Planting a large number of trees...

[kensfarm]

I'm wondering if you can prep the ground in strips like you would for row crops.. someone in front dropping in place.. next person pushes the roots in w/ a stick.. then just pack the dirt around w/ your foot. I plant sweet potatoes this way.

 

[Moon]

We get a few hundred 2yr old trees/seedlings at a time. We plant them just like rdln describes with the dribble bar, only we used a regular ole shovel. This is how the Forestry dept. recommended that we plant them, and we had good success with this method. It does go pretty quick once you get the hang of it. You can still get your tractor involved, just use the FEL to carry all the trees.

For the ones we couldn't plant right away I dug a mini trench with the FEL and put the seedlings in it ...not straight up but at a 45 degree angle. Then covered with dirt. This kept them just fine until I got around to planting.

Good luck!

Moon of Ohio

 

[MossRoad]

Hey, Dargo, did you consult with your local state forester? They came out, gave us some tips and a list of tree species that would work in our varying soils. Then they gave us a list of licensed foresters that would pick up the trees for us and plant them and side spray them. Then we turned in our reciepts for the trees and planting bills and the state re-imbursed us for 75% of the cost. We had 2150 trees purchased, planted and sprayed for a grand total of $265.00 after the re-imbursment. All we had to do was mow between the rows or side spray anually for five years and then we could do whatever we wanted with them. Indiana has several of these programs that you should take advantage of. It is your tax money that supports these programs... why not get something useful out of them?

 

[MossRoad]

Here's a link to the main Indiana Division of Forestry homepage.

Div. of Forestry.

Click on the links to Grants and Assistance and the link to Private Landowner Assistance. There are many programs that you may qualify for.

It's your tax money! These programs are set up specifically for people like you and me that want to re-forest the land for timber, wildlife and errosion control. We did it around 1990 and the trees are beautiful 30+ footers now. Lots of deer, turkey, squirrels, etc... a great place to walk and hike... the soil has been stabilized and I can cut wood for timber or firewood when ever I want. Go for it!!! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Dozernut]

Mossroad gave you good information, my mother-in-law just went through that program. It is a re-forresting program that pays the land owner. I don't know all the details nor how long the process takes but you can rent tree planters at your local USDA office. This is the start of the of the planting season so contact them early about the planter.

 

[Dargo]

MossRoad, I did call the IN Division of Forestry a few months ago. They told me that there was no assistance for me unless the land I own was strip mine land that had been mined since 1978. It's not, therefore, I didn't qualify. Because of the significant cost involved in the number of trees I'm planting, I tried most every way possible for state assistance. One guy told me that I could get assistance if I opened up my land for public use for a certain number of years after the state assisted me in planting the trees. I passed completely on anything like that! I'm certainly willing to try again, but I spent several days trying this a few months ago and go nowhere. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[MossRoad]

Bummer. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Was the land ever farmed and if so, how long ago? At least you may qualify for classified forest or wildlife habitat to reduce your taxes... /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Gatorboy]

How exactly to you plan on keeping the deer from eating these delicacies?

 

[Dargo]

Gatorboy, although I don't hunt, I may let some select friends have at it to thin out the deer. I have 11 lakes on the property and there are thousands of deer tracks around each lake. I guess if I knew how to field dress a deer etc. I wouldn't mind bagging my first deer and having some of the meat processed. I hear that it is good lean meat. If I do get one, I'd really like to use as much as possible of the deer and not just let it go to waste. I have found all sorts of deer skeletons on the property. By the looks of it, if one dies, the carcass doesn't last long.

 

[Dargo]

MossRoad, I did follow your link and emailed every agency that even remotely looked as if they could offer some assistance. Thanks for the link. At worst I wasted 5 minutes of my time. At best, you could save me a few thousand dollars! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif