Success With Tree Planting

Success With Tree Planting

Roger Bohringer

DNR, Wilson State Nursery, Boscobel March 10, 2012

#1 cited reason for planting failure

• BAD LUCK

Most frequent actual reasons for planting failure

• Poor planning • Poor planting • Poor maintenance • Bad luck

Planning • Setting goals-what do you want?

• Site evaluation-what do you have to work with?

• Species selection-make sure your choices fit the site.

• Planting design-think big picture.

• Stock selection-different options for different situations.

Planting plan for do-it-yourselfers

• Develop a preliminary plan for your site at:

http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/TreePlanting/plan.html

Planning: Site Evaluation

• Climate • Soil • Topography • Productivity • Competing vegetation • Potential pests

Climate

– Midwest has widely variable climate • Lowest winter temp and last date of frost are

limiting for southern species • Species may survive outside of their natural range,

but natives will generally fair better • Important to have ‘local’ seed sources

Example of range map for black walnut

Example of range map for northern white cedar

Soil • Relative sand-silt-clay

content? – Vary in water and nutrient

availability. – How deep to restrictive features? – NCSS Web Soil Survey at

http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/

Topography • Elevation

– Main elevation concern in Midwest is frost pockets in low areas

• Slope and Aspect – Completely different micro-climate and

moisture holding capacity, even on similar soils

Productivity

• Measure of the land’s ability to grow a given tree species.

• Local forester a good source of info- knows local soil types and what they are capable of growing

23 year old walnut planting on poor site

10 year old walnut on good site

Competing Vegetation • All vegetation competes for moisture,

nutrients and light, but some are more serious threats than others.

• Knowing what is on the site will determine your control strategy.

Insects, disease, and pests

• Know what pests/diseases are in your local area – Be aware of things like oak wilt pockets, ash

borer infestations, etc – Are there deer ‘refuges’ nearby – Is there grass CRP acreage adjacent to your

planting site that could harbor mice/rabbits

Planning: Planting Design • Develop a map. Include:

– Arrangement- pattern or distribution of species across the site.

– Spacing- depends on species and goals for site (account for mortality & growth).

– Roads for firebreaks & access.

Planning: Site Preparation • Mechanical

– Mowing – Plow/scalp

• Chemical – Contact herbicides – Pre-emergent herbicides

• Cover crops

Chemical site prep • Numerous forestry chemicals available • Rent DNR/County sprayer, hire CO-OP, or

hire forestry custom applicator • Typically spray the Fall before planting • Formulations vary- READ THE LABEL!

http://www.cdms.net/LabelsMsds/LMDefault.aspx

Good site preparation will make maintenance much easier.

Planting trees into dead sod greatly improves survival and reduces first year maintenance.

Planning: Stock Selection • Seed source

– Should be from the same region of the country that you are planting in.

• Stock type – Bare root seedlings, transplants,

containerized seedlings, direct seed.

Direct seeding • May be a good option for some sites • Proven results on walnut- mixed results on

oak • Allows planting at high density • Aggressive initial weed control critical • Squirrel losses can be serious- have a

plan (and recipes) to deal with them

Collect seed from quality trees as locally as possible. Make sure mast crop is available before committing to project.

Stock Selection

Planting: Stock Handling

• Keep trees cool; ideal storage temperature 34 – 36°F.

• Keep trees at humidity levels between 90% and 95%.

Tree seedlings are perishable-

You wouldn’t leave your lunch box in the sun for hours. Give your trees the same consideration!

Relative Temperatures

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

9:00

10:0

0

11:0

0

12:0

0

1:00

2:00

3:00

4:00

Canvas Cover No Cover Space Blanket Heavy Shade

Planting: Stock Preparation •Sorting

–remove weak or damaged seedlings.

•Root pruning

–If the root system is too large for proper planting, prune.

–Leave at least 8” of root after pruning.

Root pruning

Over-pruned

Balled roots Ideal oak root

Planting

• Take only as many seedlings to the field as you can plant that day (½ day if close).

• ~1,000 seedlings per day by hand.

• ~5,000 seedlings per day by machine.

Planting

• Hand planting • Machine planting

Planting

Too deep

Planting

Too shallow

Planting

Crooked &

Shallow

Planting

J-root

Grant County Planter

Maintaining a Planting • Monitoring

• Weed control

• Insect & animal control

Monitoring

• Determine survival, stocking levels (# live trees per acre), competing vegetation and the health of your tree planting.

• Identify animal damage and weed competition needing attention.

Monitoring

1/100th of an acre

All you need is a stake and 11’10” of rope!

Some Losses are Normal

In commercial plantings we typically plant at a rate of 800-900 trees per acre.

Goal is to have 600 trees survive to first

thinning.

Maintaining: Weed Control • Control for at least 3 growing seasons

– Herbicides – Mechanical (mowing or disking)

Why Control Competing Vegetation?

1. Increase the amount of sunlight available

2. Increase the amount of available moisture and nutrients

3. Decrease damage from mice and rabbits

4. Decrease lodging of seedlings when snows flatten weeds

With herbicide Without herbicide

Weed Control

Forestry herbicides info • http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/ForestHealth/Herbici

des.html

Pests of new tree plantings

Grubs

Maintaining: DEER! • ‘Large’ deer population

and heavy browse causes many frustrations.

• Growth and survival problems in new plantings will result, but can be minimized.

Heavy deer browse

Maintaining: DEER!

• Population control • Repellents • Fencing • Bud caps/netting • Tubes

Maintaining: Insects Stem and root feeders Can be a problem 1st year,

especially on sand Shoot and bud pests Usually not life threatening

but can hurt form Defoliators Generally not serious. Tree

will re-flush

Maintaining: Rodents

• On grassy sites mowing is critical to reduce mouse habitat

• Encourage predators on the site

In young plantings, raptor nesting boxes and perch

poles will increase predation of mice and rabbits

Raptor perch pole in young pine plantation

- Note the bud caps to discourage deer also

• Coyotes – Provide excellent

rabbit and mouse control

– Help discourage deer from loitering in planting

In Summary

• Start thinking about your planting 12 -15 months before you want to plant

• Make a plan for your planting site

• Order your trees in time

In Summary • Prepare the site prior to receiving your

seedlings (usually 8 months prior)

• Keep your seedlings cool and damp before planting

• Properly plant seedlings for best survival

In Summary

• Care for your seedlings after planting by: – Protecting from deer, insects, rodents – Control competing vegetation

• Monitor the survival of your planting

THANK YOU Questions?

Monitoring CALCULATIONS FOR CIRCULAR PLOT • Stocking Level: Live Trees x 100 = trees/acre

• Seedling Survival Rate: Live Trees/ Total Trees counted X 100=

percent of survival