New tree planting

[Jim Uran]

What are the basics, My brother bought some arborvitae's and a couple of red maples. What are some rules you guys usually follow when you plant them? Mulching,fertilizing,feeding,watering,etc...

[Powerstroke]

The basics are just that...pretty basic. More specific details depend on the type of stock you bought. Is it balled and burlap, container grown, etc.

The main thing is to dig a hole that is about 1.5X deepr than the roots and at least 2x as wide. This allows you to fill in with looser soil to make sure the roots have room to grow and expand before hitting the wall of the hole. Since its being dug out, it tends to have hard walls cause of the shovel.

You want to plac ehte tree in the hole so the root flar eis visible when buried. This is spot on the truck where it gets wider and the roots begin. Most nurseries now will make a paint mark on the truck for a reference point.

Backfill your tree and tamp it down some. You don't want to pack it in there too hard, you want to make sure that it won't settle too much and make a sunken in spot.

I would mulch around the base of the tree and maybe use a piece of tubing or drain tile to protect the truck.

There are lots of other considerations for things like clay soil, poor drainage, etc. You may need to stake your tree if its really tall, but not usually.

Then the number one thing is to water your plants!! Especially in this incredible heat.

[3pronghook]

put some dead fish or fish carcasses in the hole and cover slightly before planting the tree. i do this whenever i plant a tree and it works. i do this with my tomatoes also. better than miracle grow

[Jim Uran]

Allright, that was exactly what I was looking for. I sure do appreciate it. I just got a lot, that's 165'x330' and it is untouched natural growth forest. Mostly oak and maple and a few popple. This is where I'm going to build a home in a few years. I'm going to have fun clearing and deciding what to leave and where my house is going to sit. I'm a couple of years away from building so I have a lot of time. I'll wait until fall to start clearing the underbrush. I noticed there was some prickly ash, is what we call it, Does any one no how fast they grow back and if I cut them at the base of the trunk would that be good enough?

[LABS4ME]

If you cut the brush at the base, a lot of it will grow back. The roots are still alive so it will sucker off of what's left of the trunk. If you are going to remove it mechanically (no chemical) cut the trunk below grade and well into the roots or grub it with a grubbing hoe or pull it. If you want to cut it off at the base, have someone follow you and a pply a good stump killer to the wound to kill off what's left of the trunk and the roots. I had to do a good sized area of woods on my lot, It was full of buckthorn and small boxelders and prickly ash. Now it's fairly open through the woods. I cut down 2 big boxelders to minimize them from continuing to seed and to reduce the box elder bugs around my house.

Good Luck!

Ken

[Jim Uran]

It's all going to be done with hand tools and chainsaws, so you are right, going through with a good stumpkiller will do the trick. You know, it's going to be a lot of work but I think it will be rewarding, or satisfying when it's all finished. I'm glad I'm doing it and not paying someone else to do it. I'm sure I won't be saying that when I start the actual work HAH!!!!!!!!!

[Steve Foss]

leechbait: I envy you. Really. I like that you're taking your time, starting in at thoughtful clearing a couple years before you're going to build. It's always nice to see someone think about these things carefully instead of hiring someone with a dozer and turning them loose.

There's some nice country around Mahnomen. From your list of those trees, looks like you got yourself a piece of it.

[boxcar46]

The big ting to remember is DO NOT PLANT TREE TO DEEP. I see this over and over with the public. Quickest way to kill a tree.

[Moose]

Remember to water trees in slowly let the hose trickle into the roots for an extended period of time even when the hot weather breaks new trees need lots of water.