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Bruce--The first thing I would recommend is to contact the local Forestry Department where you plan to put the tree farm in. They should be helpful in providing you with information on any grant (no strings attached $$) programs that are available for reforestation projects. The State of WI works with the landowner to design a tree planting plan specifically for the landowners objectives, with step by step how-to's from site preparation in late Fall, to Spring Planting, Grass Control, etc. My sites (3 of them) have a 3-row wind break of conifers and then alternating rows of hardwoods and conifers. I used 8 different tree species. I put in 700 trees per acre. If perfect, that would keep trees about 7' apart and rows about 8' apart. I hired a 2-man tree planting crew and together we planted 14,000 seedlings in a little less than 3 days. The trees you see in the picture were put in the ground in April of 2005. This will be the third growing season. Grass control is important, mice and vole damage is next to impossible to prevent, and deer love to eat the red oaks seedlings. Last year I replaced about 2000 trees due to drought and deer/mice damage. This year will put in another 2000 trees. I have been trying to mow between rows 3 times each year to try to control weed and grass growth. I also put a herbicide control on in late November of 2005. It took 2 years from first contact with the Forestry Department until we planted the first tree----if you need any more info, let me know and I will email you. HTH----Tim
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