Caucasian Wingnut Care
Pterocarya fraxinifolia
A deciduous tree native to the Caucasus and northern Turkey that reaches very large sizes with its tropical-looking leaves. It loves constantly moist and wet soils such as riverbanks. It needs a lot of space and has an aggressive root system that produces abundant suckers and can damage infrastructure.
Monthly care calendar
Timings are for a temperate Northern Hemisphere climate. In warmer areas tasks start earlier, in colder areas later; in the Southern Hemisphere shift them by six months.
- Pruning: Main pruning time. Remove dry, weak, diseased and hazardous branches to ensure the tree's structure and safety (usually requires a professional).
- General care: Control spread by removing basal shoots (suckers) coming from the root.
- Pruning: While dormant, remove dry, broken, crossing and inward-growing branches so that air and light reach the inside of the crown.
- General care: Continue removing basal shoots.
- Watering: Start watering as the soil begins to dry (50-60 L/tree per week).
- Fertilizing: Usually not needed. In very poor soils, young trees may be given a nitrogen (N)-dominant fertilizer.
- General care: The buds burst and leafing out begins. A suitable time for planting new saplings.
- Frost risk: Young shoots may be affected by severe late frosts.
- Watering: If there is no rainfall, water 1-2 times a week.
- General care: Rapid growth period. Remove basal shoots as they appear.
- Watering: Water 2-3 times a week. The root zone should be wetted to a depth of 30-40 cm.
- Pruning: Remove basal shoots.
- General care: Spread a 5-7 cm layer of mulch over the root zone; it retains soil moisture and suppresses weeds. Do not pile mulch against the trunk.
- Watering: Water deeply 3-4 times a week, early in the morning. The root zone should be wetted to a depth of 30-40 cm. Frequent shallow watering pulls the roots to the surface.
- General care: Water stress can cause leaf drop and branch dieback. Drooping chains of flowers form.
- Watering: Water deeply 3-4 times a week, early in the morning. The root zone should be wetted to a depth of 30-40 cm. Frequent shallow watering pulls the roots to the surface.
- General care: Take care that it does not experience water stress during the hottest period. Winged walnut (fruit) chains elongate.
- Watering: Water deeply 3-4 times a week, early in the morning. The root zone should be wetted to a depth of 30-40 cm. Frequent shallow watering pulls the roots to the surface.
- Watering: Water 2-3 times a week. The root zone should be wetted to a depth of 30-40 cm.
- Plant protection: Not required, it is usually healthy.
- General care: The hanging fruit chains are conspicuous. Remove the basal shoots (suckers) that come from the roots and the base of the trunk.
- Watering: If there is no rainfall, water 1-2 times a week.
- General care: The leaves turn bright yellow and begin to fall.
- General care: Collect fallen leaves; many disease agents and pests overwinter under leaves.
- Pruning: Once the tree is fully dormant, major pruning can begin toward the end of the month.
- General care: Full dormancy period.
The care advice on this page is general and for information only; it is not professional advice. Plant age, soil and your garden’s microclimate can change the outcome. Plant protection products are mentioned only as general information; they are regulated, and the choice, dose and timing must be decided by a qualified professional under local rules. Consult a landscape architect or agronomist before applying.
Want reminders for every plant in your garden? Our garden-care app with monthly task lists and frost alerts is currently available in Turkish; the English version is on the way.
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