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Post by Reagan on Mar 21, 2020 9:43:58 GMT -6
I had my spruce seedlings from MDC scheduled to arrive in a couple weeks for spring break planting. Now that the Wuhan has shut schools down, I bumped the shipping date up to this week. They are supposed to ship out Monday.
I have never purchased or planted tree seedlings before . These are bare root Norway spruce.
What’s the best way to store them before planting? How long can I safely delay planting? Wife and kids threw a monkey wrench into my plans to head for the cabin.
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Post by smsmith on Mar 21, 2020 9:47:30 GMT -6
Keep them in a shady, cool, but not freezing place. Around here in spring, the north side of a house/shed usually works fine. So would on the coolest spot on the floor of an unheated garage. The longer you delay planting, the lower your survival rate will be. A couple days is one thing. A week or more is another. If you can't get them planted within a week, I'd heal them in to a garden or somewhere else. edit...I don't know what you know or don't know....so Upon arrival immediately open the box/bag/whatever and check roots for moisture. If they're dry, moisten them. You will also most likely need to trim roots. That is unless you are planting them with a shovel anyway. If planting with a shovel, make sure to dig the holes deep enough so that the roots are straight, not bent. For that matter, whatever tool you use to plant them....make sure the roots aren't bent. I use a tree spud to plant bareroot evergreens. I trim the roots before heading out to plant so that I know they aren't too long for the holes I can make and to make planting go faster. I would also consider getting enough water absorbing gel (a few ounces really) to make a 5 gallon bucket of "jello." I make up a bucket, stick 25-50 trees in there depending on size and head out to plant. The gel helps the roots go easily into the hole as well as keeping them a bit straighter. Have fun  |
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Post by Reagan on Mar 21, 2020 9:58:23 GMT -6
I should also ask what I should do with ROD cuttings. With the stocked up fridge, I can’t store them there. Should I stick them in the dirt? Can they be stored in the freezer?
Temps this week will be 40-60s.
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Post by Tooln on Mar 22, 2020 6:42:54 GMT -6
Stu hit the nail on the head. I can't express how much root jell is a must. I planted over 1k one year and used jell, it was a drought year. I had 95+% survival.
=n
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Post by smsmith on Mar 22, 2020 6:49:44 GMT -6
I should also ask what I should do with ROD cuttings. With the stocked up fridge, I can’t store them there. Should I stick them in the dirt? Can they be stored in the freezer? Temps this week will be 40-60s. I wouldn't freeze them. Fridge would be the best. If you don't have room, I'd go with a cooler. Put a bag of ice on the bottom, throw a few towels or something on top of the ice (to keep the cuttings from direct contact with the ice) and then the cuttings. |
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Post by benmnwi on Mar 22, 2020 11:20:23 GMT -6
I had decent luck potting red osier dogwood cuttings and watering them heavily the first year. Direct plantings did not work well though since they couldn't handle competition well.
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Post by Reagan on Mar 25, 2020 15:33:13 GMT -6
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Post by Reagan on Mar 25, 2020 15:35:46 GMT -6
Every time I write something then upload a pic, it wipes out my text. The trees arrived a day early. Hitting the road Friday to go plant. I had scheduled a dibble bar from the water and soil office but the governor closed them until next month. I guess I will make do with shovels.
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Post by leexrayshady on Mar 25, 2020 18:02:01 GMT -6
Every time I write something then upload a pic, it wipes out my text. The trees arrived a day early. Hitting the road Friday to go plant. I had scheduled a dibble bar from the water and soil office but the governor closed them until next month. I guess I will make do with shovels. I dont envy you, I love trees except the planting part. |
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Post by Sandbur on Mar 25, 2020 18:24:56 GMT -6
Every time I write something then upload a pic, it wipes out my text. The trees arrived a day early. Hitting the road Friday to go plant. I had scheduled a dibble bar from the water and soil office but the governor closed them until next month. I guess I will make do with shovels. I dont envy you, I love trees except the planting part. The first 50 trees can be fun if they are plugs. Then it becomes work. |
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Post by kooch on Mar 25, 2020 19:13:56 GMT -6
That drill bit thing with a long bit and a strong battery. Then, a teenager to do the bending over to plant.
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Post by Reagan on Mar 25, 2020 20:00:49 GMT -6
These are bare root. Momma gave me a tree budget so I went cheap to get a higher volume. I expect I will hate them before I am done planting. Help will be 2 teenage daughters and a very active 73 year old father.
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Post by smsmith on Mar 25, 2020 20:20:05 GMT -6
How many did you get? Doesn't look like that big of a job
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Post by Reagan on Mar 25, 2020 20:58:18 GMT -6
400
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Post by smsmith on Mar 26, 2020 6:21:22 GMT -6
I've got 135 plugs coming from Univ. of ID, 225 bareroot evergreens coming from Musser Forests, 50 evergreens coming from Todd County NRCS, and 150 plugs from Lodholz Nursery. I'll be planting them myself, like I always do.
400 shouldn't take the 4 of you very long.
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