PLANTING
GUIDELINES
Plant competition and animal browsing are the most limiting factors.
In order to inhibit these negative factors, a five-strand electric fence
may need to be constructed to minimize deer browsing and frequent mowing may
need to be performed to reduce competition.
The following guidelines should be used when planting:
A.
SITE PREPARATION:
Because of existing vegetation on the site to be planted, it is often
necessary to prepare the site to eliminate sod, weeds, or brush and to reduce
competition for moisture and sunlight. Areas
that have been in agricultural crops such as corn or wheat the previous year
require no site preparation prior to planting.
On areas of heavy sod or weeds, plowing and disking may be a necessity.
Plowing a furrow or using a tree-planting machine that has sod-throwing
blades will provide excellent planting conditions.
Herbicides can be used successfully to kill grasses and weeds in areas of
intense competition. Some
herbicides can be applied before planting; some are applied at the time of
planting; and some can be applied following planting.
It should be noted that mixtures and application rates might have to be
done with a professional who is licensed to handle such chemicals.
B.
SELECTING TREES TO PLANT:
The selection of the species of trees to be planted on any particular
area depends primarily upon the soil and site, the end forest product desired
and the animal, insect and disease problems associated with the area.
Except marshy wet areas and meadows, most abandoned agricultural areas
will support tree growth. However,
the better the soil the better the tree growth in terms of quality and quantity.
The following species of trees are recommended for planting:
White
pine, Pinus strobus
White
pine is a native species to Pennsylvania and grows naturally on areas ranging
from sandy soils to swamp edges. It
prefers fertile well-drained loam and silt loam soils where it will seldom be
exceeded in growth. This moderately
shade tolerant species is very susceptible to insect and disease problems,
namely the white pine weevil and the white pine blister rust.
It is definitely recommended to construct deer fencing to protect the
white pine seedlings from deer browsing, or choose species that are less
susceptible to deer browse.
Douglas
fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii
Douglas-fir
is moderately shade-tolerant, fast-growing, long lived species that thrives best
on most upland soils except when there is high lime content in the topsoil.
It is frost-resistant and a common ornamental.
It is very sought after for Christmas trees because the needles remain
long after the tree has been cut. There
are two forms of Douglas fir; coastal form located in Northwestern United States
and the Rocky Mountain form located in the Rocky Mountain region.
They differ in foliage color and cone structure.
Douglas fir comprises approximately 50% of the standing timber in the
western forests, and is one of the leading timber producing species.
Norway
spruce, Picea abies
Norway
spruce reaches its best development on mesic (not to dry and not to wet) sites
of acid, fertile, moist soils, but will make satisfactory growth in other soils
that are not too dry. It is also
intolerant of lime in the topsoil and sensitive to late frost.
The root system is very shallow on poorly drained soils or clay and
moderately deep in porous well-drained soils.
It should also be noted that it is natural for spruce to grow relatively
slow for about five years after it is planted.
When the trees are from 7 to 12 years old they begin to grow more rapidly
in height and diameter. Since the
neighboring property has Norway spruce growing, I feel this would be one of the
better choices for planting.
White
Spruce, Picea glauca
White
spruce is a shade-tolerant, slow growing, long lived species that thrives best
on mesic and wet-mesic, moist, well drained, porous soils.
It will grow in areas that are too wet for some species and usually will
not survive in swampy sites. Deer
browsing damage is usually not severe. A
major insect pest is the spruce budworm that mainly damages mature and
overmature trees.
Red
pine is another species that grows naturally in Pennsylvania.
Red pine grows best on well-drained, highly acid, sandy soils and
requires plenty of sunlight. It
does not tolerate a high water table or frost pockets.
Moisture requirements for red pine are not exact and good plantations can
be established on ridges and sandy areas. It
does not thrive well on extremely dry and sterile sites or in wet, heavy clay
soil. Red pine is susceptible to
attacks of insects and disease, namely the European pine shoot moth and
Scleroderris canker.
Larch
can be grown on soils of almost any consistency from heavy clay to coarse sand,
provided sufficient moisture is available.
It grows very rapidly and should not be planted in the shade.
Larch sheds its leaves (needles) in the fall and has a bare appearance in
the winter. It is one of the
fastest growing trees in Pennsylvania. Deer
will browse on Japanese larch but only if other food sources are not available.
Scotch
pine grows on virtually any upland soil and thrives best on sandy loam soils.
It is a shade-tolerant; fast growing; moderately long-lived specie.
It is widely planted for Christmas trees and depending on the genetics of
the growing stock being planted, it will vary in form, growth rate and color.
The European shoot moth poses the biggest threat to this species.
Virginia
pine is usually a small, often unkempt-appearing tree about 40 feet high and
12" dbh, with abundant epicormic branches and a shallow root system.
It is found on a variety of soils, but seems to grow best on clay, loam,
or sandy loam. Virginia pine is
shade-intolerant, and is commonly found in dense, pure, even-aged stands as a
pioneer tree after fires, and on poor eroded sites.
This species, once established, spreads rapidly.
Virginia pine is grown in plantations for Christmas trees and pulpwood.
It is desirable for pulping because of the fiber yield per acre is high.
Red
oak has a very high commercial value and is a sought after species for lumber,
veneer, and furniture manufacturing. The
fruit of a red oak tree (acorn) is a preferred food of numerous wildlife
species. Red oak has an
intermediate shade tolerance, is relatively fast growing and long lived.
Red oak will grow best on moist well-drained sites and is often
associated with north facing slopes. Leaf
eating insects (gypsy moth, oak leaf roller) in conjunction with root rot,
disease (oak wilt), drought, or wood boring insects are the biggest cause of oak
mortality. Spraying insecticide
helps impede insect defoliation when performed early enough.
Deer browsing and small mammals significantly affect seedling and sapling
establishment and growth. Fencing
or grow tubes should be utilized when planting.
Black
cherry is unquestionably the most valuable sought after species for its lumber
and veneer contents. Black cherry
fruits are soft, juicy black to dark purple and globular shape.
Black cherry does not tolerate high water tables or poorly drained sites.
It is resistant to frost. Cherry
is shade-tolerant in youth and becoming intolerant as it matures.
It is fast growing and moderately long lived.
Cherry sprouts readily from the root collar or stump as a result of fire,
browsing or cutting. A common pest
is the eastern tent caterpillar (defoliating insect).
Black knot is a disease commonly associated and found on branches and
small stems.
Sugar
maple also known as hard maple is a valuable species for lumber and wildlife.
It is most commonly know for its sugar quality when producing maple
syrup. Sugar maple is highly shade
tolerant, slow growing and long lived. It
prefers somewhat poorly drained, fertile soils of nearly all textures.
It produces large seed crops every 2-5 years.
It sprouts readily from the stump when the tree is cut.
Sugar maple is also extremely valuable in the fall for its brilliant
coloration.
Also
know as yellow poplar, tulip poplar is one of the largest eastern American
hardwoods. It commonly grows to
heights of 80'-100' and has a trunk diameter of 2'-5'.
It exhibits a very straight clean trunk.
Poplar prefers a deep, rich, moist, but well-drained soil.
It is shade-intolerant, very fast growing and a moderately long-lived
specie. Poplar responds well to
disturbance and will sprout readily from the root collar and stump when injured
or cut. There are very little
diseases or insects associated with poplar.
C.
SPACING:
6 x 6
1,210
7 x 7
889
8 x 8
681
9 x 9
538
10 x 10
436