Trees that produce Seedlings

[Charlton John]

1/2 acre is not large. Is cost the reason you are wanting the planted trees to produce more seedings? If so you may find your state forestry dept has trees or seedlings for low price. But look at what you want the area to be used for in 5 to 30 years and plant for that.

Yes not lage at all, just bare all other land around this area is heavily treed so I want it all to fill/blend in together, no cost is no issue. In 5-15 yrs. I will use the land for nothing (just want it to be heavily wooded. In 15 yrs. + same if I stay there but I might want more land someday for something to keep me busy when I decide to retire in 21 yrs.

 

[forgeblast]

I would if I was planting put in a high quality tree to improve my woodlot. Look at Black cherry, if the ground is wet i would good with a white oak, like swamp oak.
If you do plant anything use tree tubes that extend into the soil. It will protect against Voles and deer. If you just throw trees in there they will be eaten. I am planting next year about 130 trees and 50 shrubs as part of our CRP program, Its a program where the federal government pays you to plant trees and pays you a rental fee to not develop it over the next 15 years.
But i would not plant poplar, they are a weed tree around here, go with a high quality hardwood make some money on it someday or at least use it for firewood.
All the poplar i cut out i am going to be using for a cordwood construction project otherwise i would just leave it where it fell.
Forgeblast

 

[Oldchuck]

Forest land naturally goes through a process of succession. You may be able to speed this process up with planting and protecting but then it will be a plantation, not a forest. Bare land first brushes in with berries and other low herbaceous plants. Then comes birch, poplar and other shade intolerant species. Then, after these mature, more shade tolerant species can move in. Poplar and birch are sun loving and relatively short lived. Sugar maple is shade tolerant and lives to a ripe old age.

 

[studor]

I too would go with a good hardwood over the evergreens unless I did not have evergreens any where else. I have a lot of balsam fir, pine and cedar on my place. The forester that helped me plan for the next twenty years suggested cutting out the fir and in areas that need trees, planting maple,cherry. oak etc. When the softwoods break off (and they often do) the most use I can get out of them is outdoor firewood

 

[flusher]

I know this is a thread for projects done w/ the tractor so for anyone I tick off by this post I will be using a PHD to dig holes (or maybe my new BH if I can convince the wife before spring) I have a section of woods that is pretty bare and I really want to fill it in w/ a bunch of trees. I was hoping some of you could advise what trees produce lots of seedlings. I would prefer a evergreen but any suggestions would be great, thanks.

Don't waste time guessing. Talk to your department of forestry, university ag extension or county ag agent and get their advice.

And get yourself a copy of the Sunset National Garden Book, determine which hardiness zone you're place is located and then make a list of suitable trees. North East NY could be the Hudson Valley (Zone 38) or the Adirondacks (Zones 42 and 44). Better to do this selection carefully and scientifically so you don't waste time and money planting inappropriate species.

 

[greenmule]

Get you some 3 year old white pine transplants[don't get the real small ones,one year or what ever],musser trees ?I think is a good place,do a search,they are in pa. and have a catalogue.
1/2 acre won't break the bank,well maybe not,you can plant them soon,early spring or late winter,early spring when its wet is maybe best.
In 10 years or less they will be 15 ft tall or better,depends,but they grow fast. Plant them maybe 2-3 steps apart,deer don't hurt them to bad,you could even have some christmas trees if you planted close and thinned them out as they got bigger.

 

[Treemonkey1000]

Tree Details—The Tree Guide at arborday.org

This is a great resource for tree's and climate zones. If you join you get discounts on tree's. Other posters mentioned contacting your local reps. which is also a great idea.

 

[jinman]

I was hoping some of you could advise what trees produce lots of seedlings. I would prefer a evergreen but any suggestions would be great, thanks.

I was going to suggest cherry laurel until I saw your location. Cherry laurels grow from the far northwest all across the southern states and into North Carolina. Severe drought can damage them and it appears cold temperatures also freeze them out. I suspect it is because of their shallow root system.

I had them along a fenceline at my house in Grand Prairie, Tx. I found that they grow well from the seeds that drop around the full drip dimension. Also, if you disturb the roots out to about 12' from the trunk, they will sprout right up. The root system is very shallow and dense, even enough to stop erosion. Trying to put a flowerbed in was an invitation for the roots. I finally just planted asiatic jasmine and let it cover the entire area to choke out the cherry laurel seedlings.

 

[dillo99]

Check with your local county extension and see if they sell seedlings. Here in Monroe County (near Rochester) you can purchase all kinds of seedlings quite cheap. They take orders in the winter and then have 1 day in March when you have to pick them up. I did it last year and it was very cheap. Most of the trees did quite well too. Since it sounds like you have time, this is a great way to get a wide variety of trees going rather quickly.

 

[Charlton John]

Check with your local county extension and see if they sell seedlings. Here in Monroe County (near Rochester) you can purchase all kinds of seedlings quite cheap. They take orders in the winter and then have 1 day in March when you have to pick them up. I did it last year and it was very cheap. Most of the trees did quite well too. Since it sounds like you have time, this is a great way to get a wide variety of trees going rather quickly.

Yes thanks. Here in Saratoga county they also offer this. I beleive our pickup isnt till the end of April. I ordered a bunch a couple years ago,but none last year. I have a large area (to me) to fill in so I will probably do this again along w/ finding some trees that produce suckers/seedlings as well as I dont beleive any of the varieties they offer do. Thanks again