Black Walnut Trees For Lumber

Along with mahogany and cherry walnut set the standard for early american furniture.

Black walnut trees for lumber.

High quality walnut is valued primarily for its use as furniture wood but especially for its use in. Black walnut juglans nigra is one of six species of walnut tree which grows in the united states. According to timber experts black walnut trees when planted to maximize tree growth can grow as much as 3 to 4 per year in good soil reaching a mature height of over 100 and 30 to 40 in diameter with 16 diameter saw logs ready to harvest in 30 years. The value of timber value is largely determined by the relative presence or absence of defects.

8x10 spacing i e plant one tree every eight feet within the tree rows with ten feet between tree rows 545 trees per acre is how i would design my tree planting if i were in your position. Black walnut native growing areas are concentrated in eastern canada and the. Black walnut also known as walnut or american walnut is one of the finest north american lumber species. Most black walnut trees are grown to produce saw logs or veneer.

The value of black walnut lumber about black walnut. Black cherry 400 to 800 per mbf california redwood 700 to 900 per mbf douglas fir 150 to 300 per mbf hard maple 300 to 800 per mbf pine yellow spruce or hemlock 75 to 250 per mbf red oak 300 to 600 per mbf red pine 50 to 160 per mbf soft maple 100 to 400 per mbf walnut 900 to. If you own a mature black walnut tree you are fortunate. Growing black walnut trees starting a black walnut tree plantation.

Black walnut north american growing zones. Black walnut is a valuable hardwood used in the production of ultra high end furniture and cabinetry. Market value of black. To maximize the timber value and your potential cash payout you should enlist the services of a qualified professional logger and have the logs evaluated by a grader who has received formal training from a recognized educational institution.

If you are going to plant one acre of black walnut as a future investment i would probably plant at least 436 trees per acre. Typical black walnut tree plantations are set out in contiguous tree rows. Plant one tree every ten feet within your tree rows with ten feet between tree rows i e 43 560 square feet per acre divided by 10x10 spacing yields 436 trees per acre. A rule of thumb is to never allow a branch to exceed 1 1 2 to 2 inches in diameter before removal.

The walnut tree is hearty shade tolerant and can grow to be quite large both in width and in height. Pruning for timber quality as a black walnut tree grows in a plantation removal of branches from the main stem is essential for the development of knot free veneer quality wood. Black walnut is usually not found in pure walnut stands it frequently appears with yellow poplar white ash black cherry basswood beech sugar maple red oak and hickory trees. High quality trees should have very few visible defects including scars bumps cracks crookedness holes or low hanging limbs.