Tree Planting Equipment?

[macrocarpa]

I am working/consulting on a 55 acre property that was previously used for agriculture and the new owner wants it to grow back to become forested again. He wants to plant thousands of native hardwood trees and remove the invasives that are taking over. We are probably going to plant 5 - 10 gallon containerized trees from a native tree nursery here locally. He wants to know if there is a piece of equipment that would be best for digging these small holes? He has a tractor (pics attached) that he could hook Equipment up to. Does anyone have any suggestions? I’ve always heard bad things about digging holes with an auger but maybe that’s the best option to plant thousands of trees? And just rough up the compacted edges?

 

[ghostice]

One of the problems I see over and over and over again is that container grown trees are just plinked into a hole right out of the container (even our City who use hydraulic tree spades in soils that are clay - result - the sides of the holes are like pottery). Ta-da! Combine that with circular roots in the container and you end up down the road with an unstable tree and girdling roots all over the place. Tree grows at first, but as it gets older, it has a harder and harder time. Help our leafy buddies get a good start - either root prune or at least try and spread the roots out instead of planting them with the same "container tornado" of roots right outa the pot. This really bugs me about landscapers who've taken the money and run away, only to give their customer sure as shootin' problems years later down the road. Buncha tools.
(and don't plant too low/ high - keep in mind the advice about the root flare)
How I spent just yesterday trying to fix a struggling tree . . . . . .

 

[oldoakman]

Being in the midwest, you shouldn't have too much issue with clay soil. I am assuming you have pretty deep prairie topsoil. Using an auger with a short 2-3" piece of rebar welded to the edge so it scores the side of the hole will help. I have to agree with ghost ice about the condition of the root mass from container trees and the depth of planting. Always look for and find the top most root in the rootball to gauge planting depth.

 

[DSMc]

I am working/consulting on a 55 acre property that was previously used for agriculture... We are probably going to plant 5 - 10 gallon containerized trees...

What kind of agricultural was it previously used for?

You are talking reforestation so you need to think that way. Container trees for a project this size would be a bad choice for both cost and longevity. Think liners instead. They will establish quicker and develop better buttress roots and root systems, giving them a chance to live a long life and at a fraction of the cost.

 

[JD3000]

Liners for sure for the bang for the buck. That many acres with 5s and 10s would be expensive. I've been buying inexpensive bare roots and potting them up in a well drained media for future park planting but wont let them get pot bound before up-potting or planting. Perhaps a gravel pad for a nursery and some fencing to keep those damn deer away would be a good method to have plants ready to go on site?

@oldoakman , we have plenty of clay here in central Ohio but varies for plot to plot.

 

[ATH]

Bare root seedlings ate absolutely the way to go. They will go in MUCH faster and in 5-10 years will be as big as containerized trees planted ththe same day.

But question 1) when was it last farmed? (In other words does it qualify for CRP - which will cover a % of planting costs, plus annual rental payments).

Question 2) does your state allow EQIP funds to be used for tree planting?

(Can you tell I used to work for the government? LOL. Not that he has to use cost share...I've worked with plenty of people who didn't - but it can certainly drive down the cost to him!)

Regardless og that, I'd plan now for spring planting.
*Late fall, spray 18-24" wide bands with RoundUp. I recommend every 10'. Maybe 8', maybe 12'
*Order seedlings. 10'x10' spacing is 435 trees per acre. Order about 10% over because spacing is not likely to be perfect and you don't want to run out.
*Find a tree planter. Something like this:

Kelco Industries Wreath Making Supplies, Christmas Tree Supplies

kelcomaine.com

Several of the soil and water conservation districts around here rent them for like $25-50 per day so check around. Depending on how heavy the soil is 30-40 HP will pull it. Real heavy clay may take closer to 50.
*Find 3 people: driver, seedling planter, "stomper" to follow behind to step soil around seedlings and monitor depth (tell planter too high or low).
*Use a preemergent herbicide either just ahead of planting or as you plant.

We've planted thousands of seedlings per day doing this...

Option 2: use dibble bars or hoedads.

Option 3: Hire a migrant crew to plant for about $0.30-0.50 per seedling.

Next: weed control - either chemical (product will depend on what you plant and what weeds are causing problems) or mowing. Good preemergent reduces this expense drastically.

Finally, are deer going to be a problem? If so, you gotta stop them or all of the above was for nothing. Best 3 options:
8' tall fence
Peanutbutter fence
Individual tree shelters
This may cost more than the tree planting, but if you don't do it in a heavy deer area, the rest was a waste.

 

[ATH]

You could also consider direct seeding - especially if you are planting nut trees like oak, walnut and hickory.

Make sure you match the trees to the site!!!!!

 

[JD3000]

Herbicide for sure, check preemergent labels for potential sensitivities by species or genus though

 

[ATH]

If you find yourself planting a really really wide windbreak, Princep is a great preemergent for most tree plantings. Unfortunately "reforestation" is no longer on the label...just windbreaks last I checked.

 

[macrocarpa]

Thanks for the replies. I will have to research some of the responses (liners etc). I am very aware of potential root problems with containerized trees. The auger with rebar welded on is a good suggestion! The landowner wants trees at least 6 ft tall to start with. And there is a native tree nursery that specializes in reforestation type projects and I think mostly 3-5 gallon trees (not 5-10 sorry) The landowner wants to plant 200 trees this fall but in the long run thousands, im just helping him get rolling. Thanks!

 

[ATH]

You looking at Woody Warehouse for those containers?

Perhaps do containers for 10-15% of the trees and bareroot for the rest? That will give some taller stuff for now, but more in the long-run.

So if his budget is $6000-7000 per year (rough estimate to purchase and plant 200 trees) he could either do 1/2 acre per year or do 8-10 acres in one year. By year 3-4 (as he is starting the second acre), all 8-10 acres will be 8-10' tall. In year 20 by the time he is done planting the last piece of 10 acres, my plan will be an actual forest on all 10 acres.