{"id":11899,"date":"2022-09-05T22:04:33","date_gmt":"2022-09-05T22:04:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/?p=11899"},"modified":"2022-09-08T07:32:43","modified_gmt":"2022-09-08T07:32:43","slug":"how-to-prune-a-walnut-tree","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/farmandanimals.com\/how-to-prune-a-walnut-tree\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Prune A Walnut Tree?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As with most fruit and nut trees, Walnuts benefit from some training via pruning, especially in their early years. As the trees mature, pruning is really only necessary to keep the tree healthy and in good shape. This should be done during the winter months when the tree is dormant. Read on to learn more about how to prune a walnut tree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How And When To Prune A Walnut Tree?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"How<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

To develop a sound structure that is capable of supporting the heavy branches of a walnut tree laden with nuts<\/a>, and to prevent them from breaking in the wind as the tree matures, pruning of your young tree is vital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The idea is to develop a strong scaffold of branches that grow from the tree’s main trunk, often called a central leader. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a tree that is being grown for nut production, the lowest branches want to begin at around four to five feet up the trunk. For a tree being grown for its wood. The lowest branches should start at around 14 to 15 feet from the ground. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re growing walnut trees to provide shade then branches will want to start at around eight to ten feet from the ground. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While waiting for your young tree to attain enough height, you can cut back any branches that develop so they are around six to eight inches in length. The leaves they grow will photosynthesize and help the trunk to develop and thicken up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you remove all the growth too soon, the trunk won\u2019t become thick and strong. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allowing these branches to grow to their full length will rob energy from the tree, and this can again slow the trunk’s growth. It isn\u2019t only the height you want to develop, thickness is of equal importance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When your young tree is big enough to encourage the development of true scaffolding branches, the temporary branches can be pruned off. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s better for the tree if this is done before they reach a thickness of more than half an inch, as the tree will be able to heal the wound more easily than if the branch is allowed to grow any thicker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When deciding which branches should be kept and which should be pruned off, look carefully at the tree and think about keeping the branches you retain going up on a spiral around the trunk of the tree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All of these branches should grow outwards away from the trunk, and the angle between the branch and the trunk should not be too closed. Having a more open angle is beneficial, but the branch shouldn\u2019t be angled more than around 70\u00b0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Too many branches emerging from the same level of the trunk can weaken the tree. So ensure they are well spread out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Branches that are above one another mean the higher branch will block light from the lower one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Setting out a good basic structure while the tree is still young will be highly beneficial as it matures, so it really is well worth doing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once your basic shape has been established, in subsequent years you need only remove any branches that are broken, diseased, crossing over, or growing inwards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you notice any of the side branches growing taller than the main central leader (trunk), then shorten them to the next side branch they have growing from them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best time of year to tackle walnut tree pruning is in late winter, during the dormancy period and before the sap rises. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This lets you see the structure of the tree more clearly and any potential problems there are. It also prevents new spring growth from being cut, which may affect fruiting. It also helps reduce the amount the tree bleeds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tools needed for pruning include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n