Planted trees in 12" knit bags

[Gatorboy]

Planted trees in 12\" knit bags

This weekend I started planting some of my trees that were in 5" knit bags in the field into a 12" knit bag. The root system these bags create is awesome.

I picked up my new 12" auger bit last week -- I love it!

I planted 21 American Arborvitae, in the next few weeks I'll finish planting my remaining Silver Maple and Green Ash.

 

[daedong]

Re: Planted trees in 12\" knit bags

Dave,

I have never seen these bags before, are they biodegradable

 

[Gatorboy]

Re: Planted trees in 12\" knit bags

<font color="blue"> are they biodegradable? </font>

No, they aren't.

I am starting up a tree farm, so this is just one of the stages of this whole process. When the average tree gets to 1 3/4" caliper they need to get either sold and planted in the ground after cutting off the bag, or transplanted to a 30-gallon container or a larger knit bag to grow larger until it is sold.

 

[Glenn9643]

Re: Planted trees in 12\" knit bags

When I read this post I remembered your previous post about tree farming.
How about a detailed update on your progress?

 

[EddieWalker]

Re: Planted trees in 12\" knit bags

I'm still confused.

Now that they are in the 12" bags, you put them in the ground to grow. I got that.

How do you get them out again to transplant or sell? Does the bag just slide out? Wouldn't the roots that go throught the back hold the tree in the ground? Wouldn't you kill the tree if you cut off all the roots that grow past the bag?

Thanks,
Eddie

 

[Gatorboy]

Re: Planted trees in 12\" knit bags

That post I wrote about 2 years ago. I have forgone the tube idea -- it creates a tall spindly tree, and the root growth is slow.

I have since discovered the Whitcomb System growing in Rootmaker products. I have made some mistakes and learned alot this past year, but below are the steps I am going to take starting this next season:

STEP 1:
Grow from seed in 32-cell trays.

When the seedlings are ready to transplant (around mid to late May) I am going to try 2 different paths from here:

**** PATH-A ****
STEP 2:
Transplant plugs into 5" bags and place in cinder blocks.

STEP 3:
Transplant in fall into 12" knit bags in the field.

STEP 4:
Trees not sold that get to 1.75" caliper, transplant again into 24" bags or above ground 30-gallon Root trappers.


**** PATH B ****
STEP 2:
Transplant plugs into 5-gallon grounders (A 5-gallon pot inserted into the field). These become a marketable tree at the end of the 2nd growing season.

STEP 3:
For those that do not sell when reaching 1" caliper, I will transplant these into 18" knit bags into the field.

 

[Gatorboy]

Re: Planted trees in 12\" knit bags

<font color="blue"> How do you get them out again to transplant or sell? </font>

A nylon strap around the base of the tree and an easy lift with your loader and it's out of the ground. The bag cuts extemely easy with a knife, and just peel off the bag.

<font color="blue"> Wouldn't you kill the tree if you cut off all the roots that grow past the bag? </font>

Almost all of the roots remain inside the bag. Any roots that exit the bag are constricted and cause more roots to generate a few inches back.

The key is not to let the tree get too large for the bag. The bags prevent circling roots, but you don't want to overcrowd the available area either.

In contrast, a tree spade digging out a tree planted in the field only retains about 20% of a trees roots. This is why digging must be done during the dormant season. Also, a tree dug this way takes a couple years to recover.

 

[SPIKER]

Re: Planted trees in 12\" knit bags

Gator Boy:

Looks great, I love the odea of the cinderblocks. Have you had any problems with the roots getting into the cracks in the blocks? I know usually the plug in the block omes out pretty easy when filled with grass/dirt and was wondering about the tree's roots. Have any good books or better yet Net Sites to determine the exact tree species that you have. I have 22 acres and 10~15 are in trees but I'm having some difficulty identifying the differance between say silver maples and sugar maples or hard maples ect. I use this site http://www.oplin.org/tree/ but the ones I've got seem to be more of a cross or just much bigger or a subspicies that s now shown there. I was thinking a GOOD BOOK with high quality photos would be something nice to get with both tech and common names and species. Reason being is when I get to timber stage or taping time I want best way to Identify them for myself and for my uses for selling the products...

anyhow I do love the ideas you have going so far.

MarkM /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Gatorboy]

Re: Planted trees in 12\" knit bags

<font color="blue"> Have you had any problems with the roots getting into the cracks in the blocks? </font>

Not at all -- the tree is in a 5" bag that is placed into the cavity of the cinder block. Some of the roots coming out of the bottom of the bag start growing in the ground below, but they come out with little resistence.

 

[Glenn9643]

Re: Planted trees in 12" knit bags

BIMP

Are you still working at this project GB?