nrbocke,
If you are planning shelter belts, you might consider planting them in such a way that you only have to mow up and down in between the rows and not in between the individual trees once they become established. Again, I have to speak up for the RFM. Once those trees do take off, if you need to mow under them, you will have a far easier time with a RFM sliding underneath them than a MMM which will only mow adjacent to them and will never get the grass underneath them. Now I understand that grass can help as a wind shelter, but you will have to mow it occasionally to let in light for the slower growing trees--you certainly do not want them to be stunted. Around my yard (not field), I use the RFM and get a very smooth, finished looking cut. I also have these autumn olives that left unchecked will grow into and take over the yard. My solution is to back my RFM underneath them and I can nip the newer growth in the bud while the olive shoots are still just tender little weeds. It really does help to be able to mow a good 2-5 feet under the underbrush and keep it intact, yet keep it in check as well. I suspect that any shelter belt you grow will have a similar situation.
Again, if your shelter belt consists of multiple rows, just make sure that you can get your tractor between them. Not just at planting, but in the future at maturity as well.
I saw the pictures of you house and it looks like you have a beautiful piece of land. Good luck with it and your tractor purchase.
SI2305
If you are planning shelter belts, you might consider planting them in such a way that you only have to mow up and down in between the rows and not in between the individual trees once they become established. Again, I have to speak up for the RFM. Once those trees do take off, if you need to mow under them, you will have a far easier time with a RFM sliding underneath them than a MMM which will only mow adjacent to them and will never get the grass underneath them. Now I understand that grass can help as a wind shelter, but you will have to mow it occasionally to let in light for the slower growing trees--you certainly do not want them to be stunted. Around my yard (not field), I use the RFM and get a very smooth, finished looking cut. I also have these autumn olives that left unchecked will grow into and take over the yard. My solution is to back my RFM underneath them and I can nip the newer growth in the bud while the olive shoots are still just tender little weeds. It really does help to be able to mow a good 2-5 feet under the underbrush and keep it intact, yet keep it in check as well. I suspect that any shelter belt you grow will have a similar situation.
Again, if your shelter belt consists of multiple rows, just make sure that you can get your tractor between them. Not just at planting, but in the future at maturity as well.
I saw the pictures of you house and it looks like you have a beautiful piece of land. Good luck with it and your tractor purchase.
SI2305
