10/10/10 Ottawa: Planting your black walnut sapling

We've put together a set of instructions for planting you black walnut sapling:

Find a sunny, not-too-windy spot for your new juglans nigra tree to call home.
Dig a hole a few inches deeper than the sack your tree came in.
Place entire sack (with the tree in it!) in the hole. Untie or cut the top of the sack (If you see a thick spot just above the roots, it is a good indicator of exactly how high the soil should reach: right to the top of that thick part.) The sack will protect the young tree from grass & weeds, and will biodegrade after one year.
Leave soil loose when planting. We've added peat moss to the mixture of black earth in the sack to help drainage. (Don't pack down the dirt around the roots!)
Mulch around the tree soon after planting to protect the roots (Use 2" of bark chips, leaves, or straw.)
Water your tree if the soil and/or mulch around it is dry, or if there is a drought.
Do not fertilize during the first year, it will damage the tree's young roots!

More information:

Plant your tree as soon as possible (ie. this weekend). There are no leaves, and the trees are just beginning to bud, which means the trees are dormant, and most tolerant of transplanting right now. However, your tree has been subjected to stress from moving from the nursery to our backyard, and now to yours. Do it a favour, and give it a permanent home!
The ideal pH level of the soil is between 6.5 and 7.2, lime may be added to raise pH if necessary.
Mulching a wide space around the tree's roots ensures that more nutrients get to the tree.
Black walnut trees emit a natural chemical called juglone from their roots. It is toxic to some other plants, including: potato, tomato, apple, and lilac. A longer list is available here.
Black walnut trees can live for 200 years. They won't produce nuts until they reach at least 10 years, and will yield the best crops after 30 years.

Further resources:

Friday, May 13, 2011