If you want to cut your old walnut tree, you have to pay attention to a few things in order not to damage the noble plant. If you prune the tree too early, too late and/or incorrectly, it is in danger of dying because it tends to bleed profusely. In this post, you'll learn why, when, and how to prune an old walnut tree.
An old walnut tree should only be pruned when absolutely necessary
Why prune old walnut tree?
In itself, a walnut tree does not need pruning. Only if he
- growing unfavorably* or
- is damaged by natural influences (storm)**,
you should grab the pruning shears or saw and cut your tree.
Note: In addition, pruning an old walnut tree can result in a more plentiful walnut harvest.
* The unfavorable growth refers, for example, to the fact that the plant is too tall or too wide and the hobby gardener thus comes into conflict with the applicable laws (obstructing road traffic, crossing the property line and so on).
** Storm damage can lead to disease and eventual death of the tree.
When to prune old walnut tree?
Compared to other fruit trees, the walnut bleeds a lot. That's why you have to make sure that you cut your old walnut tree at the right time - namely when the least tree sap is circulating in the tree fibers. This is the case in late summer - between late August and early September.
Note: At this time the walnut tree is still leafy. But: The leaf loss is far less serious than the increased liquid discharge. In addition, after the cut in late summer, the walnut still has a few weeks until winter to recover from the major intervention. The wounds can heal in time.
How to cut old walnut tree?
- First carry out a test cut to check whether the branches still have (too) much tree sap in them.
- Ensure a professional cut.
The goal is to redirect clipped branches to smaller shoots. Incorrect cutting increases the risk of broom shoots.
Broom shoots are fast-growing, fragile shoots that require frequent pruning - unnecessarily.
The wounds must not be larger than ten centimeters. Otherwise the tree cannot heal itself.
Regular small cuts are therefore better than infrequent large cutting measures.
And: Radical cuts shorten the lifespan of the tree considerably compared to uncut walnut trees.
Excessively bleeding wounds used to be sealed with wax to prevent excessive fluid loss. In the meantime, however, this method no longer makes sense - pathogens can form and spread under the wax.