Since spring tree planting season is around the corner, I've copied below a response to a recent inquiry about planting larch. The question was why not plow up the field before planting to get rid of the weeds?
Plowing (besides the considerable cost) will disturb the soil and create an ideal seed bed for tall weeds, multiflora rose and all sorts of other undesirable plants to quickly occupy the site. Unless you have an opposition to herbicides, I would recommend using a systemic herbicide like glyphosate (active ingredient in round up) to kill the sod in strips prior to planting. Even though there will be a little bit of soil disturbance and weed growth during the planting, it’ll be much less than with plowing. The dead sod acts as a temporary mulch to keep moisture in and weeds out. You’ll also avoid having to pick lots of stones after plowing which would be a hazard if you plan to mow the young plantation for the first few years (recommendable) – otherwise, the bunnies and mice will raise havoc with the seedlings!
The ideal site prep. and maintenance scenario would be to strip spray in the fall, plant in the spring, mow once or twice a year for the first few years, and possibly (very carefully) spray around the young seedlings for the first 1 or 2 years after planting – preferably either just before the buds start to swell on the larch in late April, or towards early October when the grass is still green but the needles are for the most part falling from the young larch. If larch isn’t actively growing it can tolerate very minimal spray drift (careful spring or fall spot spraying around base of trees). Reduced root competition from herbaceous plants is the most important management consideration and will make a huge difference in survival and initial growth of the young trees.
Tags:
Site preparation and follow-up are expensive . I planted about 8000 Norway spruce without site prep and no follow-up in an old pasture about 1985 under the supervision of forester A in about 1985. I was told at the time that the lplanting conditions were nearly perfect. By 1995 there were only about 20 still there.
In about 1995 I planted about 5000 spruce and 5000 larch in the same field without site prep or follow-up under the supervision of forester B. Most of the larch are there and growing well today. Many of the spruce have suffered from the white pine weevil.
What can we learn from this? Not sure.
Started by Ben T. in Woodlot Management. Last reply by Patrik Schumann on Tuesday. 1 Reply 0 Likes
Hi Everyone,I’ve been wondering what tree species are going to thrive over the next 50+ years as the climate warms in New York and I’m curious if folks are enhancing plantings of particular tree species for future commercial harvest with warmer and…Continue
Started by Carl Albers in Woodlot Management Dec 31, 2023. 0 Replies 0 Likes
Picture of a hemlock with rust colored bark. When I cut a nearby tree, also with rust colored bark, it was infested with HWA. Attached picture shows a Logrite ATV arch in use.Continue
Started by Carl Albers in Woodlot Management Dec 31, 2023. 0 Replies 0 Likes
The hemlocks in my woodlots have been infested with hemlock wooley adelgid (HWA) for at least three years now. Lately I've noticed some of them having a rust colored bark and I wonder if this is normal and that I just didn't notice it previously? …Continue
Started by Peter Smallidge in Woodlot Management Nov 28, 2023. 0 Replies 0 Likes
I had a question about control of mature white pine and hemlock to improve sunlight for enrichment planting of hardwoods. Following is my response, but I would like to know if anyone else has any experiences to share with control of these to…Continue
Started by Brett Chedzoy in Woodlot Management Aug 8, 2023. 0 Replies 1 Like
This Spring we had an opportunity to speak with writer John Litvaitis about the big picture of deer impacts on the hardwood forests of the Northeast. I posted the original story from the summer edition of Northern Woodlands to the…Continue
Started by Jeff Joseph in Woodlot Management. Last reply by Jeff Joseph May 5, 2023. 2 Replies 0 Likes
Question: In Peter Smallidge's most recent "Ask a Professional" column for NYFOA's Forest Owner magazine he stated that some log buyers will reject ash that shows outward signs of "blonding" on the bark. Is this because the wood will change…Continue
Started by Brett Chedzoy in Woodlot Management May 2, 2023. 0 Replies 0 Likes
https://www.asbmb.org/asbmb-today/policy/042823/the-american-chestnutInteresting discussion the difference between efforts with the American Chestnut and other…Continue
Started by Brett Chedzoy in Woodlot Management Apr 20, 2023. 0 Replies 0 Likes
In early March I was invited to present on the opportunities for growing black locust as a timber cash crop at the Rural Landowner Conference in Allegany County. Ryan Trapani from the Catskill Forest Owners Association asked afterwards if I would…Continue
© 2024 Created by Peter Smallidge. Powered by