Windbreak

[orezok]

I finally am getting around to planting a windbreak. The two things we don't lack in the desert is sun and wind.

I put the main irrigation lines in a couple of weeks ago and now I ready to plant. I got a great deal on these Eldarica Pines (also known as Afghan or Mondell pines). They're perfect for the desert as they survive well in poor soils, need little water and will eventually grow to 50-80 feet tall. I found a wholesale nursery who was totally overstocked. These 15 gallon trees are 12' to 15' with 1.5 to 2" caliper. They were selling them at $10 each!

I'll be putting in a double row spaced at 15'. Fortunately I have a phd so it shouldn't be too bad. I got 30 this trip as that was about all I could fit on my equipment trailer.

 

[SandburRanch]

I finally am getting around to planting a windbreak. The two things we don't lack in the desert is sun and wind.

I put the main irrigation lines in a couple of weeks ago and now I ready to plant. I got a great deal on these Eldarica Pines (also known as Afghan or Mondell pines). They're perfect for the desert as they survive well in poor soils, need little water and will eventually grow to 50-80 feet tall. I found a wholesale nursery who was totally overstocked. These 15 gallon trees are 12' to 15' with 1.5 to 2" caliper. They were selling them at $10 each!

I'll be putting in a double row spaced at 15'. Fortunately I have a phd so it shouldn't be too bad. I got 30 this trip as that was about all I could fit on my equipment trailer.

------------------------------------------------------------------
The price was right that's for sure.

Did you know the best windbreak has this shape ^ but I'll bet that wasn't in the plan. A 3 sided break with 90 degree corners create unwanted eddy currents and the V shape doesn't.

 

[Treemonkey1000]

Sandbur ranch beat me to it. He is right. Sort of the same affect as birds flying in V's I think.
Make sure and take some before and after pictures. If those get that tall plant them so that they or their roots won't interfere with overhead or underground wires and pipes. Another thing is how close to structures. I have to go out on tree jobs where the folks planted "a little" tree and 15 years later it is dropping crud on the roof or ready to break and damage the structure.

 

[Ford tractor]

A good wind break will have several layers of trees at differing heights and distances. You want to have wind and sun protection in the summer, but sun in the winter can be a positive. So the close ring having deciduous trees (at least up north here) is most common.

 

[beenthere]

There are reports that this pine is susceptible to root rot, borers and death from irrigation (they like it dry).
Might be something to check into, and a reason they are selling so cheap?

 

[orezok]

There are reports that this pine is susceptible to root rot, borers and death from irrigation (they like it dry).
Might be something to check into, and a reason they are selling so cheap?

I live in the Mojave Desert, not an issue out here.

 

[beenthere]

I live in the Mojave Desert, not an issue out here.

I put the main irrigation lines in a couple of weeks ago and now I ready to plant.

This is what I was going by, that you said. :confused3:

But you know better what you are doing in the desert.

 

[RobertBrown]

I live in the Mojave Desert, not an issue out here.

I can't remember seeing 80' conifirs in the desert. A pinion pine maybe. No doubt a good price, but unless your 4 years old I don't think you'll see 30' let alone 80'. A wind break is a good idea, but before you buy any more I'd give these a year or 2. A couple of years is not going to make any difference under those conditions.

 

[orezok]

This is what I was going by, that you said. :confused3:

But you know better what you are doing in the desert.

Our annual rain fall is 1" to 10" per year. Nothing substantial grows out here without irrigation.

 

[orezok]

I can't remember seeing 80' conifirs in the desert. A pinion pine maybe. No doubt a good price, but unless your 4 years old I don't think you'll see 30' let alone 80'. A wind break is a good idea, but before you buy any more I'd give these a year or 2. A couple of years is not going to make any difference under those conditions.

We plant hundreds of these at our school sites and with irrigation I have seen them reach 40' within 10 years. I have a lot of experience with them and they do well out here.

Yes, I doubt that they will reach 80' but they do get substantial.