How to Plant Black Walnut Trees for Profit
- 1). Plant the walnut saplings far apart. There should be at least five feet of space in every direction to get the best sunlight and grow straight. Black walnut trees grow best with plenty of space and sunshine. High-quality black walnut trees are grown straight, so they need space to avoid being knobby.
- 2). Allow saplings to grow until approximately 12 to 14 feet in height. Depending on the size of the sapling when planted, it can take a year or two before the tree is the appropriate height.
- 3). Prune the branches. Pruning is good for the tree and helps the tree grow faster and healthier. Cut the tree branches that are less than two inches in diameter but leave the branch collar on the tree. The branch collar is the area slightly larger in diameter than the branch that sits between the branch of the tree and the tree trunk. Cut off a couple of branches each year to prune the tree.
- 4). Remove vines that grow on the tree. Vines can make it hard for the tree to grow and some vines are parasites. They should be removed to ensure the best possible growth of the tree.
- 5). Harvest the walnuts. After a few years of growth, the trees should start to produce walnuts. Harvesting the walnuts is one way to make a profit with black walnut trees. The profits will vary by year and the market where the walnuts are sold. Typically, the price for walnuts will be based on the weight in pounds and the area where the walnuts are sold.
- 6). Thin the trees yearly. Black walnut trees need space to grow, so thinning is often necessary. Thinning can be done by removing some percentage of trees each year. The percentage of trees removed should be based on the number of trees and the amount of space needed for optimum growth.
- 7). Sell the wood of removed trees. The branches should be removed before selling the tree. These can result in high profits or low profits, depending on the quality of the wood. For example, a knobby tree will sell for less than a tree that is straight and has few problems.
