Thinking about a Tree farm

[Slacker]

Been considering using some acres to plant tree's for lumber. Primarily considering Black walnut. It already grows well on alot of my land, so I know I've got the soil for it. It is supposed to be the most valuable lumber in N. America. This would be a 15-18 year project, to be harvested near retirement.
I've got a backhoe to dig with, and cleared land to plant on.
Is this a fools dream or has anyone actually tried it? It will changed the tax status of my land, and it'll give me a tax shelter for "tractor related toys"....so whats the downside? Bushhogging between the tree's sometimes, spraying and trimming, but that all sounds pretty fun to me!

You guys better talk me out of this....or give me some good advice so the wife can't say -I told you so!- [/]

Edited to add a great link that answers all my questions:
Black Walnut

 

[Paddy]

I don't want to be too negitive but, planting walnuts for your retirement maybe better adapted to your kids retirement. High quality lumber, be it walnut or oak, is forest grown. Slow growth with nearly no lower branches throug most of it's life. Field grown trees grow fast but have many branches.

Walnut is my choice of wood. I have kitchen cabinets I made from lower grade top logs. Many knots. Walnut has gone out of style due to being so dark.

 

[dooleysm]

I would think you could prune young trees of lower branches fairly easily with some pruning shears. Around here, and I'm guessing in NC as well, you'd have to protect the trees from rutting deer in the fall of the year. This could be a tedious project, I don't know, but would depend on the local deer and how many trees you're talking.

I think Paddy's right about the time frame as well. I carried home some tiny maple trees and planted them at my parents house 20 years ago. The one or two that survived are maybe 30-40' tall and maybe 12" circumference. Nowhere near big enough to get any real wood out of. I assume that maple and walnut have similar growth rates.

 

[6or7dazeaweek]

Have you considered a mix of trees...you could plant Christmas trees to harvest on one part of your land & walnut trees on the other part. That way you could recoup some revenue early on.

Jon

 

[gotrocks]

We moved to our present location in 1968 there were several black walnut trees already growing in the yard. Yard gets some fertilizer and supplemental water and the largest b.walnut is only 8 inches in diam. I'm inclined to agree with the "kids retirement" except I'd add GRANDkids.
Yep walnut is not seen around much now but I'm not sure it has gone out of style but the price is high compared to many other woods.
Cherry is my favorite. It's high also.
Years ago I read an article on growing Paulownia Tomatosa trees. The article talked about how fast they grew, well I've planted a couple of those and they have been in the ground for several years, and they are not big enough to climb yet.

 

[CharlieTR]

Been researching the tree thing for a long time now, have many Pecans.
Not really looked into the Black Walnut until now.
That is a real interesting tree choice.

From the brief reading I just did, if you have a right site (bottom land) for them they are the perfect choice. If people do not see a fast growth rate, it is due to site selection. That tree is ideal for your plan. 2-3 feet growth per year, no major pests, nuts until lumber time. You may need a little longer than 18 years though @ 3' per yr = 54 feet (max height is 85 feet). But the nuts will bring enough to pay for the land anyway.

Soil testing is important and get your state's expert involved. Your country agent will get in touch with them. Plan to irrigate from the beginning. The nice thing about trees is that you can go as big/little as you like, and plant some each Winter.

 

[Big_Charlie]

I've got a number of large black walnuts on my property and they're all dead or dying - 12 in all including the small one I cut down the other day. The small one had maybe a 10" stump, but a whole half of it was rotted out and hollow. I assume they contracted some sort of blight because the maples, oaks, and pecans all are massive and healthy 50-100 year old beasts while every walnut on the property is dead or on its way to wherever trees go when they die. Just watch out for diseases, bugs, and rot and you might make a little money at it.

As for me, I keep thinking about getting some more land and planting a pecan grove of a few hundred trees. They grow great around here. The 3-4 wild pecan trees put out bunches of nuts every year, so I can only imagine how much better domesticated pecans must do.

 

[MrJimi]

I would do this a different way.

I would buy vacant land now and sell it it twenty years ( insert smilie face here )

Jim

 

[Botabill]

Just plant those trees Bro. You are doing the earth and the rest of us a big favour. If you can make a few bucks doing it.. it's a bonus. I started planting trees on my property 23 years ago. Just love what I see now even though I haven't made a buck and frankly a my age I really don't care if I ever do. There are more important things now.

 

[Doc_Bob]

Just plant those trees Bro. You are doing the earth and the rest of us a big favour. If you can make a few bucks doing it.. it's a bonus.

I planted 55 Colorado Blue Spruce trees this year (4-0) for the exact reason you just stated. Another 50 next Spring. And then another 50 and so on year after year. When I am dead, somebody will look at all those trees and wonder about the crazy old guy who planted them and smile.
Bob