If you are thinking about planting a walnut tree in your own garden, the first step should be to deal with the pros and cons. There are definitely many points in favor of keeping a walnut in your home green oasis - but one should not ignore potential disadvantages either. Our guide deals with what a walnut tree can do in the garden - in both positive and negative terms.
A walnut tree grows very large
Benefits of a walnut tree in the garden
The walnut was named Tree of the Year in 2008. No wonder, after all, it produces wonderfully tasty walnuts when healthy. The tree owes its enormous popularity to this fact.
But the plant has a lot more to offer, even if it doesn't seem like it at first glance: the walnut
- presents itself with a stocky, rather clumsy habitus.
- is one of those trees that sprout very late in spring.
- has no showy flowers and no special autumn colors.
- is the first bare tree in autumn because it quickly sheds its leaves.
But it is precisely in these supposedly unattractive properties that there are great advantages:
Due to the fact that the walnut tree only bears its leaves for such a short time, it is an excellent house tree: in spring it only provides shade when its owners want it, and in autumn it ensures that the sun is already in at that time can shine through its crown again when it starts to weaken a bit and thus become very comfortable.
In addition, the walnut tree is characterized by the finest wood and the best nuts. Besides that, the silvery bark and gnarled branches give it character.
Note: The walnut comes into its own at its best in a single stand.
Disadvantage of a walnut tree in the garden
The biggest (potential) downside of a walnut tree is its enormous size. It grows to an average height of 25 meters, sometimes even 30, and develops a crown that reaches 15 meters in diameter. In short, you should only plant a walnut if you have enough space in your garden.
Recommendation: Otherwise there is still the good option of cultivating a small walnut variety.