Although it is a prized timber and wonder nut; it remains equally healthy in shape and productivity if often pruned. The pruning of a walnut tree is more than just clipping off a few branches; this is based upon the process of growth and how to learn to cut back a tree and make sure that it uses one’s selected techniques to help the tree flourish. Therefore, pruning a walnut tree will be done correctly for the best results possible in the trees.

Understand The Walnut Tree Growth And Structure

Before going ahead into the details of pruning, it is worth understanding how walnut trees grow. Walnut trees are deciduous, which means these trees shed leaves every fall and become dormant during the winter months. They have a strong central leader, a main vertical stem from which the lateral branches grow. In this development, the walnut tree is particularly predisposed to a vigorous and well-distributed structure, more so than other trees.

Walnut trees are very large: 50 to 75 feet (15 to 23 meters) or more in height, with an equivalent spread of their branches, so they make a fine shade tree. If they are not pruned, however, they become very dense-with crowded branches that allow little light to pass through and air to circulate. This encourages the development of disease and reduces nut production.

Why Prune

Pruning walnut trees is very important for a couple of reasons:

Health and Vigor:

Prevent disease or pest spread from dead or diseased to the healthy parts of the tree, directing energy into growth that’s healthy.

Shapes And Structures:

Pruning helps in maintaining proper central leader development in trees. It encourages the development of well-spaced lateral branches, hence producing a very balanced and attractive tree with the capacity of holding a high crop of nuts.

Thinning is the removal of a good number of tightly crowded branches so that light can penetrate to the interior of the tree canopy and increase air circulation, thus reducing the risk of damage due to fungal diseases. Good light penetration results in improved nut quality and quantity.

1. Safety:

Branches that are low growing or weak and can fall along public ways or objects need to be taken out so that no public safety hazard is created and to prevent any damage to public and private property.

2. Ease of Harvest:

Pruning allows easy access to nuts when it is time to harvest.

When to Prune Walnut Trees

Prune when the trees are dormant, usually late winter or early spring, which is the time period right before the swelling of buds. It is at this dormant stage when the branches can be taken without transmitting disease back into the tree so easily. It will also put the least amount of stress on the tree. That’s not to say that light pruning and dead or damaged branch removal shouldn’t be done at any time of year.

You should not perform heavy pruning in late spring or early summer while the tree is at its active developing stage. At this time, a heavy pruning cut may cause profuse bleeding of sap from the cut, weakening the tree and predisposing it to disease.

Things You’ll Need

Correct pruning cannot take place without correct tools you should consider having the following:

1. Pruning Shears:

Used for small branches up to 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) in diameter.

Inclusion of lopping shears for medium-sized limbs up to 11/2 inches in diameter, a pruning saw for relatively bigger ones over 11/2 inches in diameter, garden pole pruner in case some of the branches are out of reach, gloves to protect the hands, and protective goggles for the eyes. Make sure your tools are clean and sharp; dull ones tear the wood instead of cutting it cleanly. Dirty tools transfer disease.

Pruning Walnut Trees

Inspection Look at the tree Walk around the tree and see the skeleton of the tree. Look for dead, diseased, or injured branches, and then for branches that rub or intersect their neighbors.

1. Prune away dead, diseased, or damaged wood:

First of all, cut away the dead, diseased, or damaged limbs. The cuts should be clean and made as close as possible to the branch collar without cutting into the collar itself, as this further damages the tree’s natural healing ability.

2. Remove suckers and water sprouts:

Vigorous shoots growing from the bottom of the tree. Fast-growing shoots emerging from the trunk or main branches are known as water sprouts. Both of these should be removed because they drain a lot of energy from the chief tree and may disturb its structure.

3. Thinning Overcrowded Limbs:

Identify the areas where there is dense overcrowding or crossing-over of limbs and save only the healthiest and strongest, removing the rest. Try to maintain an open canopy that allows light and air to move through easily.

4. Maintain Central Leader:

In a multiple leadered tree, reduce the number of leaders to only one, to maintain an upright habit for the tree.

5. Trim Back Long Branches:

If any of the branches have grown too long, cut them back to a bent lateral branch or bud that is pointing in the required direction—the bud should grow. This means growth is then more compact and prevents the branch from becoming too heavy and breaking.

6. Step Back and Re-Evaluate:

Once the cuts are made, step back and re-evaluate the shape and structure of the tree. In some instances, further cuts will prove necessary to regain a sense of balance and good shape.

Aftercare for Pruned Walnut Trees

Careful aftercare is essential after pruning to ensure that your walnut tree makes a good recovery.

Water the base properly after new cuts are made, especially on a young tree or if it is a dry period. This reduces all forms of stress and develops new growth.

1. Mulching:

Mulch is spread around the base of the tree, ensuring that it doesn’t mound up against the trunk. Mulch helps to conserve moisture, suppresses weeds, and moderates soil temperature.

2. Monitoring:

The tree should be monitored in weeks following pruning. Look out for any symptom of disease or stress. If necessary, the appropriate action should be taken well in advance.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

There are some common mistakes that people usually do while pruning walnut trees.

1. Over-Pruning:

When too much of a tree’s canopy is removed all at once a tree can go into shock. That is when the ability to photosynthesize is retarded. Never remove greater than 25 percent of the canopy in 1 year.

2. Topping:

This is the cutting back of the main trunk or large branches to stubs. This is highly detrimental to the tree and should be avoided due to the fact it can lead to gaining weakly and poorly attached tree branches with increased susceptibility to diseases.

3. Ignoring the Branch Collar:

Whenever you cut a branch, you want the cut to be just outside the branch collar. Cut too close to the trunk, or leave a stub, and healing of the poor will be the case; a high possibility of infection will also set in.

Conclusion

Prune a walnut tree properly to be able to keep it healthy and structured. By knowing its growth habits you will have at your fingertips the right tools and techniques, all to the betterment of your walnut tree’s zig and zag. If you are reducing shape, promoting health, or bettering safety by means of pruning, think “less is more”—gentle, thoughtful pruning has to yield the best results. With proper care, your walnut tree will continue to be a valuable and beautiful part of your landscape.