The following was received via email: We have a thirty odd foot walnut which suddenly this summer shed its leaves and has presumably died. Is this normal for what was a reasonably old tree and if as we suspect it is dead is there any value in the remains , or do we just get a tree surgeon to cut it down?
Value of remains of dead walnut tree Intact wood of black walnut and hickory prized for making gun stocks, with some people even paying for priviledge of removing stumps and roots(!). Perhaps there would be some interest in the wood of your tree as well. Either way, you will want to have it removed, unless it is in a position to be used as a support for a spectacular flowering vine (Clematis montana, Rosa filipes 'Kiftsgate' Wisteria sinensis, and so forth) as has been done in the UBC Lam Asian Garden, until it falls down.
Hi Eric, Not sure what you mean about remains as my take is that the discussion is about leaving the dead tree standing. If so, this site about leaving dead trees standing for wildlife should be helpful. http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/nr/wildlife/animalinn/goodtree.htm Newt
