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Post by daydreamer on Apr 23, 2021 8:35:54 GMT -6
In your opinion what's the best conifer to plant to influence direction of travel on a blank canvas piece?
Piece is being planted in native grasses and trees that would mimick pre-European settlement (no conifers).
I have a general sense of direction of travel based on surrounding properties. Trying to make them to feel comfortable doing so in daylight.
Go...
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Post by smsmith on Apr 23, 2021 8:37:26 GMT -6
Soil type?
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Post by daydreamer on Apr 23, 2021 8:38:24 GMT -6
Not light and sandy. Beyond that still need to get a closer look. I've only set foot on the property once and it was pouring rain. |
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Post by smsmith on Apr 23, 2021 8:40:09 GMT -6
Is this in MN?
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Post by daydreamer on Apr 23, 2021 8:42:47 GMT -6
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Post by smsmith on Apr 23, 2021 8:50:17 GMT -6
I'd go with norway and/or white spruce. Norways will grow a bit more quickly, but also are more likely to be browsed when young. Red and/or white pines would also work, but on my place they both get browsed more than spruce.
The next few days I'll be helping my neighbor plant 400ish norway spruce and red pine. They are designed to screen off the road, provide some bedding/cover, and to help direct buck movement (hopefully). When I'm done with that, I've got 300 norways to get planted on my place.
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Post by Freeborn on Apr 23, 2021 8:56:24 GMT -6
If you have decent soil I would go with White Spruce. I planted White Spruce as part of my CRP on Sandy soil and now that they are established they are growing very well. White also keeps all their branches all the way to the ground unlike Norway Spruce which can lose some of their lower branches if there is grass competition. Use Black Spruce if you have wet soil and Black Hills Spruce if you have very dry soil. I have also tried Austrian/Black pine in some of my worst soils and they are doing fair but they are making it.
Are you going to put down fabric, that will help them get a jump start. If your soil is really good you may not need the matting.
I would plant at least two rows, more if you can.
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Post by daydreamer on Apr 23, 2021 8:59:10 GMT -6
Thanks guys. Appreciate the input. Helping a friend who just purchased a property. I'll check into the soils before we make our minds up. Definitely thinking at least two rows and thanks for the reminder on fabric.
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Post by smsmith on Apr 23, 2021 9:01:31 GMT -6
Red cedars would also get the job done on light-medium soil. You see a lot of them in fallow fields down around St. Cloud. I don't plant them because I'm a fruit tree guy, but if you don't care about that...they'd be a good choice.
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Post by Bwoods11 on Apr 23, 2021 9:20:20 GMT -6
I personally like Red Cedar. But some do not.
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Post by benmnwi on Apr 23, 2021 10:49:51 GMT -6
I like white spruce - I've had good luck with them on both sandy and loam soils. I like red cedar as well, but at my place they get browsed hard during bad winters and the lower branches then die.
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Post by wklman on Apr 23, 2021 16:27:02 GMT -6
Norway spruce for me. Hardy and quick grower.
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Post by MoBuckChaser on Apr 23, 2021 18:41:55 GMT -6
From a guy that has hunted the thickest red cedars in the upper Midwest. No spruce is going to direct buck movement if he is in the rut and wants to go from point A to point B.
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Post by daydreamer on Apr 23, 2021 18:56:01 GMT -6
From a guy that has hunted the thickest red cedars in the upper Midwest. No spruce is going to direct buck movement if he is in the rut and wants to go from point A to point B. So your vote is for red cedars then? |
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Post by MoBuckChaser on Apr 23, 2021 18:59:37 GMT -6
From a guy that has hunted the thickest red cedars in the upper Midwest. No spruce is going to direct buck movement if he is in the rut and wants to go from point A to point B. So your vote is for red cedars then? Won’t matter what you plant. Ten foot high concrete wall would be best for directional movement. |
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