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Dale in WV
04-04-2005 17:44:21
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Re: Tree Planters in reply to Barry from Stirling, 04-04-2005 12:42:34
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Hi Barry. We (the extended family) just planted 2500 Christmas Tree seedlings using the planting bar (dibble). Ordered two more this year from a forestry supplier, which gave us a total of five to use. Realistically, we had three punching and a couple closing the holes. In the past we've also used a gasoline auger to make the holes for the seedlings. Now you may think the planting bar or dibble is a workout, but tote a two-man auger around for a day.... I prefer the planting bar. You get the satisfaction that if something goes wrong with the planting of the tree, yup, its your fault. YOU get to make the hole, stuff the roots away and close the hole, leaving no air pockets to dry out the roots. Like Phil said, we could go to the local soil conservation service and rent a planter. (A neighbor did that a few years ago, snagged on a root that pulled the operator down and ended up with many stitches in the leg. Not that safety was forgotten -- just that accidents do happen.) I've not had any trubble stompin a dibble into the ground. We established a grid and spot painted dots where the trees would go. Without some steady line I think would be a real chore -- keeping the tractor in line and spacing consistent, and an eye on the operator riding on the planting plow. Christmas tree farm maintenance? Ours probably is one of the better maintained locally. We mow under the trees every three weeks in summer, in a cross hatch pattern -- up one row, down the next and then across that pattern in the same way. With a little more than 5000 trees, and six foot spacing the combined one-way distance is about twenty-four miles of mowing. The real benefit of the operation is maintaining the land in the family, and keeping in in Agriculture use, which is a far more favorable taxing rate here.
What are you using to shear/shape your trees??
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