If you’re dreaming of having a few more walnut trees dotting your backyard, you don’t have to head to the nursery! You can actually propagate new little saplings from a tree you already have. There are a few different ways to get the job done, but two methods are the most popular for home gardeners.
Different Ways to Propagate a Walnut Tree
When it comes to growing new walnut trees, you’ve got three main options:
- Growing from the nuts (seeds)
- Using cuttings
- Grafting
Growing a Walnut Tree from Seed
The easiest way to start a new walnut tree is by using its fruit—the walnuts themselves! For the best results, you’ll want to use a fresh nut from the current harvest. Fresh nuts have a much higher germination rate than older ones that have been sitting around since last year.
One thing to keep in mind: when you grow from seed, the new tree won’t be a “clone” of the parent. This means the walnuts it eventually produces might look a little different in shape, color, or size.
Here’s how to do it:
- Fill a pot with a mix of sand and peat.
- Take the nut (make sure the green outer husk is removed) and press it into the soil, covering it lightly.
- Place the pot in a bright, warm spot and keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy.
- By springtime, you should see the first little sprouts poking through.
- Once your seedling is about 6 inches tall, it’s ready to be moved into a larger pot to keep growing.
Propagating Walnut Trees from Cuttings
Another way to go about it is by using cuttings. Just a heads-up: walnut cuttings can be a bit finicky, and not every single one will take root. It’s always a smart move to prep a few more cuttings than you actually need, just in case!
Follow these steps:
- Cut several fresh shoots from the tree, each about 6 inches long.
- Stick them into a pot filled with high-quality seed-starting mix.
- Find a warm, sunny spot for them and keep the soil nice and moist.
- After a few weeks, you should see new leaves and shoots starting to form. Once the little guys look sturdy enough, you can transplant them into their own individual pots.
Grafting Your Walnut Tree
The third option is grafting. While this is a great way to ensure specific fruit quality, it’s a bit more technical and labor-intensive. Usually, this method is best left to pros or very experienced gardeners who have the specialized tools and patience for it!
