What Grows Under Walnut and Oak Trees

“Why won’t anything grow in this particular area of my yard?’’

Among many other questions, we always have to ask is there a Black Walnut providing a canopy in this section of your yard? If so, your nursery professional can show you plants that will tolerate your growing environment. Effects of the tree’s toxicity include: yellowish and brown foliage; stunted, twisted and mutated growth or failure to grow all together. A plant that is susceptible to the toxicity of the tree will usually fail. The area of impact will spread as the tree’s roots and canopy expand.

Because of the confining elements of a Black Walnut, we do not recommend planting them in residential areas. It will limit the other trees and shrubs in the surrounding area. They are much better in a large expanded area where they will not do any harm but can be appreciated and harvested.

For those that already have an existing walnut tree, there is still a nice array of plants to choose from. Some plants on the list are simply from observation of professionals and others have been scientifically proven to be resistant to the chemical the tree produces.

Planting Under Oak and Other Dense Shade Trees

Planting under a dense shade area is not as challenging as it sounds. Most grass has a difficult time as most of the roots on these trees are in the top 6-8 inches of soil. So the fun part begins when you get to make a brand new shade garden under your tree. We recommend raising the bed so the new plants have a layer of soil to draw nutrients from.