Spring Pruning Methods and Key Techniques for Walnut Trees

Walnut, also known as Persian walnut or Qiang walnut, is a plant of the Juglandaceae family. Along with almond, cashew and hazelnut, it is known as one of the world's famous “four major dried fruits”. Walnut kernels are rich in nutrients, and walnut trees adapt to an ecological environment with deep, loose, fertile and moist soil and a warm, cool climate. So, what are the pruning methods for walnut trees in spring?

1. What are the pruning methods for walnut trees in spring?

Pruning is generally carried out in spring after the walnut tree buds and before the leaves expand. Cut off dead branches, rotten branches and yellowing leaves, thin out overly dense branches, and shorten excessively tall branches.

2. Cultivation techniques for walnut trees

1. Planting site

When planting walnuts, choosing the planting site is very important. Generally, a gentle slope, flat land, or the area in front of and behind the house that faces the sun, is sheltered from the wind, and has convenient irrigation and transportation is suitable.

2. Soil

Walnuts are suitable for growing in sandy soil or sandy loam with good aeration, good water retention and good looseness. The soil layer should be relatively deep, and more than 1 m is recommended.

3. Selecting seedlings

Only high-quality walnut seedlings can produce walnuts with high yield and good quality. Therefore, when selecting walnut seedlings, it is generally better to choose strong two- to three-year-old seedlings, with a height greater than 30 cm and a ground diameter no less than 1 cm. In addition, the walnut seedlings should have many roots and be free from pest and disease infestation, so that the survival rate after planting is higher.

4. Watering

The growth of walnut trees cannot be separated from water, especially during the growth period of young trees, so the requirements for drainage and irrigation are relatively high. The amount of watering should be determined specifically according to the moisture of the soil and the growth stage. There should be neither long-term waterlogging nor long-term drought; both phenomena are unfavorable to the growth of walnut trees.

5. Fertilizing

Fertilizing is an important means of ensuring the normal growth of the walnut tree and achieving high and stable yields. Walnut trees at different growth stages have different fertilizer requirements.

The timing of spring pruning of walnut trees is very important. If pruning is carried out at the wrong time, it is very likely to cause the loss of nutrients from the plant, making the plant thin and weak, and thereby affecting the growth of the plant.