How To Get Rid Of Walnut Trees

Getting rid of walnut trees is possible, but it takes patience, the right method, and a bit of grit because these trees don’t give up easily.
 
Whether you’re dealing with a black walnut that keeps dropping nuts on your driveway or a jungle of seedlings taking over your yard, you’ve probably searched for how to get rid of walnut trees for good.
 
The good news is that you can remove walnut trees, kill the stumps, and stop them from coming back with a solid plan.
 
In this post, we’ll walk through how to get rid of walnut trees, the best techniques for killing the roots and stumps, and how to keep them from returning.
 
Let’s dig in.
 

Why Getting Rid of Walnut Trees Takes Real Effort

Getting rid of walnut trees is tough because these trees have deep taproots, strong survival instincts, and a chemical weapon.
 

1. Walnut Roots Run Deep

Black walnut roots can reach far below the surface and spread wide underground.
 
That means simply cutting the tree down won’t kill it.
 
The stump and root system will often send up new shoots, and you’ll be back to square one.
 

2. They Release Juglone

Walnut trees produce a substance called juglone that’s toxic to many plants.
 
This makes the area around them hard to replant, and it’s another reason people want walnut trees gone.
 

3. Seedlings Pop Up Everywhere

Squirrels bury walnuts, and those nuts sprout fast.
 
If you don’t handle the stump and roots properly, you’ll spend years pulling up new walnut trees.
 
So getting rid of walnut trees means removing the whole thing, not just what you can see above ground.
 

How to Get Rid of Walnut Trees Step by Step

Here’s the most reliable way to get rid of walnut trees, from the trunk down to the roots.
 

1. Cut the Tree Down

Start by cutting the walnut tree down, leaving a stump about a foot tall.
 
You can use a chainsaw for smaller trunks and hire a pro for big trees near buildings.
 
Timing matters here, and late summer or early fall is ideal because the tree is pulling sap downward, which helps any stump treatment work better.
 

2. Treat the Stump Immediately

The best way to kill walnut tree roots is to apply an herbicide to the freshly cut stump within minutes of cutting.
 
Paint undiluted glyphosate or triclopyr on the exposed wood, especially around the outer ring.
 
The tree will absorb it down into the roots before it can seal itself off.
 

3. Drill Holes for a Backup Plan

If the stump is already old, drill several holes into the top and pour herbicide into them.
 
This helps kill walnut tree stumps that have already started to harden.
 
Just be careful using these chemicals around other plants, pets, and kids.
 

4. Grind or Remove the Stump

Once the stump is dead, rent a stump grinder or hire someone to grind it down below ground level.
 
For smaller stumps from young walnut trees, you can dig them out by hand.
 
Removing the stump gets rid of a prime spot for new walnut shoots to sprout.
 

5. Watch for Suckers

For the next several months, keep an eye out for suckers popping up around the old stump.
 
Pull or spray them right away before they get established.
 
Staying on top of this is key to truly getting rid of walnut trees.
 

Other Methods for Killing Walnut Trees

If cutting and stump treatment isn’t your style, there are a few other ways to get rid of walnut trees.
 

1. Girdling

Girdling means cutting a ring through the bark all the way around the trunk.
 
This cuts off the flow of nutrients and slowly kills the walnut tree over a season or two.
 
It’s a slower route, but it works well when you can’t safely cut a big tree down right away.
 

2. Herbicide Injection

You can inject herbicide directly into the trunk of a standing walnut tree.
 
This method kills the tree from the inside out, but it takes weeks to show results.
 

3. Repeated Cutting

If you keep cutting new growth down to the ground every few weeks, you’ll eventually exhaust the roots.
 
It’s a battle of wills, but persistence pays off for getting rid of walnut trees without chemicals.
 

4. Smothering Small Saplings

For young walnut saplings, covering them with a thick black tarp or mulch can block sunlight and kill them.
 
This is one of the easiest ways to get rid of small walnut trees before they get out of hand.
 

Stopping Walnut Trees From Coming Back

Getting rid of walnut trees doesn’t end when the stump is gone.
 
Keep the area clear of fallen walnuts so they don’t sprout.
 
Mulch or plant juglone-tolerant species where the tree used to be, and monitor the spot for a year or two.
 
If you stay consistent, you’ll win the fight against these stubborn trees.
 

So, How Do You Get Rid of Walnut Trees?

You get rid of walnut trees by cutting them down, killing the stump and roots with herbicide, and removing the stump for good.
 
Methods like girdling, injection, and repeated cutting also work, but the cut-and-treat approach is the fastest and most reliable.
 
Whichever route you take, patience is everything when getting rid of walnut trees.
 
Do the job right the first time, and you won’t have to deal with them again.