skip to main content

Transplanting a Black Walnut/Butternut Tree

12 years ago

A Black Walnut/Butternut tree has sprouted near my deck and I would like to transplant it elsewhere, but it has gotten away from me. Each year since I first noticed it, I kept saying I would dig it out but never did. Now it's nearly 10 feet tall. The trunk is about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch in diameter. Is it still possible to dig this out?? I know these trees develop one mean taproot, based on online research. So will this even be possible?

If I can't transplant it, I will have to cut it down because it is close to a Eastern White Pine and a Juniper bush, and I know about the chemical that the roots release called juglone, which can harm and even kill other trees/plants, so this tree can't stay there. I don't know if it's a Black Walnut or a Butternut, but they are basically the same. If I remove it and damage the taproot, would that be a problem for the tree? Any suggestions as to how to remove this? I don't want to have to cut it down. Thanks.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (3)

brandon7 TN_zone7
12 years ago
Sure it's possible, but the first thing that pops into my mind about this is WHY would you want to? Just order a grafted tree from somewhere like Nolin River, get a better tree, know what type of tree you have, and save yourself lots of grief!

Here is a link that might be useful: Planting a Tree or Shrub (in case you're into self-torture)
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
12 years ago
just be done with it... cut to ground level.. apply roundup or stump killer to the cambian ... i wouldnt even bother digging it up ..

where there is one volunteer.. there are usually too many more.. find a babe and move that instead.. or order a named variety .. as suggested ...

can it be done.. why not.. start by moving out the other plants.. and stat digging a 4 foot hole so you end up with about a 3 foot root mass ... etc ... way too much work in my world ...

you would do it.. when the tree is dormant .. avoid the stresses of the tree trying to hold onto leaves ... in my z5.. that would be when the leaves change color in october... or in late march april as soon as the ground thaws ... i see your zip code.. but am too lazy to search your zone ...

but the issue is not CAN it be done.. whether.. SHOULD it be done ...

been there.. done that.. had great plans for a volunteer.. and as you.. waited wayyyy too long .... and those i tried .. this late in the game.. usually died.. lots of good exercise.. but little result ..

ken
Related Discussions
black walnut trees harmful to apple trees etc????
Q
Comments (28)
I agree that a serious fruit gardener has enough to contend with without handicapping themselves by having chemical war waged against their trees in the soil. Also I believe that it is more than simply poisoning- established black walnuts are extremely competitive as their roots are extremely prolific in areas where they grow. I have recently established an orchard in the vicinity of these trees and the density of black roots in the area is remarkable. I have the area around each individual tree spaded with a King of Spades type solid steel, long handled shovel just as BW's show signs of growth. So far so good, but I'm sure the roots will eventually go under depth of spade work. As usual, it is the peaches that have been most sluggish- they tend not to compete well against established trees when transplanted. I've often thought that some kind of heavy fabric or copper screen set in the planting hole might be affective if it was part of the original installation.
...See More
English Walnut / Black Walnut
Q
Comments (2)
Thank you for posting the pics, it saved me time! I plan on transplanting the tree next week.
...See More
Please tell me about (tree) butternuts-Juglans cinerea
Q
Comments (2)
Well, I used to have 3 trees. They got the canker disease that is going around and died. I replanted last year with some of the hydrid buartnuts and black buartnuts, which are crosses between butternut, heartnut, and/or black walnuts. These are said to be relatively fast to bear, and are resistant or immune to the canker. The flavor of butternuts is rich, sort of hard to describe. To me, they actually have a slight banana-like flavor to them, yet the overall flavor is subtle. They are probably the most similar in flavor overall to a commercial English/Carpathian/Persian walnut. They are very high oil content nut, you can literally squeeze the oil out of them by hand if you press hard. I've made some awesome European style tortes and cookies out of these "in the day." I have ONE little lone package of about a pound of nutmeats left in my freezer for some very special occasion. Frozen nutmeats will last up to 10 years, by the way, if tightly wrapped. I would definitely consider them worth growing, but there is that canker issue, so you might want to buy some hybrid trees. Oikos Tree Crops in Kalamazoo, Michigan is a great source of several resistant hybrids.
...See More
Walnut / Black Walnut Trees
Q
Comments (63)
Maureen, I would recommend contacting your extension agent or local forester for more information on who you might contact for potential removal/purchasing. Trees grown in yard or farmstead settings - unless carefully managed - will likely not attract a great deal of attention from timber buyers due to potential for old nails, wire, etc that may exist under in the tree. I'm in west central WI and had 4 20"+ Black Walnuts we needed to remove last year and we couldn't give away the trees (the trees were farmstead trees/woodland bordering trees). A local timber buyer had zero interest - even in just giving them away - nor did anyone want them for wood burning. We did end up giving some chunks of the logs away to friends though who wanted some for woodworking. While I like Black Walnuts in general, I do not like them in a yard setting as a selection of other plants are not tolerant of the junglone (basically a natural herbicide of the BW) produced from the seeds, roots, and leaves. Good luck!
...See More
whaas_5a
12 years ago
I'm cutting down an 8 footer tomorrow...dang juglone!

Related Stories

MATERIALS Woodipedia: Walnut Wows in Traditional and Modern Settings

By Marci Crestani

With its rich color and lustrous polished finish, walnut is a favorite wood for all kinds of millwork

HOUZZ TV Houzz TV: A Most Unusual Indoor-Outdoor Connection

By Annie Thornton

A giant California Sycamore grows through this dream house in the hills of Los Angeles

FALL GARDENING 11 Trees for Brilliant Fall Color

By Marianne Lipanovich

Give your landscape the quintessential look of autumn with the red, orange and yellow leaves of these standouts

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Chasmanthium Latifolium

By Falon Mihalic

Inland sea oats is an easy native grass for a moist, shady garden spot

KITCHEN DESIGN Kitchen of the Week: Chestnut and an Open Fire in Connecticut

By Becky Harris

Antique chestnut boards give a kitchen with a wood-burning oven vintage flair, balancing its modern amenities

GARDENING GUIDES What Are Your Spring Gardening Plans?

By Annie Thornton

Tearing out the lawn? Planting edibles? Starting from scratch? Tell us what you plan to change in your garden this year

GARDENING GUIDES Top 12 Summer-Blooming Perennials for Deer-Resistant Drama

Can you have garden color, fragrance and exciting foliage with hungry deer afoot? These beauties say yes

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING World of Design: 10 Home Gardeners Show Us Their Sweet Summer Harvests

From New York to Tokyo, these gardeners have turned their yards, terraces and rooftops into places of bounty

LANDSCAPE DESIGN 10 Ideas for a Creative, Water-Conscious Yard

By Laura Gaskill

Check out these tips for a great-looking outdoor area that needs less water

FARM YOUR YARD Houzz Call: Home Farmers, Show Us Your Edible Gardens

By Stacy Briscoe

We want to see where your tomatoes, summer squashes and beautiful berries are growing this summer

Sponsored

Peabody Landscape Group

8 Reviews

Franklin County's Reliable Landscape Design & Contracting

More Discussions

Huge black maple in Michigan

4

Is it normal for new trees to have 8"of solid clay in the root ball?

6

Juniper virginians problem

6

I think I have Wooly Oak Gall, Callirhytis furva?

5

Bigtooth Maple Acer grandidenatum JFS-NuMex 3 Mesa Glow cuttings

0