature walnut tree growth, it is important to know that black walnut trees do not require a lot of pruning. The branches usually straighten out of their own. If you do need to prune knobby or damaged tree limbs, make sure not to remove more than 25 percent of these branches in a single pruning session. Use ladders and carefully climb up to branches that need pruning, using pruning shears to do the job.
  
  

Harvesting Walnuts

• Growing these trees is usually to harvest the end result of walnuts. These nuts are delicious, although high in calories and fat, but they are good for brain health with Omega-3 polyunsaturated fat content. They may be eaten raw or used in cooking. When harvesting walnuts, use clear goggles to protect your eyes and use about an 8-foot long pole that is meant to harvest nuts from trees. The size depends on the height of the tree, location of the walnuts and should be able to be adjusted accordingly. For lower limbs, tap the branches with the pole to make the nuts fall loose. When you have shaken all the lower branches, walk around and collect all the walnuts that have fallen to the ground. Proceed to the next level of branches and repeat the tapping procedure. Make sure not to cut the surface of the branches with the pole. For the higher branches, you will most likely need to use a ladder to reach them with the pole. After collecting all the nuts from the ground, keep them in a clean bucket filled with warm water to soften up the outside shell. After they soften from a couple hours, peel away the outer shell and let them dry out on a clean towel in a dry place for a couple of days.