Any Christmas tree farm owners here.

[Taylortractornut]

We have a larger cell thats been finished up at the landfill I work at. The ground is sandy and will have a layer of rotted bark from a chip mill covering it for water retention. We will probably reopen the cell later in 7 or 8 years, but til lthen we though of planting about 800 trees on it for a one time deal. I see a few percs, the equipment will be there already, I have a watertruck on hand with a 3 acre spring fed pond, and it will help fight erosion with the roots. The down side is Ill have to supply the seedlings out of my own pocket, and all the work will be done after my normal hours, and all the stumps will have to be removed after cutting to reuse the cell. This wont be expected to make a profit just clear the expenses and make use of the ground there.

 

[Western]

Taylortractornut,
I don't raise them, I just ordered 60 Afgan pines used for Christmas trees here, hard to grow pines where I am. I did know a guy though I used to speak with allot, he became a Millionaire raising them. Your time line sounds good, he said he started getting cut trees as early as 5-6 years. The biggest factor he told me out side of regular care, I.E. watering ect tra was the labor in the trimming. He said the work was in getting the tree to grow in the correct shape we all know as a Christmas tree.

I know you can get seedlings from several sources, It will probably depend on the type of tree that will grow good where you are. I got mine from the Texas Forest Service for like a dollar or two apiece. I know there are also a few programs for reforestation, you may check with your forest service, may help with the cost. Might as well make a few dollars if you can.

It would be kewl to say, end up with 500 trees and sell them for $35-$50 bucks apeice. I saw an add yesterday here for "cut your own" for 5 bucks a tree foot. 35x500 $17000 ball park?

You may even qualify for some kind of Ag tax exemption in your state.

 

[Taylortractornut]

We like to keep something going year round with the place. THe DEQ likes it we keep a pond on the place kept and have 20 ducks, parts of the access roa has canna lillies and angel trumpets planted along the roads and a small park are for empoyees to eat diner at in the summer next to the lake. In the summer we also plant a large garden in the buffer zones. It kinda helps with the bad images people get when they think of landfills.
Do you know the best spacing for them. I want to between widths wide enough to drive one of the rolloff trucks wit hthe water tanker down between them to water. I could go a little narrower and use a smaller tank and water with the tractor.
I have a tradition here of going out to an old limestone quarry and cutting a Red Cedar for a tree. The ygrow super great in the old limestone quarries. If a red cedar and what ever tree I choose ike the same soil I may do a heavy application of lime in the rows.

 

[Western]

In the photos he showed me the trees looked no more than 8', but the drive rows looked slightly bigger, maybe 10'. The trees he showed me where 5-6 ft he said and there was about 3' between them after they where trimmed.

 

[Taylortractornut]

I could use the 4000 Ford to mow the drive paths and get dads Pasquali to mow between them. Theres around 5 acres there and then a borrow hill that wont be used for a while is another few acres then theres a few buffer strips. I have a tree planter Im working on right now to pull with a tractor to set a few hundred trees.

 

[woodchuckie]

The Leland Cypress is a good looking tree. It grows good in central Alabama and makes a better tree than the Virginia pine they use to grow here.

 

[MossRoad]

We have a larger cell thats been finished up at the landfill I work at. The ground is sandy and will have a layer of rotted bark from a chip mill covering it for water retention. We will probably reopen the cell later in 7 or 8 years, but til lthen we though of planting about 800 trees on it for a one time deal. I see a few percs, the equipment will be there already, I have a watertruck on hand with a 3 acre spring fed pond, and it will help fight erosion with the roots. The down side is Ill have to supply the seedlings out of my own pocket, and all the work will be done after my normal hours, and all the stumps will have to be removed after cutting to reuse the cell. This wont be expected to make a profit just clear the expenses and make use of the ground there.

Contact your county extension agent. They are paid by your tax dollars to help you with this kind of thing, so take advantage of your own money at work. They can tell you what species to plant for your exact climate and soil types. They can also hook you up with tree nurseries where you can get good deals on bulk trees. They can tell you when to plant, water, how to control weeds through spray or mowing or both, etc... and... here's the best part.... they don't charge you anything for the services because you already paid for it with your taxes. That's what they are there for... to help you!

 

[ToadHill]

I've found that spruce trees sell well. White and blue.

 

[MossRoad]

I've found that spruce trees sell well. White and blue.

I think he wants to whack them all down in 8 years and sell them all at once. Spruce take too long to grow compared to pines. Local Christmas tree farms around here make some of their money to individual sales but most of it comes from whacking down hundreds of trees at a time and selling in bulk to Lion's Clubs, Volunteer Fire Departments, Charities, tree lots, etc... that sell them to the public.

 

[Taylortractornut]

Thanks for the suggestion MR but Id really dont think they will help much. Ive been waiting 3 years to get an 18 dollar soil test back from him lol. I might check with him on the tree types, at least if I can go directly there if he cant help me I can always talk to the secretary lol. As far as the tree types I think a pine or cypress will be the only way to go, may do a traditional southern tree like a red cedar to. The key element will be Landfill time because in 8 years Ill be up to that level again with rubbish and have to take up the 33 feet of capping soil. Plus anytrees there to make my new cell when the hollows are full.
Im not really planning to make a profit on these just help with the DEQ, they like all the greenery we have int he summer and this would help in the winter with it. With all this new environmental awareness going on I have alot of folks that dont have a clue about what properly run landfills are really like. In the spring and summer we have tons of flowers and gardens, the only thing in winter we have is a few Mustard and turnip greens an a few perimiter cedars.