New Trees

[DT86]

I just had a little over an acre of bare-root hardwood trees planted (125 total) as part of my EQIP project.

They guy that planted them said the soil type was great, the timing of planting (early April) was great and I could expect 85% - 90% survival rate.

I am wanting to increase this to 95%+.

I plan on loading up a water tank and giving them some water once a week as needed.

I was also thinking about pouring a cup full of fertilizer (10-10-10 perhaps) down each tube.

As far as growing grass goes the PH is where it needs to be, as are the macronutrients. But what about for the trees?

I'm going to waste time and money doing this?

I've tried calling the guy that put them in multiple times but it is his busy season and I don't leave voice mails.

 

[PapaPerk]

How did he plant? Looks great!

I would be careful fertilizing them. U can make the soil too "hot" real quick with a cup full of 10/10/10 down a tube.

 

[DT86]

Thanks! I just hope they live!

His wife went along dropping the plastic tubes and wooden stakes, he came behind her to plant the trees (he had a big mattock), drive the stake and place the tube and then she would come back and lay down the weed control fabric.

They travel around locally and do a lot of Strip Mine Reclamation and EQIP projects.

I was worried about burning them up, maybe a half a cup???

 

[dave1949]

I wouldn't fertilize them without more info from the planter. If they needed fertilizer, he may have put some in already. If he didn't tell you to fertilize, he may think they don't need it or now is not the time. That is what I would assume without specific info.

A month's delay on fertilizer, if later you end up adding some, isn't going to make any difference.

Nice project BTW.

 

[Fossil Farm]

Do not fertilize for at least a year or two. The roots need to get established before trying to get top growth. Water is more important at this stage. If the soil has decent fertility, you should be fine. The main problem with trees is getting the food to the tree rather than to the grass or weeds. That is why arborists use wands to put liquid fertilizer below ground. Good luck and enjoy.

 

[Carl_NH]

X2 on the fertilizer application - wait.

Water is the key - you want the roots to bind to the soil right after planting so unless you have had heavy soaking rain, pour 1-2 gallons down every tube now then when drier in the summer check the moisture regularly.

You might want to get 15 more trees now and plant now as replacements because you will lose some - its the nature of bare root planting.

 

[MossRoad]

Back in 1990 we had a little over 2000 trees planted on 4 acres. We alternated rows of pines and rows of mixed hardwoods. The pines grow fast and connicle in shape. This forces the mixed hardwoods to stress out and grow tall and straight to reach the sun up between the pines. That makes the hardwoods good for veneer timber in the future. We never fertilized them. We were told by the forester that it was not necessary. Water and weed control were the most important factors. We were required to either side spray the trees with herbicide once a year or mow the weeds as needed to control them. We were very fortunate in that the first spring they planted them, it was a very cool, wet spring. We never did have to water them and we only lost about 10 trees the first year to deer browse. So that's what, about 99.9% survival rate with nothing but mowing for 5 years. After 5 years, the pines were so thick I could not get the tractor between the rows and the pines shaded the ground so well that weed control was no longer necessary. Today, 23 years later, the pines are well over 40' tall and the hardwoods are poking out at over 50'. All nice and straight.

So, as others have mentioned, don't fertilize them too soon and don't over-water them. You want the roots to search DOWN for water and the soil is probably fine with nutrients. In fact, if it was farmed, its probably over fertilized. If you water too often, the tree will think there is no need to go deep for water, and you will get a shallow, weak root system. Weed control and animal browse will most likely be your biggest problems.

Good luck. Nothing like watching trees grow to mark the years. :thumbsup:

 

[forgeblast]

If you want to increase the survival make sure the tubes extend into the dirt. Otherwise the vols will penetrate the tube. I had a few oak in my CREP destroyed by them when rain lifted the tube.
Other then that it looks good, you will be surprised by the amount of growth they achive with the tubes. I was pushing for better then 95% also. I had a few trees die so I bough more to replant them.
I didnt use the landscape fabric, I just spray around the tubes (last year was my last year I was required to do that) and now its just controlling invasives.
I have not used any fert or lime. I matched the ph requirements of the tree to the ground where I was planting them.
Looks great good luck with it.

 

[DT86]

So it sounds like I'm better off leaving them alone. I'll do just that! Thanks everyone!

 

[dave1949]

So it sounds like I'm better off leaving them alone. I'll do just that! Thanks everyone!

That's good.

I have a mental image of you and the planter looking at a bunch of half-dead trees and he is saying, "Did I TELL you to fertilize them?" :laughing: