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Post by benmnwi on Jan 3, 2021 9:51:53 GMT -6
I'd say just keep planting a few each year and it will be all good eventually.
In bear country don't follow the regular pruning advice because you actually want extra branches around when the Bears start tearing things up. Just cut off the dead branches and branches that rub and call it good.
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Post by smsmith on Jan 3, 2021 10:25:12 GMT -6
"Cluster Planting is Effective and Affordable A 100-foot roll of 6-foot high welded wire fencing and 8 steel t-posts creates a single circle with a 32-foot diameter that provides affordable browse protection for up to 20 trees. Trees planted using this technique are closely spaced about 6 feet apart allowing for some mortality to occur without diminishing the long-term value of the cluster orchard. Several cluster plantings strategically placed on your property encourage wildlife to travel between them increasing wildlife viewing opportunities and hunter success." n40wildapples.com/index.php?page=3I'm thinking about this for the 6 seedlings I ordered from SLN. I've got 3 wild apple and 3 common pear. I could order a couple more. Talk me out of it. I have some concerns about common pear (pyrus communis) surviving winters at your place. You would likely be better off with ussurian pear (pyrus ussuriensis). For wildlife, the only reason to go with communis is if you plan to graft them over to European pear varieties in the future. There won't be that many of those that will survive up there either though.
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Post by benmnwi on Jan 3, 2021 10:30:47 GMT -6
I agree that pears might be questionable for your North Pole property.
The SLN wild apples would be good as would the seedling dolgos from chief river nursery. Both are pretty cheap compared to grafted varieties and I've had good luck with each. Both are pretty small on arrival though, so if you want fruit soon you might want to add a larger grafted tree to the mix to speed things up.
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Post by smsmith on Jan 3, 2021 10:42:07 GMT -6
I agree that pears might be questionable for your North Pole property. The SLN wild apples would be good as would the seedling dolgos from chief river nursery. Both are pretty cheap compared to grafted varieties and I've had good luck with each. Both are pretty small on arrival though, so if you want fruit soon you might want to add a larger grafted tree to the mix to speed things up. Yep, I've been seeing more and more reports of SLN's grafted stuff running really small too. In one year, a guy could grow some seedlings (exactly what SLN is selling as wild apple and wild pear) that will likely be as big as those you buy from SLN. Score some seeds from somebody in a northern location and grow them in landscape pots for a year or two. Using the soil from where they'll eventually be grown is a good idea IMO. Total cost...next to nothing.
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Post by kooch on Jan 3, 2021 11:07:49 GMT -6
I do know a guy with a couple apple trees up there.
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Post by smsmith on Jan 3, 2021 11:11:28 GMT -6
FWIW...I sent scions from one of my wild apples to a guy near Fairbanks, AK. Zone 2a or 2b I think. I haven't talked to him for awhile, but the last time I did he said that scions had survived a couple winters so far. I think he grafted them to Ranetka roostocks.
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Post by kooch on Jan 3, 2021 13:54:59 GMT -6
For those interested, stop by and I can show you two exclosures each from a 150 foot roll of cement wire and also several smaller exclosures. They have been in place for 10 or 15 years. I take it you're happy with deer the protection provided by the large exclosure then? I'll still do the weed mat/pea gravel/rodent screen thing.
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Post by Bwoods11 on Jan 3, 2021 15:22:18 GMT -6
Interesting concept. We did 2 fairly close apple trees protected by cattle panels. Similar
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