The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Forest Service will be collecting black walnuts from residents in Charles and St. Mary’s County this fall. The Black Walnuts will be sent to the John S. Ayton - State Forest Tree Nursery in Preston where they will be planted in seedling beds and for two to three years. After the seedlings are pulled from the beds, they are sold to landowners throughout Maryland for reforestation purposes at the cost of production.
Residents who would like to donate black walnuts should call 301-475-8551 and leave their name, phone number, house address, and location of the walnuts on the property. The walnuts must be placed in a pile or in a receptacle for pickup and will be collected on a first come, first served basis until 3,000 pounds of walnuts are collected. You must have a minimum of two bushels for pickup. Collection usually lasts throughout the month of October.
The donation of walnuts will allow the State Forest Nursery to keep costs down and increase the production of black walnut seedlings. These seedlings provide many uses and benefits that improve Maryland’s environment, including: reforestation of clear-cuts, stream bank stabilization, buffering streams and watercourses, erosion control, and improvement of wildlife habitat. The nursery produces many varieties of native tree and shrub species; to request a seedling catalog to purchase seedlings, call 301-475-8551. The seedlings must be planted in the State of Maryland, and are not for landscaping purposes.