Now is the time to collect walnut and butternut seeds for planting this fall. Remember, after harvesting seeds, keep them moist for the entire time you store them - never let them dry out! They can also be planted the following spring.

In theory, you can plant the seed with the husk. That is what nature does and seems to work OK. Still, you would be better served if you prepare the seed and husk or completely remove the hull. You can pour boiling water over the husks and let them soak over night. Plant the soaked hull and seed the next day.

Removing the husk increases the germination rate of walnut and butternut seeds but can become a big job if you have a large volume. There are mechanical hullers you can rent or purchase. The best way to de-hull small seed batches is to refrigerate in plastic bags for two or three weeks and until the husk turns black. The hull will wash off with a water hose under high pressure. Extended storage can drop the germination percentage if not done correctly so try to plant the seeds this fall (preferably the day after hulling).

Most experts agree that the seeds will do just fine without scarification. Some say that the natural temperature cycle through the winter gives the seed the cold it needs but others recommend refrigeration for 3 months and planting in the spring (stratification). Plant the nuts in an open area at a depth of one to two times their thickness. Mulching will help as you do not want the seed to freeze. Chicken wire over the planted seeds will deter digging rodents.

• Black Walnut
• Butternut Hickory
• More on the Walnut Harvest

Walnut Photo - Paul Wray/UGA

Leaves stop taking up water in autumn, preparing for winter dormancy. This lack of water to each leaf causes a very important chemical reaction to stop - photosynthesis - which is the food-producing combination of sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide. Chlorophyll depends on photosynthesis and disappears from the leaves. Chlorophyll is the green you see in the leaf.

Once the overwhelming chlorophyll color is removed, true leaf colors will dominate over the receding green pigment. True leaf pigments vary with the species of tree and thus the different characteristic leaf colors. And because true leaf colors are water soluble, that makes the color disappear very quickly after drying out.

Here is an illustrated step-by-step of how three major pigments color leaves in fall...

• The Science of Leaf Color Change

USFS Illustration

The term "fiduciary duty" describes a legal relationship between two or more parties (most commonly a "fiduciary" or "trustee" and a "principal" or "beneficiary") which demands the fiduciary to be extremely loyal to the person to whom they owe a service. They must not put personal interests before the duty, and must not profit from their position as a fiduciary, unless the principal consents as part of their mutual agreement.

Registered foresters have agreed to commit themselves to a professional standard, in essence, agreeing to be a fiduciary either to an organization he works for or to a timber owner that is a client. A professional forester agreeing to become a fiduciary says that he or she can be entrusted with managing the "Principal's" forest which may include selling the timber for a small percentage of the sale. Often, foresters are hired as consultants and considered to be serving only the forest owner.

There are thirteen states that register their foresters. These registered professional foresters are agreeing that they will act in the sole interest of their beneficiary. You need to know who your forester's employer is and if there might be a conflict of interest in managing your property. Hire only a registered forester in these states and ask the forester if he is working exclusively in your behalf.

All states have forestry consultants for hire. They also are aware of their fiduciary responsibilities if they belong to the Association of Consulting Foresters (ACF). For the best approach when hiring a forester, select your candidates from your state's list of registered foresters and/or a practicing forester that is a member of the ACF.

States with Licensing Boards for Foresters
How to Sell Your Timber

Try these online forestry catalogs the next time you need to purchase forestry and arboricultural equipment. I've picked them because of convenience of online ordering, ease of site navigation, and reputation. Note that these businesses are well established and have been supplying foresters, arborists, natural resource managers and timber growers for decades.

Also, buy a tree online at the best sources:

Top Five Online Tree Nursery Picks