Planters Tree Planter

[L_Nicholson]

I was thinking about planting about 25 ac. of my property in trees and started looking around for a tree planter. Anyone have any suggestions... I have (will have on Wednesday) a 35 hp tractor to pull the planter.

Some folks rent them but I'm having a hard time tracking one down.

Thanks
Lee

 

[PineRidge]

Never used one myself so I'm not sure 35 HP will do the job. But here are some links
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q="tree+spade"

 

[KiotiJohn]

Call you local agriculture extention office and ask them about available programs for planting. In some cases, you can have your seedlings planted for you for just the cost of the seedlings.
The AG office should be able to help you out. They may also know where you can borrow or rent at low price a tree planter.
John

 

[KiotiJohn]

Check out this site Tree Farming in your state
Maybe this will get you some help.
You might also do searches under "transplanters" on Google
John

 

[L_Nicholson]

Thanks Guys for the quick responses. I'm talking with the local DNR Forestry division and there is a cost share program. They reimburse you 50% of the planting cost. My out of pocket would be 125.00/ac according to the forester. I'm thinking of phasing my property depending if I can get enrolled into the CRP program for my farm land.

If I phased it I was thinking of doing the second phase myself.... but I've never done anything like this so it might be cheaper in the long run to have them plant it.

 

[dsb5610]

A few years ago I planted several thousand (10,000?) native shrubs on CRP ground as part of the contract. The tree planter (with tractor) was provided by the county Soil and Water Conservation District. I provided the fuel and the labor.

If there is a contract involved with the tree planting make sure you understand the terms and that they are compatible with your long term plans.

dsb

 

[L_Nicholson]

Both the planting and the CRP would be under contract.... I have a meeting with farm services to confirm and look over all the regulations. both the forest and crp are a 15 yr program if I plant trees. The farmer that tills the 30 ac didn't want to till the other farm ground that is currently in pasture. I figure since he didn't want to farm it I'd look to putting it in the crp & forestry program and make my own little investment.

dsb....Were you glad that you put your ground into trees??

 

[dsb5610]

I am in the 10-year program so hardwoods were not a requirement. We looked into the 15 year program (hardwoods required) and opted to go the 10-year route. The native shrubs were put in the 'least desirable to farm' areas. After the program runs out it would not take much work to put those locations back into production but I doubt I will do that.

Bottom line is I am glad the shrubs are there although they aren't big enough yet to really make an impact on the wildlife but they are coming along.

One thing I would recommend though is to do the planting such that you will be able to get a mower through the area until things get established. I am limited on when I can mow but some areas do need to have mowing done to control the competition from weeds.

dsb

 

[qstott]

We put about 6 ac. of hard to farm land in the CRP program last year. We opted for the 15 year program. I had three small fields. The guidelines required we plant pines in one field. The other two were our choice and we planted hardwoods, mostly oak. We rent out our farm, and the farmer tilled the fields nice and smooth before the trees were planted. The trees were planted in rows 12 ft wide and spaced 8 ft apart. I mowed them last year with my lawnmower with a 60" deck. This year a bought a JD 1050 and a 72" finish mower to use around the trees. The first year the weeds were terrible! The trees were so small it was like looking for a needle in a haystack. By the fall I had the fields under control. As the trees get larger it will be easier to mow. I won't had to spend so much time looking for them in the weeds. Having the fields smoothed out before hand made a big difference in how easily I could mow. I might suggest you tie some bright colored flagging tape loosely around the trees when they are first panted. I will make them much easier to see later. I think the tree selection is based on the soil type and wetness.

 

[L_Nicholson]

Great information guys!

The DNR is getting a planting plan together. I have just about every condition on my land that you will find in Southern Indiana. I tried to plan ahead with the tractor purchase… I am taking delivery of a JD 4400 with loader and 72” belly mower on Wednesday.. (I can’t wait… I feel like a little kid the night before Christmas). I figured I would be putting in some mowing time if I go the tree route. I bought the property with 20 ac of existing classified forest and look to possibly thin some trees and then replant a few while they would be planning the fields… It might help pay for some of this too.

My fields are already pretty smooth since they have been in pasture the last 2 years… I think this is why the forester was pretty exited to try and get me in the program….. there would be very little current impact to the ground.

I will defiantly flag the little rascals… I have visited fields that were 1 to 2 years old where the owner didn’t mow and you are right… needle in a hay stack.

Let me ask you this…. There is 28 ac currently being tilled by a farmer who leases the land from me…. This is in addition to the other fields I am looking to plant…..Would you put that ground in the program too???
I’m hesitant to ruffle too many feathers as I’m a young buck who made some smart investments and bought a large farm (comparatively speaking). The farmer is my neighbor… (great guy)… and I know he was looking to continue tilling that ground…. Speaking from a financial perspective I would be out half the planning costs but still maintain the cash flow through the crp program for 15 years…. But with the trees I obviously get the investment return once I’m able to harvest.

This bring me to another question….. how often can you harvest… obviously it depends on tree types soil conditions etc… but I was told about every 10 years you could thin…. Is this true??

Thanks