straight rows, how to

[qzbmpc]

I will be planting about 5000 trees this coming weekend with my new tree planter. I made a few test runs and had trouble keeping the rows straight and parallel. I need about a 7' space between rows and need some advice how to accomplish this. Any help would be appreciated
Thanks, Ken

 

[theboman]

Have a string? Just add a few stakes. That would be the easiest and fastest and pretty darn straight.
X = stake, ----- = string.
X------X------X-----X
Maybe but stakes 21' apart, the a 7, 14, 21 you have a tree. You could guess or mark the string via knot, paint, ribbon, etc.

 

[qzbmpc]

Bo,
My planter is the mechanical type that automatically spaces the trees. The problem I have is the rows are about 600' long and trying to keep them straight and the next row parallel at 7'. It was mentioned to me from a friend to use a string for the first row to set it straight and then try to keep a certain distance to the previous rows tire track. I tried this but it did not seem to work to well. I think I need some type of indicator that marks the next row by dragging on the ground. Not sure how or what this may be yet.
Ken

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Get one of the high power lazer pointers, and attach it to the trqactor, or planter. Set up a target at the end of the row, and just keep the lazer on the target as you pull.

 

[pennwalk]

I wonder if soccer field line paint would help. Maybe even plain old spray paint. It would take some time to lay it out and mark it but you ought to end up with straight lines.

Chris

 

[EdKing]

Measure the distance your tractor wheel has to be from the previous row, put a string that distance from the previous row, and keep your tractor tire lined up with that string.

first row ---------------------------------------------------------------

string _______________________________________________________
tractor tire---XXXXX
----------------X----------XXX
----------------X-----------X
-------------XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
-------------XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
----------------X-----------X
----------------X----------XXX
-------------XXXXX

 

[rsthom]

Ken
This is what I came up with this last weekend to follow the last row of planted trees. I just use vise grips to hold it to the loader bucket. Just pull a pin and I can adjust distance (6-8')
and which side of the tractor it comes out at. I do still use a string and stakes to start the first row, but after that I just just let the marker ride over the last row.
Rick

 

[rsthom]

Lets try the attachment again

 

[toddwulf]

Just like in Boyscouts - Pick an object in the distance that you want to aim at and let her roll. That is of course, if you don't want to follow the very decent advise prior to this one! Good luck. I dug 900' of trench with my backhoe and it turned out straight with a simple stake every 100'.

 

[MossRoad]

The forester that planted my trees used the little flags that sprinkler installers use. They put a flag in the corner, then one about every hundred feet up the property line, closer on hills so you could see the next one as you made the rise.

Then they took a stick of a measured length and held it next to the first row of flags and put a flag parallel to each flag in the first row. They did this for every row. There were about a hundred flags by the time they got finished.

All the tractor driver had to do was point the tractor at the next flag and the rows came out surprisingly straight.

The flags can be purchased for pretty cheap at Lowes, Menards, or any do it yourself sprinkler place.

Hope this helps.