Giving Tree Farming a shot

[Gatorboy]

These are acorns I harvested myself from a large white oak on my property. I put them in water, and tossed out the floating ones.

Some had already started to germinate, I am hoping for a high success rate.

 

[manganos]

Interesting thread going on..... I'm having the Department of Forestry come plant 5 acres of field with loblolly pine. Cost to me is $60 an acre. That includes the seedlings and the labor to plant them by hand. They hire out contractors (non-US citizens) and plant them in late Nov, Dec, and Jan. The spacing will be similiar to yours

 

[gws]

Since like a nice idea, If your comfortable with a many year commitment on the land and LOTS of work to turn it into something else but a tree farm.

good luck.

 

[MLB]

A plant can only grow as fast

as it's roots can supply it. The trees will be fine, but they would grow MUCH quicker if you loosen the soil down farther so the roots can spread easier and by default, faster. Scrape the soil off, then rent a tiller when they're all done and till up the beds. then rake the top back.

 

[Rch]

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showthreaded.pl?Cat=&Board=implement&Number=44160&Search=true&Forum=All_Forums&Words=Rch&Match=Username&Searchpage=7&Limit=25&Old=allposts&Main=44160>Tree planter set-up</A>
Here is the rig I've evolved to after 60,000 seedlings and an explanation.

 

[ljh2]

rch,

That's a pretty spiffy setup there! When I was a kid back in northern Minnesota, I used to plant trees in the early spring for the DNR re-forestation programs. All we used was a spud to open a hole and the heel of your boot to close it. I averaged about 9,000 to 12,000 trees in a day depending on the type of seedlings we were doing that day. We mostly planted spruce and norway pine. You sure felt it after a couple of days of that in a row though.

larry

 

[TOMLESCOEQUIP]

I have a good customer of mine who has been in the tree business for around 15 years...One thing he tells me is the customers you want are the wholesale buyers...A retail customer is good for trees when building /aquiring a new house or property and when he gets his planting done your business with him is usually done also....A landscaper or retail garden center type customer will buy trees by the hundreds year after year if you treat them right......Take a little less per tree and sell a lot more....plus the contractor or retailer is less apt to complain about the occaisonal tree that dies but I guarantee the home owner will b..ch about wanting a free replacement......TOM