Tree Farm

[tbarber]

I am looking into the possibility of starting a small tree farm. I would be looking to start with x-mas trees. Does anyone have any idea on how to get started (and don't say by planting trees)? Do you start by planting small trees or do you start with seeds? If they are trees, where would you buy them? I would think that a nursery would be to expensive. Any suggestions or ideas would be greatly apperciated. Thanks!

 

[paulw]

I'm not in the tree business but the NC forestry extention service has lots of info available for NC mountian x-mass tree farmers.

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/nreos/forest/pubsandinfo.htm

Hope this helps.

Paul

Paul

 

[RobS]

Where I live (both Indiana and Michigan) the county soil and water conservation districts offer seedlings for sale very reasonably in the spring. I have also bought seedlings mail order from <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.musserforests.com>Musser Forests</A>.

You might give your county extension office a call, they might know about local sales and they will have a lot of information about growing specific to your locale.

Sounds like fun, good luck /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[DVerbarg]

I've bought from Musser and was pleased with their service. Of the 1600 trees planted about 1550 were eaten by deer the second winter /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif!

 

[RobS]

<font color=blue>Of the 1600 trees planted about 1550 were eaten by deer the second winter </font color=blue>

Ouch /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif What kind of trees? I was by our property this morning about dawn and saw three or four deer bounding about. Kind of neat, as long as they leave my trees alone. Snow's melted so there should be plenty of other food for them. I've got Norway Spruce, Red Maple and Pin Oak planted. A friend said I'd only have to worry about the Maples. He pointed me to some tree tubes that he's used successfully.

I was pleased with Mussers service but I think our neighbor who planted pines from the soil conservation sale has had better luck. His were much fresher looking when he picked them up then the packages I've gotten from Musser. I'm at about 80% survival so far, but no deer damage yet /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[DFB]

Local conservation agencies are a good place to get seedlings and so is Musser's. I've used both.

A place like <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.baileys-online.com>Bailey's</A> has planting tools and accessories too. Look under reforestation products.

The Frasier fir seems to be a popular choice for christmas trees these days.

DFB

 

[MossRoad]

We started a small tree farm about 10 years ago. We wanted forest for timber production around our retirement and for our kids. I started by contacting my county soil and water conservation people. They pointed me to the state forester. He came out and took a look at our property and told us what types of trees could be planted in our soil. He suggested we plant alternating rows of white pines and mixed hardwoods. The pines act as trainers for the hardwoods. They grow very fast, thick at the bottom and narrow at the top. This forms a channel that is narrow at the bottom and open at the top, which forces the hardwoods to grow tall and straigh up rapidly. This is great for furniture grade lumber. They gave us a list of private foresters, one of which I went to high school with. The private forester gathered all of the trees from a state nursery in the spring and planted them(4 acres, about 2150 trees) in one day. We had to pay for all of the trees and planting. After they were done, the state forester returned and surveyed their work. He was satisfied and the state sent us a check for 75% of the cost! The total cost for us to have 2150 trees planted and side sprayed with herbicide was $265.00. I think that works out to about 8 cents per tree. Not bad. The only stipulation was that we had to either side spray the trees or mow for the first five years. And we could not trim the pines as Christmas trees. After the 5 years were up, we could do anything we wanted with the trees. They are ours.

As for a Christmas tree farm, say you have 10 acres. You would plant 1yr old seedlings on 1 acre, 2yr old seedlings on the 2nd acre and 3yr old seedlings on the third acre. Then every year after that you would plant another acre with 1 yr old seedlings. It takes about 7-8 years to get them to size, so by starting them this way, you get sellable trees in 4-5 yrs and have a new crop coming up all the time. The same year that you plant your last acre of trees, you tear out all of the old ones, grind them up for mulch and start over.

 

[beenthere]

tbarbber
If Christmas trees, then contact one of several Christmas Tree Grower Associations, probably one in your state. Our state will not permit use of state grown trees to be used for Christmas trees. Apparently some states will after a certain time period. The five years mentioned doesn't add up, as they won't make Christmas trees in less than five years. Whatever.
I planted about 3500 seedlings 4 years ago (pic attached) of red oak, white pine, white spruce, and ash. Had near 100% survival, but deer ate the buds on the red oaks for the first two winters. Then last year I covered many of the buds with paper popcorn sacks (stapled on) and they didn't bother the oaks until I removed the sacks. Then the deer fed all summer on the new leaves. The deer also fed well on the ash. Then this fall, the bucks decided the oaks were the right size for a good thrashing - some literally torn down to the ground so there was nothing left but a short stub. I plan to relocate the trees into grove-like areas. I plan to do this with a tree spade. We'll see how well that works. The spruce are doing very well, and will be far ahead of the oak in no time.
I spray pre-emergence spray around the trees in the spring, and that takes care of grass and weed competition most of the summer. A bit of upkeep with the mower late in the summer, but not bad. I mow between the rows, to allow the hawks to keep the mouse population to a low roar. They like to knaw on the bark in the winter if snow and weather permits.
Good luck with your endeavor.

 

[MossRoad]

I forgot to mention the types of hardwoods that we had planted. Six or seven different types of oaks, tulip poplar, hickory and black walnut. There are also about 10 acres of existing woods that the forester went through and did a tree count. We had several hundred maples, several hundred oaks, several hundred cherry and many thousand locust. Many other trees(about 20 species) but those are the main types. He suggested that we thin out the locust and sell them for firewood, fenceposts, whatever. Then all of the other small trees of different species will start to come up on their own.

We lost about 20 trees of the ones that we had planted. Just in one spot next to a corn field. I suspect herbicide overspray. We also had the ones near the highway get burned by the salt spray.

I mowed twice a year until about the fifth year, when I could no longer fit the tractor between the rows. After 10 years, the pines average 20 feet with 6 inch trunks. The hardwoods are hard to judge. The tulip poplars are over 30 feet with 4-5 inch trunks. The oaks are about the same as the pines in height, with smaller trunk diameter. We had very little deer damage and we control the population with hunters, and automobile and truck traffic(splat). There is now a small flock of turkeys and pheasants are everywhere. Not much rabbit damage there, but they are killing my fruit trees here. I need to do the plastic pipe sleeve thing.

Oh yeah, we had a wind break planted around the outside edge of the field. It consisted of a row of shrubs like spicebush and olive and flowering crabs. Inside that was two rows of 3 year old pines.

You should start with your county agent now if you want to plant in the spring. The trees at state nurseries around here go pretty fast and you have to reserve them. When they are out, they are out until next year.

As far as five years go; It takes about 7-8 years to get a sellable Christmas tree around here. If you start with 1,2 and 3 year old stock, you will get sellable trees in 4-5 years and then every year after that.

 

[Thomas]

Maybe your state has a program for tree growers.
I wouldn't consider growing Colorado Blue Spures,for they take alot of work thru out the years.