d North Central Forest Experiment Station 3.08-i/ A$ENTRAL HARDWOOD NOTES w V Selecting Sites Seeding And Planting Walnut

Aggressive black walnut plantation management will produce rapid growth, good form, and marketable products much faster than plantations allowed to grow without intensive culture. Site quality must be the first consideration in deciding whether to plant walnut. Professional help is essential for this. In general, soils should be at least 36 inches deep, well-drained, and have good moisture-holding capacity. Fertile loams and sandy loams with high organic matter and pH from 6.5 to 7.2 are usually best. Bottomland soils often meet these requirements, but avoid bottoms with excessive flooding, poor internal drainage, and bedrock or gravel deposits close to the surface. Ridgetops, south- and west-facing slopes, and swampy areas usually are poor walnut sites. Some level upland fields may be suitable walnut sites if the soil is deep and internal drainage is good. A mottled appear-ance (alternating spots of gray and brown or orange color) indicates poor internal drainage. Preparing the Site This includes activities necessary to get the land ready to plant the trees. Al