I don't know where this discussion goes

[MossRoad]

... Which came first, the chicken or the egg.

The egg. Dinosaurs layed eggs well before birds were around.

 

[k0ua]

The egg. Dinosaurs layed eggs well before birds were around.

Dang!, and all this time....

 

[MossRoad]

Dang!, and all this time....

My kid announced that one day and shocked us all.

 

[Jstpssng]

The egg. Dinosaurs layed eggs well before birds were around.

So which came first, the dinosaur or the egg?

 

[MossRoad]

Eggs.

 

[zoedog2012]

Do pines change the soil and make it acidic, or do pines grow best in soil that is already acidic? Either way, the soil is what it is. Trying to change it for long term, decades of growth is a waste of time and money. Yes, you can lower the Ph of soil with lime, it's done with crops all the time. But for trees, you would have to do it on a bi yearly basis, and all that would accomplish is changing the Ph in the first foot or so of soil. Also remember that lime will take 4 to six months to actually do anything, and with crops, it takes years of adding lime every six months, or every year to get it to where that crop will do well. Then you have to add lime to it all the time to keep it there based on soil analysis that you have to send it to know how much lime per acre that you need for that specific crop.

On my land, sweetgums and red oaks grow like weeds right next to the pines, along with a dozen other species of trees like dogwoods and redbuds. Then where the color of my dirt changes from red to brown, I don't have any pine trees at all, just the hardwoods and cedars.

Instead of asking your extension agent what might grow on your land, go talk to a few of the bigger nurseries in your area. Not all are good, and it will take a little legwork to find out who knows what they are talking about from those wanting to sell you anything and everything. One of the biggest things to be aware of is that a young tree will do good for a few years, or even a decade, and then it will all of a sudden die on you. It takes years to kill a tree, so the actual cause may not be apparent.

If I clear an area of land, my biggest struggle is keeping it cleared because the trees will take over again. It's harder to grow grass here then trees!!!

Maybe some TBN member from Western Oregon will chime in here, but if I remember, lime raises the Ph of the soil not lower it. They spread tons of lime in the Willamette Valley because of acidic soil.

 

[kthompson]

Maybe some TBN member from Western Oregon will chime in here, but if I remember, lime raises the Ph of the soil not lower it. They spread tons of lime in the Willamette Valley because of acidic soil.

Sorry, in my haste in reviewing this thread thought this was my mistake. Made me feel dumb as much lime as we put out but. Lime does raise the ph.