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[Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>]

On Jul 9, 2008, at 7:41 PM, Roy Morgan wrote:

> On Jul 9, 2008, at 4:49 PM, Gene GeRue wrote:
> ... I must do something about
> > these very long black walnut roots that are killing my apple trees.
>
> Are the roots very long?  Or does the "poison" travel through the
> dirt, and get carried by leaves and whatever a long distance?  Both?

My knowledge thus far is that the juglone toxin does not travel very  
far from the roots, perhaps only an inch or two. Yes, the roots are  
very long. I have not measured with a tape, but I would say that I am  
losing trees that may be as much as 150 feet from the black walnut  
trunks. Mind you, these are mature walnuts. One of them shades half  
the house until afternoon.
> I ask, because since the original thread on this, I've been counting
> the very small and small volunteers here that I can dig up and
> transplant to our new place.  The new place has a pond in the middle
> of the property sort of drainage ditches or low places in two
> directions toward roadside drainage low spots.  One of them goes in a
> direction considerably away from the house/barns and garden area.
> 'Seems like a black walnut planted every 30-40 feet along that low
> area would be good.

Consider your purpose carefully. If you will be happy with just nuts,  
then give them enough space for nutrients and water. Check the advice  
of an extension office in that area as they will know the soil and the  
rainfall. If you wish the girls to make walnut cradles for their  
grandchildren, then prune them carefully from about the fifth year on,  
taking all low side branches, to achieve the tallest possible straight  
log.