Mechanized hedging of close-planted walnut orchards

These two experiments indicate that once walnut orchards become crowded, hedging to allow light between trees is not effective in alleviating the condition. A substantial loss in production occurs initially and, al-though new growth develops in response to the hedging, it does not result in increased production, or in the restoration of lower fruit wood. Hedging, however, may prove to be a valuable tool in maintaining tree size and production in orchards where the trees have not yet grown together. Work needs to be done to evaluate the effect of repeated hedging where it is started before tree crowding has developed.