Walnut tree is also called walnut tree. We often eat it in our life, which has the effect of nourishing the brain. For the maintenance of walnut trees, patience is needed. Generally, the walnut trees will bear fruit in 10 years, so the maintenance will be very long. But don't worry, as long as you master the main points of some time points, it is still relatively simple. Here are the maintenance techniques of the walnut tree, with a total of 8 points for you to better care for it.
Eight key points of maintaining walnut trees;
1, select seedlings (if not growing from nuts). Where the roots contact the trunk, measure the diameter of the seedlings at 1 inch (2.5 cm) above the roots. Choose seedlings with the smallest diameter of 1/4 inches (0.64 cm), preferably larger. This is the most important index of forecasting quality.
Selling soilless bare root seedlings should be planted in early spring and before the bud is born, and immediately after it is obtained.
Containerized seedlings can handle late sowing date and dry soil, but they are usually much more expensive.
2. Sow in spring. Choose well-drained and fertile soil, and avoid steep slopes and hilltops. Place the seedling in a hole twice the diameter of the seedling root and deep enough to bury the root. In order to get the best effect, every three parts of ordinary soil should be backfilled with one part of compost. Thoroughly tamp the soil and water.
Plant seedlings of 12- 17 feet (3.7-5.2m) to get the most nuts from the trees. Separating seedlings10–12 feet (3.0-3.7 m) is most suitable for wood production.
3, reduce the number of watering. Whether planted from nuts or seeds, walnut trees need supplementary watering at least for the first two years after planting, especially in dry or warm weather. Watering every week is most suitable for newly planted trees, but as the trees grow, you can reduce watering. Water the plants thoroughly, but wait until the soil is mostly dry before watering. Frequent watering will harm plants.
After two or three years, you only need to water the trees during the hottest time of the year or during the drought, about once or three times a month.
4. Treat weeds. Keep the seedlings free of turf and weeds, so as to compete with the young seedlings and protect them. Remove turf and weeds by hand or by laying a fabric weed barrier. Larger seedlings can be treated with mulch to keep weeds in the bay, about 2 or 3 inches in the root area.
Don't use mulch on plants that haven't sprouted from the soil, because mulch will prevent sprouts from growing. Wait until the seedlings flourish and grow roots.
5. Learn about pruning walnuts. If you want to plant walnuts for wood, it is very important to prune them early to ensure that the trunk is straight, leave a "leading" branch at the top of the tree and guide them upright in the next one or two growing seasons. You can leave the saplings for nuts until they are thinned, but it is wise to prune the black walnut trees later, because they are usually sold as wood or even nut varieties.
If you haven't pruned trees before, especially saplings, I suggest you find an experienced pruning machine to help you identify leaders and important branches.
If the top of the tree is forked, bend the best guide rod at a right angle and tie it to other branches as support, and then cut off the top of the supporting branch to prevent growth.
6. Sparse the position of trees to choose the best example. Most orchards begin to grow more plants than the region can afford. When the trees are big enough to make the branches collide with each other, please choose the healthiest tree to show the characteristics you value, usually the straight trunk and rapid growth. Remove the rest, but avoid clearing too much space to prevent weeds and even competing trees from growing.
7. Fertilize the trees immediately after they are covered with saplings. At least for black walnut, fertilization is still controversial, because if the soil is already rich in nutrients, fertilization can promote the competition of weeds more than trees. Wait until the suitcase is "rod" in size or at least 4 inches (10cm) in diameter and 4.5 feet (1.4 m) above the ground. Ideally, soil or leaves are sent to a laboratory to identify the exact nutritional deficiency. Topdressing can fertilize leaves with water. After fertilization, test the pH value of the soil to see if it needs to be returned to the normal level.
8. Control pests. Squirrels are very common in walnut forests. If they are not controlled, squirrels can eat a whole nut. Cover tree trunks with plastic tree shrouds to prevent them from climbing. If possible, trim branches less than 6 feet (1.8 m) from the ground without causing knots that will reduce the value of wood. Other pests, such as caterpillars, aphids and flies, vary from region to region. If they are active in the late growing season, they may not harm your trees. Ask a forester nearby or an experienced walnut grower for information about your area.