WALNUT TREE

Home » Home and Family » Gardening Join Sign in EzineArticles - Expert Authors Sharing Their Best Original Articles Search Conner John Platinum Quality Author Platinum Author | 20 Articles Joined: March 5, 2014 United Kingdom Walnut Tree (Juglans Regia) By Conner John | Submitted On March 17, 2016 Recommend Article Article Comments Print Article Expert Author Conner John Walnut Tree - General Information The walnut is a large, deciduous tree which can grow up to a 100 feet tall and with a spread of up to 40 feet. Native to Central Asia and South East Europe it is widely planted in the United Kingdom and is very popular in parks and large gardens. Walnuts are a very hardy, fast growing, long-lived tree, with some reaching 200 years of age and are best known for their delicious nuts and the beautiful timber they produce, which is used by both carpenters and sculptors. Description of a Walnut Tree When the tree is young the bark is smooth and a greenish brown in colour, eventually becoming covered with diamond-like fissures and turning grey as the tree ages. These trees also have a broad crown, although, if grown in a woodland, then the crown will be that much narrower due to lack of space. The trunk is generally short. The leaves are long, green, shiny and feathery and then start to turn yellow in the autumn and drop. Walnuts flower in the spring and have both male and female flowers on the same tree. The male flowers, which appear as drooping catkins, are a yellowish green in colour while the female flowers are shorter and spiky in appearance. The flowers are pollinated by the wind. The fruit develops once the female flowers have been pollinated and is encased by a grooved and furrowed hard brown shell. Cultivation of a Walnut Tree Walnut trees, although able to tolerate most types of soil, prefer a soil that is moisture retaining, fertile and not too sandy or clay-like and needs full sun. If you are planning on planting a walnut tree, then one less than 10ft tall will be the easiest to establish but make sure the specimen you purchase has not become pot bound. Avoid planting on any exposed sites or areas with frost pockets as a spring frost or high winds may cause damage to flowers and foliage and an autumn or winter planting is best as this will help the tree establish itself. Staking will be necessary for the newly planted tree and they will also need plenty of watering during any dry spells during the spring or summer months. To help in retaining moisture add mulch around the base of the tree of some well-rotted compost. Propagation can be by grafting or seed and although propagation from cuttings is possible, due to poor rooting, it would prove tough to do. Pests and Diseases Although walnut trees are generally free from most diseases and parasites the grey squirrel can ruin a whole crop, the codling moth can cause damage to the nuts and walnut blight can have an effect on the leaves. Pruning of a Walnut Tree Walnut trees tend not to need regularly pruning but if any dead or crossed branches do need removing this should only be carried out from the middle of summer to early autumn, as walnut trees are susceptible to bleeding. Hard pruning is not tolerated by walnut trees and no more than 20 percent of the crown should be removed at any one time. Medicinal Uses The leaves, oil and fruits of the walnut tree are apparently used in the treatment of diarrhoea, perspiration, tapeworms, hypothyroidism, various skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema, chilblains and sore throats to name just some! Other Uses of the Walnut Tree Due to its colour, wavy grain and durability the timber is highly prized and is used for making cabinets, tables and chairs, floors, caskets, music boxes, panels, veneers and musical instruments. Walnut shells are even utilized in the production of plastics and glue and the face powder I use, corn silk, even contains ground walnut powder to leave a smooth finish and absorb oil - the best non-clogging face powder I have ever used and I have been doing so for the last 25 years! Interesting Facts The Native Americans once extracted the soil from the walnut tree for cooking their beans and corn. Due to its very many attributes, making it worthy of the Gods, the walnut was called "The Nut of Jupiter" by the ancient Greeks. Thanks for taking the time to read our article. if you would like more great articles about trees, tree surgery or anything to do with gardening please visit our blog. You may also be interested in the history of oak trees in Richmond Park and other similar articles. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Conner_John/1845264 0 Comments | Leave a Comment Did you find this article helpful? Happy Face0 Sad Face0 Viewed 20 times Word count: 700 Article Tools EzinePublisher Report this article Cite this article Stay Informed Subscribe to New Article Alerts: Home and Family: Gardening Conner John Email Address Subscribe We will never sell or rent your email address. Gardening Article Feed Gardening Article Feed Find More Articles Search Similar Articles Sessile Oak Tree History and Facts Silver Birch Tree History and Facts Common Hawthorn Tree History and Facts Hazel Tree History and Facts Common Juniper Tree History and Facts Holly Tree History and Facts Field Maple Tree History and Facts Grey Willow Tree History and Facts Large Leaved Lime Tree History and Facts Hornbeam Tree History and Facts Recent Articles With Spring Upon Us, Time To Make Garden and Landscaping Plans 4 Small Shade Trees That Are Perfect for Any Yard Gardening - The Hardest Vegetables to Grow Herbicides to Use Against Invading Water Chestnuts When Is the Right Time to Start Getting Rid of Lily Pads? What Is Sustainability for Preppers? Children Love to Garden Plant and Prune Between Rainy Days in February in Southern California How to Hire the Best Gardeners Plant Fertilizers: Importance of Micronutrients EzineArticles.com About Us FAQ Contact Us Member Benefits Privacy Policy Shop Site Map Blog Training Video Library Advertising Affiliates Cartoons Authors Submit Articles Members Login Premium Membership Expert Authors Endorsements Editorial Guidelines Terms of Service Publishers Terms Of Service Ezines / Email Alerts Manage Subscriptions EzineArticles RSS © 2017 EzineArticles All Rights Reserved Worldwide