When is the best time to prune walnut trees?

Walnut Tree Overview

Walnut trees have a wide adaptability to soil, but are suitable for planting in deep, loose, fertile, moist sandy loam. They prefer a warm and humid environment and are not tolerant to waterlogging. They generally grow on slopes and hilly areas at an altitude of 400-1800 meters. The flowering period is May and the fruiting period is October.

Walnut tree pruning time

1. Walnut trees can be pruned in March in spring, mainly after the walnut trees sprout. At this time, the temperature rises, and after the tree sprouts, the nutrients stored in the roots are continuously transported upward, and more nutrients are stored. Pruning at this time will cause less damage.

2. Walnut trees can also be pruned in summer from late May to the end of June. This can be done in conjunction with grafting. Do not prune from the time the walnuts are harvested to before the leaves fall (early October to early November). This is the period of nutrient reflux, and more nutrients will be lost. In addition, the wounds are prone to water loss, making them difficult to heal and prone to disease infection.

3. The best time to prune walnut trees is after the ground freezes and before budding, which is around December. Parts of the tree stop growing in winter, so pruning at this time will cause minimal damage.

Walnut tree pruning method

Walnut trees grow vigorously and bear a lot of fruit, so they need to be thinned out to increase the ventilation and light transmittance of the plants. When pruning, you should follow the principle of removing the weak and retaining the strong, and promptly remove the dense branches. You should also cut off diseased and insect-infested branches, old branches, dense branches, and cross branches to reduce nutrient loss. In addition, you should promptly trim the remaining flowers after the flowering period.

Things to note when pruning walnut trees

Walnut trees can be heavily pruned in winter, and winter and spring pruning can be combined. Less pruning in summer and no pruning in autumn should be done. The principle is to prune diseased and insect-infested branches as soon as they are discovered.