Goby Walnut Products operates a retail and wholesale nursery. We provide bare root seedlings, cleaned stratified seed, and containerized trees.
Seedlings are pulled in December and ready for planting from January through March. They are available in 1 ft., 2 ft., and 3 ft. heights and normally shipped UPS. Price quotes available on request.
Seed is available after November through February. Seed nuts are 10 cents each.
Containerized trees are potted in 25 to 30 gallon plastic pots and vary from 1 to 5 years old. Prices available on request.
If you are interested in reforesting with Oregon Black Walnut, give us a call at 541-926-1079 and consider joining us in the Oregon Chapter of the National Walnut Council. We are also members of the Oregon Association of Nurserymen.
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There are as many ideas regarding the best practice in planting as there are planters, but here are some guides for the beginner who needs some suggestions and has not yet become his or her own expert.
Assuming you have chosen a good soil type (deep, well drained) and a good location (North or East facing with no or mild slope), preparation of the site needs to be considered. Preparation is intended to ease access and minimize competitive vegetation and provide an ideal growing environment for your walnut seedlings. Brush removal, tilling or herbicide application may all be appropriate considerations for your site. Since each location has its own site circumstances, the optimal site preparation will vary widely, but don't ignore prepping your site before planting
In Oregon and Washington, planting seedlings early in the winter (once ground is wet) is better. Seed nuts that are stratified will need to be planted before March. Bare root seedlings can be planted between January and March. Root growth does occur, although slowly, during the winter "dormant" period. Since bare root seedlings are severely root pruned during the digging process, any early root growth is helpful before dry summer stresses.
Tree spacing, species mix and intercropping in a walnut plantation will depend on your objectives and site conditions. There is no "ideal" layout, but the longer foresters plant walnut plantations the more trees they plant per acre. If your objective is timber production, spacing trees with 50 to 100 square feet per tree is reasonable, i.e. an 8 ft. X 10 ft. spacing is 80 sq. feet per tree; a 10 ft. X 10 ft. spacing is 100 sq. feet per tree. This would calculate to 450 to 850 trees per acre. This density encourages straight growth and self pruning as lower branches are shaded and die. Since even apical dominant trees tend to fork, close spacing encourages vertical height. A 20 foot bole (base log) without limbs should be your goal. It is important to realize that 100 trees per acre is a post thinned plantation. That is all the mature trees an acre can support. Removing 3 of 4 or 5 of 7 less ideal shaped, unhealthy or damaged trees should be expected! Crown competition and form should be major considerations as you thin.
If you have an established squirrel population, seed can be planted by these helpful rodents, i.e.: 2 bushels of seed - one they eat and one they forget. However, if you want something other than random plantings you will have to take a more active role. Seed nuts can be planted 3 per hill since usually at least one will germinate. Squirrels will find your planted seed nuts, so if squirrels are close by, seedlings are recommended. Seedlings also make it easier to monitor early growth and guide adequate weed control to give a head start for your plantation. Poor water retaining soils (sand) might be another reason to plant seedlings instead of nuts.
Plant 3 seeds per hill covered by 1 inch of soil. Mark each hill with a flag. Watch closely for first growth and be very diligent about weed control.
One or two year old seedlings have a lot of stored energy but they are severely root pruned with nursery removal and basically spend the first year regrowing roots. Planting holes dug by hand, with an auger or machine will all work, but dusting the hole with bone meal really helps root development and subsequent vigor. Avoid J rooting the trees by digging an adequate hole for the root volume. Keep grass and other weeds controlled from around the seedlings.
Mulching, fabric, ground covers and tree shelters may all have some advantages, but weed control is number 1, 2 and 3. The seedlings must have enough water and nutrients to survive and grow. Weed control is your primary task once the seedlings are in the ground. Roundup is the most commonly used herbicide for the first two years since grass is usually the most important single weed to control. Avoiding spraying the tree and following label directions are very important.
Please do not fertilize new bare root seedlings. They are growing roots! If you must fertilize, wait until the second year or later. Remember, if you are not doing adequate weed control, fertilizing is just going to grow large competitive weeds. Most studies done on walnut plantation fertilization have shown that little long term growth improvement occurs with fertilization.
Unless weeds are shading the seedlings, mowing is not helpful. An exception might be if the weeds need to be cut down prior to tilling or herbicide application. Remember the grass and weed roots are just as competitive underground if they are mowed or left alone. Mower and tiller damage (even bruising) to the tender bark of a young seedling is a major source of disease and subsequent loss.
Oregon Black Walnut is a fast growing Northwest hardy tree with dependable growth patterns. You can expect good form to yield high value logs if you are attentive to your plantation. Oregon Black Walnut logs continue to command a premium price for saw logs and especially veneer logs. So plant them - care for them - and expect to enhance the value of your land and ultimately the sale value of your mature trees. Good Luck and Good Growing.
Goby Walnut Products
"From Seed to Lumber"
5016 Palestine Rd. N.W.
Albany, OR 97321
Phone: (541) 926-1079
www.gobywalnut.com