Why Plant Black Walnut?
For attracting and sustaining wildlife, Black Walnut is a top provider. Squirrels and chipmunks love it for its sweet, nutritious nuts, and with a little help, birds flock to them, too. The hard shells are difficult for most birds to crack, but if you break some open and put them in your birdfeeder, the cardinals, chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, Blue Jays, and woodpeckers will come flocking. Best of all, though, is another type of bird food that Black Walnut serves up—caterpillars! According to entomologist and nature writer Douglas Tallamy, this mighty native hosts over 100 species of the protein-rich insects.
For many people, Black Walnut is prized most of all for its heavy, dark, beautifully grained heartwood. It has become so valuable for furniture, cabinets, gunstocks, and veneer that most of the grand old specimens have been cut down… either by their owners or by poachers. “Walnut rustlers” have been known to steal mature walnut trees by cutting them down and air-lifting them out with helicopters. Pioneers destroyed many a tree in their day, too, often without a thought to the fine lumber they were wasting. They used the wood for railway ties, split-rail fences, and—gasp—firewood.
How to use Black Walnut in the landscape?
One of the many moths that Black Walnut hosts is the spectacular Luna moth. If you get a chance to see one, you’ll never forget it. With a wingspan of up to seven inches and a ghostly green color, it looks like something out of this world. Its fat green caterpillars feed on many tree species, but Black Walnut is one of their favorites.
Planting Zones
Hardiness Zone: 4-9
How To Plant Black Walnut
Black Walnut is not hard to grow in most sunny sites, but it performs particularly well in deep, fertile, moist, well-drained soils. In such a site, it can grow surprisingly fast. Many people hesitate to plant Black Walnut because they’ve been told that the chemicals it contains kill many other plants growing nearby. The science seems to indicate that this is largely a myth. You’ll want to be sure to plant your tree well away from walkways, pools, and patios, however. The nuts, encased in a thick husk, are large and heavy, and you don’t want to be under them when they fall.
How To Water
Water twice weekly for the first 3-5 weeks; then water weekly for the remainder of the year until winter. When you water, water very slowly and very thoroughly. The water needs to reach to the bottom of the root ball and that takes time. Watering needs may be altered due to extreme weather conditions.
How To Fertilize
Incorporate Elements Starter Plant Food granular form into the soil when planting. If planting in spring or summer, start fertilizing late fall using Elements Starter Plant Food granular form on an annual basis each fall. Continue this for the first three years to get your plant well established.
How To Prune
Pruning should be done while the tree is dormant, so January through March.
How Does Shipping Work?
Bower & Branch Trees, the real BIG trees, don’t fit in a box! Our big trees, sizes XL and bigger, require expert delivery and care, that means our extra-large trees are shipped on Bower & Branch trucks. We are the only ones who know how to ship our big and bigger trees and plants with tender loving care. We deliver your trees and plants directly to you. Ask Bower & Branch about planting services – we'd be happy to assist in installation.
*For Big trees and Shrubs, Size XL and bigger: Review our Seasonal Shipping Timelines and Policy here.
Your trees and plants are grown across the United States at various Bower & Branch Growers. Depending on your location, your plant orders may be shipped from various locations. Please expect orders with multiple items to be delivered over a number of days as a result. Orders made up of numerous items or selections will not arrive at your home on the same day.
Shipping Delays:
From time to time, Bower & Branch Growers may determine to delay order shipment based on various factors for plant health. Weather in your region, as well as, where your plants are grown, is always considered when shipping. Extreme weather conditions may delay some or all of your order. Bower & Branch allows our Growers to make final shipping decisions based solely to benefit your trees and plants’ health and success.
How Does Sizing Work?
The size of our trees have nothing to do with the container size like you may find elsewhere–big doesn't mean just height - it’s also vigor, age, and overall health. Other online retailers are going to tell you that a plant is a seven gallon, that means nothing to your tree or plant (or you.)
Our trees for sale online are graded on large, x-large, and even bigger sizes. This is because our trees are sized by their age—the higher the letter, the more mature the tree. The age determines the trees’ overall height, size of the trunk and the overall branch density.
All of these characteristics are what you should be looking for when choosing a tree for immediate impact and instant curb appeal. Our extra-large tree and plant sizes are sure to wow you and your neighbors!
See the size guides below.
