I have bought a small walnut garden/house in New Mexico. Do I have to till dirt? When? Which fertilizer do I have to use?
You don't have to till the soil, but it couldn't hurt if you have a large area. This article will help: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/how-to-till-a-garden-tilling-your-soil.htm
Most trees do not need supplemental fertilizer but in general, if you are going to fertilize a tree, a fertilizer with a high N, a low or no P and a moderate K is best for non-fruiting trees (such as 30-0-10 or 32-3-10). If you are looking to get nuts from the tree, then you would use a fertilizer that has a moderate P (such as 30-10-10).
We just moved into this house in late December. I mowed the lawn for the first time this month and noticed walnut shells under three trees. These are black inside -no nutmeat at all. Some are still in a black husk. I would say between the three trees that I believe are walnut there are maybe 2 doz husks or broken nuts. Two of the trees are about 36-50" around the trunk and are very tall, well over 50' the third tree is much smaller - 20-25" around, shorter, and many more branches. approx 25' tall. First, there is grass growing under them.
Second, after determining what type they are, how can I tell their age?
If the husk or shells are round, it's probably a black walnut. If a tree is "limbed up" high enough, grass will grow underneath because light can get under the canopy to support grass growth. The only precise way of determining a tree's age is take a trunk core sample and count the rings. We had a 65 year old black walnut cut and the diameter was 3 feet.
Can you grow English Walnut trees in southwest Missouri?
Yes, this tree will grow in your area. It is tolerant down to a zone 5 and you are in zone 7, so it will be fine.
My walnut trees need a boost to help them look stronger and healthier. What can you suggest?
Most trees do not need supplemental fertilizer, but it sounds like you have some concerns about your tree. Are you seeing health problems with the tree? If so, let us know the symptoms and we can help identify what is wrong with the tree. In general, if you are going to fertilize a tree, a fertilizer with a high N, a low or no P and a moderate K is best for non-fruiting trees (such as 30-0-10 or 32-3-10). If you are looking to get nuts from the tree, then you would use a fertilizer that has a moderate P (such as 30-10-10).
We have recently moved and find in the garden a 40/50 year walnut tree where a fire has been lit under the tree, causing a third of the main trunk bark to fall off. What is the best treatment? Thanks.
Here is an article that you may find helpful: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/tgen/repairing-tree-bark-damage.htm
We have two walnut trees placed about 30 ft apart. One has leafed normal this spring and the other has produced these seed pod looking things in place of leaves. There are a few leaves but they are small.
This sounds like one of several possible diseases that affect walnuts in the Pacific Northwest, especially after a difficult winter. Please take samples of the affected tree to a local Extension Service office for analysis and possible treatment. This link will help you locate one: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/extension-search/
Tree has not been pruned, but yet it drops water constantly. It does this in several places. You can actually sit and watch it drip continuously. We thought it may be sap, but upon further investigation, it is truly water. No stickiness, no smell, no color. The plus side? Grass below the tree is green year round. What causes this?
Has this been happening year after year?
Does the tree otherwise look healthy? Are there deep cracks in the bark from which sap is oozing? Does the clear odorless liquid stain or discolor the tree bark? If there were cracks in the bark that oozed sap and if the bark was stained reddish or dark brown it could be a deep bark canker that affects walnut trees.
I think we can rule out slime flux because slime flux is usually foul smelling and not clear.
My gut feeling, however, is that your walnut tree is simply "crying" due to positive root pressure caused by the onset of warmer weather. The non-sticky, colorless and odorless liquid is actually sap, which is comprised mainly of water. Here is an excellent article that will explain what is happening in great detail:
http://articles.dailypress.com/2006-03-15/news/0603150113_1_faucet-birches-warm-weather