Black walnut trees?

Question

I have a black walnut tree in my back yard. It's only about 25 years old. Over the past few years it's been thinning out. Recently larger branches have been falling out of the tree making it thin out much more and look quite sickly. It's been producing the large quantities of walnuts as usual. The past few summers here have been very dry and I'm wondering if this is playing a big role or not.

Any hope for it, or should it just be taken down? I would prefer not to lose it.

Answer 1

The successive dry summers have probably had an effect on your tree's health, but don't go watering just to water. It is possible, even common, to drown our landscape trees.

You have two types of local sources that you can access to help you with this. One is your state's Extension agency. Just do a web search for "state_name Extension". The other is a certified arborist. Check out the International Society for Arboriculture web site to find an arborist near you. The first is free, the second will charge you a fee. I'd recommend using both resources to evaluate this tree, so you can determine its longevity in your landscape, and determine how long to keep it in place.
http://treesaregood.org

Answer 2

The Clario Walnut, (Black Walnut), will go through these stages of the larger branches falling off. This is not good for the tree. This means its time to have a tree trimming service come out and thin the tree back.

Do this during the late fall and early winter when the tree goes dormant and looses its leaves.

Now after the first thaw, the start watering it heavily and use a five gallon bucket mixed with Fish Emulsion type fertilizer, to give the tree a jumpstart in producing new growth. Then next year just let the tree do its thing, and watch the results.

Its going to bush out again and look really nice and provide lots of shade.

That is just the nature of these trees.

Buy the way, the Black Walnuts make excellent Ice Cream!

Collect them, crack them, then roast them!

Then make some vanilla Ice Cream and add those chopped nuts to it! OHHHHHH Yeah!

Good Luck!

Answer 3

Look at the leaves, if you see any evidence of infestation, such as portions of the leafy area that appear to be eaten, or any kind of curling of the leaf accompanied by what would appear to be spider webs, or dark spots all over the leafs where something has been sucking the sap out of the leaves. also watch for web or tent worms that weave a large web chamber that also resembles a spider web like appearance, that will be occupied by a large quantity of greenish colored worms. If any of these critters are evident you'll need to have your trees sprayed. Also check the limbs that fall out for signs of parasite activity. ie; bore holes, etc. Also wood peckers will peck holes around the limb cutting off the "xylem" and "floum" of the "cambium layer" ( cuts off the flow of sap ) which will cause the branch to die and eventually fall out of the tree. Wind can damage and break limbs which will appear to still be attached and look sickly before they fall out, also if the branches are long and spindly they will break out easily. If you find any of the afore mentioned parasitic activity contact an exterminator to spray your tree.

Answer 4

walnuts will start to either hollow out or lose limbs,
they put down VERY deep roots, so lack of surface water usually wont bother them, I have one that's over 100 yrs old, over 7 ft dia at the base, it,s limbs fall off some time, due the the weigh of them, [limbs] as long as it is OK don't worry about it,

Answer 5

They are a wonder full tree. You need to have some one in that field look at it. You should have a State Ag. Representative, that can give you advice.