For what it's worth, we reforested a 4 acre field 20 years ago. Our goal is veneer timber for our ancestors. :laughing: Anyhow, if you want tall, straight trees, you have to stress them when they are young to get them to reach for the sunlight. We planted alternating rows of pines and mixed hardwoods. The pines grow fast and are wide at the bottom and skinny at the top, just the opposite of a hardwood tree. The pine rows force the hardwoods to grow tall and straight between the rows to reach for the sun. I can honestly say the the pines are pushing 40' and the hardwoods are tall, straight poles with their branches poking out above the pines.
When we planted the trees, we got into a government program that helped pay for part of the planting. Since our soil is highly erodible, the state wants to stabilize the soil. They ended up paying for 75% of the cost. So we got 2150 trees bought, planted and side sprayed for under $300.00... all done in one day. I suggest you look into programs like this in your state.
The only stipulation was that for the first 5 years we MUST side spray the trees once a year to keep weeds down OR we MUST mow between the rows to keep the weeds down as needed. The state forester stressed that weeds and tall grass is the enemy of the trees and the program would be void if we did not control the weeds. So after the first year, we mowed between the rows. After 6 years I could hardly get the tractor down there anymore anyway because the pines bushed out as planned.
I really didn't think the hardwoods were doing all that well for the first 10-12 years, as they were skinny and spindly. Well, then they started adding height and popped over the pines about 4-5 years ago. Now they are adding girth! :thumbsup: Most of the pines are around 12" diameter at 3' up from the ground. Most of the hardwoods are 8-10" at 3' now. They were only 3-4" just 4-5 years ago.
If I were you and wanted to start my own seedlings, I would:
1. Start them in a nursery bed where you can control the weeds for the first 2-3 years.
2. Don't transplant them out to the field until they are 3' high.
3. Make sure you have a plan to control weeds for the first 5 years.
4. DO NOT plant only 1 or 2 types of trees. If a disease or pest comes through, it will wipe your entire forest. Plant MIXED HARDWOODS (we've got 7 different Oaks, poplar, maple, walnut, cherry and a few other species).
5. Consider planting a windbreak around the field with a double row of pines then shorter trees like crab apples, then shrubs on the outside that bear fruit and berries. The bunnies and deer like fruit and berries more than they like tree saplings. They will eat those instead of your trees.
We lost MAYBE 10 trees total out of that first 2150. We were very lucky. The place is full of deer, turkeys, bunnies, etc... I was just out there this weekend and it is now a forest. We may start cutting pines out in the next few years as they have done their job well. :thumbsup:
