Young black walnut trees

[Walnutseeker]

Hi. Two autumns ago I planted 2 bare root black walnut trees that I bought from the Arbor Day Foundation. The trees survived the first winter and leafed out in spring, though they did not produce a ton of foliage. This is their second spring/summer in southeastern Massachusetts, and though they are alive (green beneath the bark) and I am seeing some leaves, they do not appear to be thriving. I am watering every week now. They are in a bright sunny spot on my lawn. We have lots of black walnuts in my town, though none on my block. Wondering if they need some shade cloth or other help. Any advice appreciated. Pictures attached. Thanks!

 

[uniballer]

How did that poor little thing get topped?

Walnuts are slower to get started in the spring than maples. Mine seem perfectly happy in full sun.

Around here black walnuts grow as weeds after the eastern gray tree-rats (Sciurus carolinensis) plant them wherever the dirt is soft (e.g. planters, garden beds, recent excavations). I mostly just remove the ones I don't want, but I occasionally move tiny saplings.

 

[Walnutseeker]

Hi Uniballer. This is my first time growing bare root trees. These took a long time to bud last year and I saw a video on YouTube suggesting that topping off is a good way to induce growth. So I tried it, perhaps foolishly. But they did leaf out in the end last year. I did notice last year that shade cloth seemed to help one of the trees that gets slightly more sun, so wondering if I should try that again. These are alive. Maybe they just need another year to take off?

 

[uniballer]

Topping (or pinching) would be a useful technique to make a healthy plant grow bushier, rather than taller. But if there is a problem with the roots, or nutrition, or simple lack of vigor it is not going to help.

I suppose you could try feeding them, if you haven't already. But watch out for burning (overfeeding) or buildup of salts. I think most would recommend an organic slow-release fertilizer as safest, but be aware that this will take a while to produce results.

 

[Walnutseeker]

Thanks. Appreciate the advice.