Walnut Tree

HeelSpur · #1 08/14/12, 09:56 AM

For over a month now branchs from my walnut tree have been breaking off and this morning the largest branch so far snapped. I guess the big wind storm we had put alot of stress on it and now that it has lots of walnuts on it the branches are snapping from the weight. (unless its just dying)
Unti this morning most of the branchs that snapped were 1" - 1 1/2" in diameter, this one is nearly 3 1/2 inchs. There are still plenty of dead ones that havn't made it to the ground yet too.

Robotron · #2 08/14/12, 12:10 PM

Get 2 x4's with v notches cut into them to support the load. Apple orchards do it every year here to save the trees. Except this year, very few apples

salmonslayer · #3 08/14/12, 05:31 PM

I wouldnt think the walnuts are heavy enough to cause that kind of breakage. We have about 20 large black walnut trees and around here they are losing branches in even relatively minor wind storms because they are so dried out from the drought. We had a micro burst a couple weeks ago that snapped large trees in half about 10 to 15 feet up the tree and the extension service attributed it to the trees just being dried out.

SilverVista · #4 08/15/12, 12:31 AM

I agree with salmonslayer. The nuts on that tree aren't heavy enough to snap branches. Some kind of stress is doing it. Have you cut open a broken branch to see if the tree has an infestation of borers? Drought is no doubt causing some weakness, and if the weakened tree has attracted borers, broken branches would be expected.

HeelSpur · #5 08/15/12, 12:49 PM

Cut the branch and it looks healthy to me, but these branchs are very heavy
with more than a normal amount of nuts on them.

solidwoods · #6 08/15/12, 05:50 PM

Walnut and pecan are bad to break limbs even when they are healthy.
I'd make a clean cut at the break area and seal it.
Also I saw a drill operated walnut cracker on the net if you are looking for one.
I love black walnuts, good look'in tree.
jim

HeelSpur · #7 08/15/12, 05:56 PM

We got a heavy rain an hour ago but very little wind and there are 3 more branchs on the ground. Theres hundreds of small walnuts on the ground too.

VaFarmer · #8 08/15/12, 09:30 PM

I've got a dozen walnut trees around the field, and there all loaded with near full sized walnuts, stange too have this many full size walnuts this early in the yr. Does this mean it's going tobe a hard winter? Anyone see woolly worms yet? But not losing an adnormal amount of limbs, but the wet yr and heavy growth could be a factor.

SilverVista · #9 08/16/12, 12:41 AM

We have English walnut trees and this year is the biggest crop I've seen in 28 years. Same goes for the pear tree. Don't know how the trees would know about next winter when the buds were set last winter, but I'm certainly not going to waste a single nut or pear! As for wooly bears, haven't seen any on the farm in Oregon, but right now I'm in San Diego working on my Dad's house, and oddly I found a couple in the yard here today! Hmmmm.......