How to Grow Nut Trees in Washington
- 1). Select a planting location that matches the cultivation requirements of your nut tree. Note that most nut trees perform best and produce the most nuts when planted in areas that receive six to eight hours of direct sunlight per day and offer deep, rich and well-draining soil. Keep in mind the mature size of the tree you are planting to ensure that you choose a location that provides enough space for adequate development.
- 2). Dig a planting hole that is just large enough to fit the roots of your sapling. Place a handful of bone meal in the bottom of the planting hole and cover it with two to three handfuls of displaced soil.
- 3). Place the sapling in the center of the prepared planting hole. Position the sapling so that its crown will be planted at the same level it was planted in its nursery container. Backfill the hole with two-thirds of the remaining displaced soil. Pour a 1-gallon bucket of water into the planting hole to settle the soil around the sapling's roots. Add the remaining displaced soil to the planting hole and pack down the surface of the soil.
- 4). Water your tree after planting to ensure that the surrounding soil is settled and moistened. Continue to water your nut tree regularly to maintain moist, but never waterlogged, soil. Note that frequent watering is especially important while your sapling is working to establish a strong root system.
- 5). Fertilize the nut tree in the early spring, at the beginning of the growing season, to give it a boost of healthy nutrients. Feed your nut tree with a fertilizer product that has been specially formulated for nut-bearing trees; apply the fertilizer according to label directives.
- 6). Prune your nut tree each spring to remove any diseased, damaged or dead branches. Cut through the problem branches just outside of the branch collar using a pair of sharpened and sterilized pruning shears or loppers.
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