Replies

1. 
   johnhardy | Feb 12, 2003 08:34pm | #1

   Everything I've ever heard about walnut tells me that this will "kill the garden".

   I can't address the issue of putting these into a compost heap for separate decay, other than to warn you to keep such a compost heap a fair distance from the garden.

   John

2. 
   RoyinMD | Feb 12, 2003 08:59pm | #2

   I've been dumping my dust collector bag in the backyard for years. Primary reason why I try and keep cigarette butts out of the collector. I not trying to grow anything in this area if fact I'm trying to kill the grass and weeds and control mud along the back of a flat lot. I learned my lesson about using it in the kids play area, it ends up in the house.

   In other words I don't know the specfic answer to your question but thanks for the warning. Never thunked about that problem.

   Enjoy, Roy

   Doh!, who typed that?

   
   

   ---

   Edited 2/12/2003 1:04:47 PM ET by ROY_INMD

3. 
   DennisS | Feb 12, 2003 09:01pm | #3

   I had the same question a while back and posted the question in the Over the Fence forum (Fine Gardening). The responses plus a little research on my part turned up the fact that yes, walnut trees do present a compatibility problem with certain other plants.

   The root system (of the living tree) produces a substance called juglone(sp) which indeed toxic to plants in the tomato family as I recall. Walnut shavings are bad news for animal bedding/horse stalls (thank you Jamie). In short, use them with care.

   Composting along with other organic material weakens the toxicity of the shavings from what I've been able to find out. Then, again, certain species of walnut are more toxic than others. I have a Carpathian walnut in the corner of our front yard and have a lush camelia bush growing under it along with some other ground cover and a couple volunteer holly. So it depends 1) on what plants you mulch with the shavings and 2) what species of walnut you're working with.

   I agree - it's a shame to waste any organic material if it can be put to good use.

   ...........

   Dennis in Bellevue WA

   [email protected]

1. 
   RoyinMD | Feb 12, 2003 09:11pm | #4

   Very interesting Dennis, I'm glad I haven't used it in other parts of the lot. Thanks.

1. 
   fdampier5 | Feb 13, 2003 01:51am | #5

   I use black walnut shavings all of the time...

     To kill stuff.

          I spread them out on my brick driveway and there aren't any weeds growing up between the cracks in the bricks.

     once the shavings get over  knee deep, I scoop them up and put them out on the path in the weeds and keep the weeds off of that..

        Since I had several 30 yard dumpsters full of shavings to get rid of, I wish I could use them to compost too..

1. 
   DennisS | Feb 13, 2003 05:51am | #7

   "Severfal" 30 yard dumpsters full of shavings?! Man you must keep busy!! (grin)

   Fill up a few 55gal drums with chips/shavings and soad them in water for a few weeks and sell it 'broth' as weed killer. Totally organic. No petro-chemical additives!

   ...........

   Dennis in Bellevue WA

   [email protected]

1. 
   Splintie | Feb 15, 2003 01:39am | #8

   Just to confuse things...

   I had a plot 12' x 12' that i used to receive all my composted shavings from all kinds of exotics, including walnut. First, they were layered rather unscientifically with my neighbors' organic grass clippings in two purpose-built wire cages. We'd work on one, fill it, work on the other...by the time we'd fill one, the other would be good to go. It got so hot from the green material that it looked like i'd burned the stuff! Anyway, i grew a fabulous garden in the compost from jsut those two sources.

   I managed to kill it one year by adding some manure containing Tordon-sprayed hay, however.

2. 
   Turbo | Feb 15, 2003 07:44am | #9

   Dear All,

          Several years ago, I found my dearest of 21 and 1/2 years had been spreading opportunity around with others for some time.  She finally found a gentleman in commodities who was four and one-half years younger than she.  I guess this is what she needed, since they have been marrried for nine years now.  My son suffered, his grades going to "F".  I quickly obtained counseling for him, though she denied that he needed this.  He will graduate as an Art teacher this year, and art is his love.  Now back to the question.

          After this divorce by her, I bought a house overlooking a stream.  I have Eagles and many other birds come through.  I planted Dropmore (reddish) Honey Suckle to attract hummingbirds, to  my represent my spirit.  In two years, I was fortunate to have hummingbirds visit frequently. 

          In the corner of the garden was a 15 or so year+  old Walnut tree.  The Honeysuckle bushes have not flourished in this area.  Two have died.  This year, I shall dig these up, and replant new ones, with much deeper topsoil and mulch.

          Just a thought about plantings and a Walnut tree.  I will have these Dropmore Honeysuckle vines prevail.  I have cut several limbs from the Walnut tree.  I've saved them for air drying, for futue cuttings.

          Thank you for the above threads.  I know my plantings of Honeysuckle vines will need much more care and feeding around ye' olde Walnut Tree.  Thanks.

4. 
   Upraiser | Feb 13, 2003 04:16am | #6

   Your question and all of those responding brought back some less than fond memories of my use of those nice dark brown black walnut shavings and my favorite flower garden.

   Great stuff to kill the weeds, mine remained toxic for several years.

   Same problem with someother sawdust treatments I applied to various parts of the garden, lots slower and most still has not recovered after 5 years.

   It works great in the areas you wish to keep clear.

   Curt

5. 
   dmmcwethy | Feb 15, 2003 06:03pm | #10

   Walnut shavings, once dried, make excellent material for starting fires (if you have a fireplace in your house or heat your shop with a wood stove) and--contained in plastic bags--could be used as packing material (as an alternative to styrofoam "peanuts") if you do very much shipping but do not--I repeat NOT--use them as compost or mulch around any vegetables or plants that you want to live past this year....

   Mac