Planting a large number of trees...

[Dargo]

Okay, here is the issue: I have just under 5000 trees ordered that will arrive in about a month or so and I have only about 3 days to get them planted once they arrive. They are bare root 3 year old saplings that are supposedly around 24" tall. The species vary from oak, pine, poplar, maple, cyphress and several bush species.

I have a 12" auger on a PHD on my tractor. My plan is to go out and use a bicycle wheel measuring tool, spray can and measure off distances and mark with the spray paint where the trees are to be planted. Different color for the different species tree. Then when the trees arrive, gather all known friends to follow behind me in my RTV and Rhino with the trees and plant them in the holes I dig.

Anyone have any suggestions for a better idea? I've planted a few hundred of these type of trees before, but they were always ordered a hundred or two at a time and I just dug the holes with a spade and had my wife plant them. I don't think I can do that with 4850 trees. Ideas? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[bczoom]

Dargo,

Been there....

Is your 3 day time constraint due to other obligations or saving the trees?

If the latter as well as something to consider.
Dig up or rototill an area to hold surplus trees (you can plant them close together). I think we saved about 10%. Save these since not all of the ones you plant will survive. You can then grab one out of the "stash" and replace.
If you can't finish the planting in 3 days, put the remainder in there and you can get to them later.

Go ahead and use marking paint for where they go but I'd go one more step. When you get the trees and while still bundled, take your marking paint (different color for each species) and spray some on the trees, right above root/ground level. The paint on the ground may get too disturbed while digging or dissipate too quickly when spring arrives. The paint on the trees should last at least 1 season (but will be discreet since it's at ground level).

For planting, personally, I found the spade the best approach. The ground should be good and soft so it should go faster than a PHD (as well as not having to drive you tractor all over generating a mess).

Work in pairs. 1 person with the spade to open the hole, the other (normally younger since they'll be bent over a lot) sliding the tree in and then holding vertical while the spade person steps around the edges, then gets the next tree ready. If you're mixing them up (the different species), each pair will need a 5 gal. bucket or wheelbarrow or something to hold the different kinds.

Brian

 

[Bob_Skurka]

<font color="red"> I have just under 5000 trees ordered that will arrive in about a month or so and I have only about 3 days to get them planted once they arrive. </font>


If I was doing it, I'd just dig 2000 holes, plant 2000 trees and then feed the remaining 3000 to the deer herds that ate 2 fruit tree orchards I planted, and every blueberry bush I've ever tried to grow.

 

[rdln]

Two things:

If they were your friends let them take turns driving the toys while you stay behind doing the work.

rent a 3pt transplanter

 

[Gatorboy]

With bareroot, I'd forget the PHD, and go with a dibble. You will get them planted much faster, and you will lower the risk of getting air to the roots.

 

[Dargo]

Okay, I'll bite. What's a dibble? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Dargo]

Okay, you got me again. What's a 3 pt transplanter? See, I knew that it would be a good idea to ask this crowd! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif And, yes, after about a hour of labor, I always get to run the spade, wheelbarrow, finger digger, and bend-over and planter, etc. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif It's funny to hear the excuses from my 16 year old son and his friends as to why someone in their mid 40's can do more manual labor than they can! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[rdln]

Here is a link to a manufacturer of transplanters. Whitefield

I used an earlier version of those to put in my trees pictured here

a dibble bar is similar to an ice spud but might have a foot peg to push in the ground and push earth to one side insert bare roots (be careful not to curl the roots) and then reinsert bar behind where you took it out and push dirt back together squeezing the roots.

If you want the trees to look randomly planted use the dibble bar or in your case 10 dibble bars /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[kensfarm]

"I have just under 5000 trees ordered that will arrive in about a month "

Okay.. if you have a month before they arrive.. start digging holes now! But you'll have to dig 166+ holes every day to make it to the 5000 mark in one month's time.

Any cub scout troops in your area?

 

[Dargo]

kensfarm, thanks; I'm becoming only too aware of the actual logistics of the task at hand. I suppose I shouldn't plan anything else to do the days that I'm planting trees. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif