Planting under a Black Walnut Tree

DH mows them up, and those clippings go to the recycling center. Other clippings go on the back gardens for mulch.

I used to mulch them, but ran out of room. Then I was taking them across the road and dumping them over a pile of sticks and tree limbs, to make wildlife winter hide-outs. Now I at least get some nutrients for my dirt. I won't do it every year in case the garden gets too alkaline, but at least I have options.

I planted 3 azaleas right under the walnut tree in our new yard last year. They struggled pitifully. This spring one never leafed out and the other 2 only got a few leaves. I moved them to another spot after I read these posts and they already have new growth. Thanks.

You're welcome!

This was a surprise this year. I planted this Goat's Beard three years ago, and for two it was just smallish and didn't do much. This year, it must have decided juglone was vitamins, and took off. Should have put it farther back, but who knew?

Beautiful M-5!

I successfully moved a large Cimicifugia from under one walnut to another. This year the blooms are curled like they were sprayed with a herbicide and it didn't get 6' tall. The tree I moved it from has good nuts for cracking, and the tree it's now under have a multitude of small nuts that have a harsher taste. I wonder if some trees are more ''toxic and that's why the various successes or losses? I've never had a bed under this tree, and added compost to it when I got the grass off of it.

Hard to explain. Some of the same sedum planted under that tree differ in size...inexplicably, some close to the tree are larger than others but not all.

Shrub roses have survived...we took them out of a berm in front of the house because they were so thorny and scraggly, and we didn't want them anywhere that we needed to access so just stuck them in and they've grown and bloomed....I guess it's just trial and error every season.

Edited because it didn't make sense.

This message was edited Nov 7, 2006 3:02 PM

You guys, there are some groups of trees that literally poison the ground under them with tannic acid. Walnuts and Oaks are the worst. Did you ever wonder why you don't see brush growing under them?? Frank

my butternut tree ( juglone) was snapped in half by a summer storm this year . I am so happy to be rid of it we had the corpse hauled away and $1300 dollars later there is nothing but the roots left my question is does anyone know how long juglone stays in the soil and how long I will have to wait to plant a vegtable garden out there? One guy from a garden center told me 6 years
laura

Years and years and years, and six is very optimistic!

thanks for being honest! I had a feeling the gut was telling me what he thought I wanted to hear! The tree was on the lot when we built our house here in 1979 It took me quite a few years to figure out what the problem was with my vegetable garden I have since planted veggies in the front yard as far as possible from the tree . It was sort of an interesting tree the branches sloped out gracefully and the birds used it as a stop before hitting the feeders but I am glad it is gone . I guess I will have to be patient .
Laura

There are some things that will thrive...shrub roses, rudbeckia and some sedum have done ok for me but I think that corner will always look sparse. The trees must be ancient. I didn't figure out what they were until the second year when the big green fuzzy tennis balls were falling all over the yard and I cut one open. Duh.

Smiling at Meezers.

My son Jamie used to hit the "green fuzzy tennis balls" out into the woods with a baseball bat for fun . : )
laura
PS I am almost 50 ! I hope I am not to old when the area is ok for veggies !

I'm trying some astilbe and some evergreen ferns. The astilbe were dirt cheap so it's worth the trial. I'll just try a few of the ferns I think.