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Black walnuts in your yard can be a blessing and a curse, but there are plenty of smart ways to handle them.
If you’ve ever asked yourself “what to do with black walnuts in yard,” you’re not alone.
Those tough, staining hulls and hard shells can take over your lawn, but they’re also useful if you know how to deal with them.
In this post, we’ll explore practical options for what to do with black walnuts in yard, from harvesting and eating them to clearing them out efficiently.
Let’s dig in.
What to Do with Black Walnuts in Yard: The Best Options
When you’re figuring out what to do with black walnuts in your yard, you actually have several choices.
You can harvest them, compost them, or simply get rid of them.
The right approach depends on how much time and effort you want to invest.
1. Harvest Them for Eating
Black walnuts are edible and delicious if you’re willing to put in the work.
When you decide what to do with black walnuts in yard, harvesting for the nutmeat is a top option.
Wait until the hulls turn from green to yellow or black and start to soften.
Then gather them up, remove the hulls (which will stain your hands, so wear gloves), and rinse the shells thoroughly.
After that, spread them out to dry for a few weeks in a cool, ventilated area.
Once dry, crack the hard shells with a hammer or a nutcracker to get to the rich, flavorful nut inside.
It’s a labor of love, but the taste is worth it.
2. Compost the Hulls and Shells
If you don’t want to eat them, composting is a great answer to what to do with black walnuts in yard.
The hulls and shells break down over time and add organic matter to your soil.
Just keep in mind that black walnut hulls contain juglone, a chemical that can be toxic to some plants.
So don’t add them to compost you plan to use around sensitive vegetables or flowers.
Instead, create a separate compost pile for black walnuts and let them decompose for a year or two before using them in less sensitive areas.
3. Use Them as a Natural Weed Barrier
Another clever option for what to do with black walnuts in yard is to use the shells as mulch.
The hard shells don’t break down quickly, so they make a durable weed barrier.
Spread them around trees or shrubs that tolerate juglone, like most oaks or hickories.
They’ll suppress weeds and slowly release nutrients as they decompose.
Just avoid using them near tomatoes, peppers, or other juglone-sensitive plants.
How to Get Rid of Black Walnuts in Your Yard
If you’d rather not deal with the mess, getting rid of black walnuts is a valid choice.
Here are the most effective methods for what to do with black walnuts in yard when you just want them gone.
1. Rake and Bag Them
The simplest way to remove black walnuts is to rake them up and bag them.
Do this as soon as they fall, before they stain your lawn or get buried in the grass.
Wear gloves because the hulls will stain your skin for weeks.
You can then dispose of them with your regular yard waste or take them to a local compost facility.
2. Use a Lawn Sweeper or Shop Vac
For larger yards, a lawn sweeper or a heavy-duty shop vac can make quick work of black walnuts.
These tools pick up the nuts without you having to bend over constantly.
It’s a faster solution for what to do with black walnuts in yard when you have a lot of them.
Just empty the collection bag frequently because black walnuts are heavy.
3. Mow Them into the Lawn
If you don’t mind a little mess, you can mow over black walnuts with a mulching mower.
This breaks them into smaller pieces that decompose faster.
However, be aware that the hulls can stain your driveway or patio if you blow them around.
And the juglone released can affect nearby plants, so this works best in a isolated area.
4. Encourage Wildlife to Help
Squirrels and other rodents love black walnuts.
If you leave some on the ground, they’ll often carry them away and bury them.
This won’t clear everything, but it can reduce the numbers naturally.
Just don’t rely on it as your only method for what to do with black walnuts in yard.
Preventing Future Black Walnut Messes
Once you’ve dealt with this year’s crop, you might want to prevent next year’s.
Here are a few tips.
1. Pick Them Up Early and Often
The key to preventing a black walnut takeover is to stay on top of the harvest.
Check your yard every few days during fall and pick up fallen nuts immediately.
This stops them from staining your lawn and keeps squirrels from spreading them.
2. Prune Lower Branches
Black walnuts often drop from the highest branches.
If you prune the lower branches, you reduce the number of nuts that fall in easy-to-reach areas.
It also makes mowing and raking easier.
3. Consider a Tarp Under the Tree
Place a tarp under the canopy before the nuts start falling.
When they drop, you can simply gather the tarp and dump the nuts into a bag.
It’s a simple but effective trick for what to do with black walnuts in yard without endless raking.
So, What to Do with Black Walnuts in Yard?
What to do with black walnuts in yard comes down to your goals.
You can harvest them for eating, compost them, use them as mulch, or simply get rid of them.
If you want them gone, rake, sweep, or mow them away, and take steps to prevent future messes.
No matter which option you choose, you now have a clear plan for what to do with black walnuts in yard.
Hope this helps you take control of your yard and maybe even enjoy a few tasty nuts along the way.