Tree-mageddon!

EddieWalker · May 18, 2016

Congrats on your progress and success with your trees budding already!!!

On your holes that filled up with water, I found that I have to dig them out to dry ground before filling them with dry dirt. If I try to wait it out and let them dry out on their own, it just becomes a mud quicksand trap a year later. I had one in a middle of a pasture that was fine all summer, but over the winter, it got soft again and swallowed my tractor the following spring. Right now I have about a hundred holes with water in them along my fence line that I'm clearing that are too wet to do anything with. I'm leaning towards just waiting until the heat of summer gets here and let each hole dry out completely before trying to fill them. Since this is the fence line, it will get the most traffic over it being mowed all the time, so I want to make sure it's solid before I build my fence.

WoodChuckDad · May 30, 2016

The weather has been a blessing and a curse. Hard to run any equipment because of how badly it tears up the soil but the trees seem to have done well. So far they are all alive and the deer haven't been coming in too much. I only saw one tree last week that looked like it had some damage. We are working on the electric fence today.

brasco426 · May 30, 2016

Wow that is going to be a really nice orchard you got yourself there. The hardwork really paid off. It's good to see where it is now to where that logger left you. Be proud of it!

WoodChuckDad · May 30, 2016

Thank you Brasco. We are very pleased with the way it is taking shape. But there is always the next thing to be done. At least it isn't boring

MossRoad · May 31, 2016

WoodChuckDad said:
The weather has been a blessing and a curse. Hard to run any equipment because of how badly it tears up the soil but the trees seem to have done well. So far they are all alive and the deer haven't been coming in too much. I only saw one tree last week that looked like it had some damage. We are working on the electric fence today.

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You're gonna want to be very careful with those tubes around those trees like that. If the wind gets to blowing, the tress can dance around the tube and it can peel the bark off all the way around the tree, girdling it.

WoodChuckDad · May 31, 2016

MossRoad, I hadn't given that any thought. The plastic tubes were recommended by the orchard we bought the trees from Rabbits. We have been looking at a lot of other designs I'm partial to the type that wrap around like a corkscrew.

WoodChuckDad · May 31, 2016

As of Yesterday, we have planted all of our trees, and we have a 3 strand electric fence. In a couple weeks I will expand it to a design that is two rows or fence about 3 feet apart. That prevents the deer from jumping over it. The fence is temporary. Once the new loggers have completed their work, I will start chipping away at the permanent fence.

Luke'sScreenName · May 31, 2016

WoodChuckDad said:
As of Yesterday, we have planted all of our trees, and we have a 3 strand electric fence. In a couple weeks I will expand it to a design that is two rows or fence about 3 feet apart. That prevents the deer from jumping over it. The fence is temporary. Once the new loggers have completed their work, I will start chipping away at the permanent fence.

New loggers restoring your faith in the industry?

WoodChuckDad · May 31, 2016

Luke'sScreenName said:
New loggers restoring your faith in the industry?

The short answer is yes.
Long answer...it is a mechanized unit...they are working two properties right now. Mine and one in another county....bouncing from one to another depending on which one looks like it will be dry enough to move (we have had an unprecedented amount or rain this year. They are professional. The amount of mess that I had before has been greatly reduced and has saved me enormous hassle and money in the long run, which is good because I am making almost nothing on the trees they are taking out. But they have cleared most of what we are having taken out and that is what we needed. There will be some enormous burn piles when all is said and done, but that can be managed, and will sweeten the soil in the long run.

MossRoad · May 31, 2016

WoodChuckDad said:
MossRoad, I hadn't given that any thought. The plastic tubes were recommended by the orchard we bought the trees from Rabbits. We have been looking at a lot of other designs I'm partial to the type that wrap around like a corkscrew.

Well, if they recommend them, follow the recommendation. :laughing: Anyhow, just keep an eye on them for any signs of girdling the bark. Might not ever happen, just something to watch out for.