are blackwallnut shavings good for flower beds and landscaping?

Posted on February 28, 2012 by RodPinto

Question by : are blackwallnut shavings good for flower beds and landscaping?
a friend of mine has run into some back walnut shavings, and wants to know if they are good for landscaping.

Best answer:

Answer by Cerulean Blue
The black walnut tree produces a toxin called juglone.

This toxin is poisonous to a large number of plants, including tomato, potato, blackberry, blueberry, azalea, mountain laurel, rhododendron, red pine and apple.

These plants may be injured or killed within one to two months of growth inside the root zone of the black walnut tree.

Juglone is present in the walnut’s buds, nut hulls, roots, leaves and stems, so ALL of these materials are off limits for mulch and compost.

Many trees, vines, shrubs, groundcovers, annuals and perennials can tolerate the juglone; however, if you want to be safe, find some other source for your mulch.

Give your answer to this question below!

This entry was posted in Landscaping and tagged , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

3 Responses to are blackwallnut shavings good for flower beds and landscaping?

  1. stretch says:
    February 28, 2012 at 5:57 pm

    Nicole,
    I vote for the first answer. CB is absolutely correct. I wouldn’t use walnut for the reasons she cited.

  3. BobKat says:
    February 28, 2012 at 6:58 pm

    Black walnut shavings should not be used anywhere near plants. Nor should any other part of a black walnut tree be used near plants, and it should not be added to a compost pile. The juglone that is produced by black walnut trees is toxic to many plants.

    If black walnut is applied as mulch, the plants in the landscaping will quickly show signs of stress and will soon die. The juglone from the wood shavings will leach into the soil, rendering that spot unsuitable for plants for many years to come.