If you want to cut your old walnut tree, you have to take a few things into account so as not to damage the noble plant. If you shorten the tree too early, too late and/or incorrectly, it risks dying because it tends to bleed heavily. In this post you will learn why, when and how you should prune an old walnut tree.
When and how should you prune an old walnut tree?
You should cut old walnut trees in late summer (end of August to beginning of September), as less tree sap circulates during this time. First carry out a test cut and pay attention to professional cutting to avoid broom shoots and major injuries.
Why cut old walnut tree?
A walnut tree does not need any pruning. Only if he
- unfavorable growth or
- is damaged by natural influences (storm),
you should grab the pruning shears (€38.00 on Amazon) or saw and cut your tree.
Note: Additionally, pruning an old walnut tree can result in a richer walnut harvest.
The unfavorable growth refers, for example, to the plant becoming too tall or too wide and the hobby gardener thereby coming into conflict with the applicable laws (obstruction of road traffic, crossing the property line and so on).
Storm damage can cause disease and, under certain circumstances, lead to the death of the tree.
When to cut old walnut trees?
Compared to other fruit trees, the walnut bleeds a lot. That's why you have to make sure to cut your old walnut tree at the right time - namely when the least amount of tree sap is circulating in the tree fibers. This occurs in late summer – between the end of August and the beginning of September.
Note: At this time the walnut tree is still lush with leaves. But: The loss of leaves is nowhere near as serious as the increased leakage of liquid. In addition, after the walnut is cut in late summer, it 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.
- Make sure the cut is professional.
The goal is to redirect clipped branches to smaller shoots. Incorrect cutting increases the risk of broom shoots.
Broom shoots are shoots that sprout quickly and are prone to breakage, requiring frequent cutting - unnecessarily.
The wounds must not be larger than ten centimeters. Otherwise the tree cannot heal itself.
Regular small cuts are better than rare large cuts.
And: Radical cuts significantly shorten the lifespan of the tree compared to uncut walnut trees.
In the past, excessively bleeding wounds were sealed with wax to prevent excessive fluid loss. However, this method no longer makes sense - pathogens can form and spread under the wax.