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Post by Bwoods11 on Feb 26, 2024 17:40:08 GMT -6
I’m going to plant a 280 foot windbreak in Iowa. Basically a habitat improvement and a travel corridor/screen. Roughly 100-110 trees total. Plum/Grey Dogwood Bur Oak, Swamp White Oak Red Oak/Hackberry Jack Pine Red Cedar I’m on the same page with the NRCS except the Jack Pine ? They recommend it ? I’ve never planted JP, maybe 15-20 years ago ? What do you guys think of Jack Pine? Should I just switch to Norway Spruce? Any feedback on Jack Pine, or others. I’d appreciate it. Tree list below.. highlighted is recommended.  |
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Post by benmnwi on Feb 26, 2024 18:08:59 GMT -6
I don’t like jack pine and think a Norway or white spruce would be much better conifer option.
I wish they had a windbreak crp version available up here. I’ll likely put one in eventually and I’d like to get paid for it!
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Post by smsmith on Feb 26, 2024 18:46:26 GMT -6
I personally wouldn't put forth the effort to plant a jackpine. They are ugly and I sure wouldn't think they'd do much for a windbreak. They have very open branch structure compared to other pines.
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Post by Bwoods11 on Feb 26, 2024 18:55:59 GMT -6
I personally wouldn't put forth the effort to plant a jackpine. They are ugly and I sure wouldn't think they'd do much for a windbreak. They have very open branch structure compared to other pines. I told the gal (who did the site visit) with the forester. That I’m not real excited about Jack Pine. I was surprised they were even on the list ? |
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Post by benmnwi on Feb 26, 2024 19:08:07 GMT -6
I agree that jack pine is an odd species for a windbreak.
I really like the ninebark and wild plums for shrubs though and also the different dogwood varieties.
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Post by smsmith on Feb 26, 2024 19:17:16 GMT -6
At one point, IA must have been encouraging folks to plant Possumhaw (Ilex decidua). It took me a bit to figure out what I was seeing when we drove the width of IA. I didn't see much on the way down, but on the way back we were further east in IA and I'd say most every fence row in the southern 2/3 or so had some Possumhaws. The fruit is super bright red and the shrubs are just loaded with fruit. If they'd survive here (they won't) I'd plant some.
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Post by Bwoods11 on Feb 26, 2024 19:31:19 GMT -6
At one point, IA must have been encouraging folks to plant Possumhaw (Ilex decidua). It took me a bit to figure out what I was seeing when we drove the width of IA. I didn't see much on the way down, but on the way back we were further east in IA and I'd say most every fence row in the southern 2/3 or so had some Possumhaws. The fruit is super bright red and the shrubs are just loaded with fruit. If they'd survive here (they won't) I'd plant some. I’ve never heard of that ? However, I might sneak a few persimmon in the mix !😉 |
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Post by smsmith on Feb 26, 2024 19:37:57 GMT -6
Possumhaw  |
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Post by benmnwi on Feb 26, 2024 19:47:00 GMT -6
I’ve never heard of that tree. Is the fruit eaten by wildlife?
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Post by smsmith on Feb 26, 2024 19:52:29 GMT -6
I’ve never heard of that tree. Is the fruit eaten by wildlife? It's a cousin to winterberry. Not much eats winterberry fruit until late winter/early spring, I'm guessing birds clean up the Possumhaw fruit too. I've been thinking about planting some winterberry here, but it prefers pretty acidic soil as I recall. |
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Post by Sandbur on Feb 27, 2024 3:15:11 GMT -6
I have Jack pine on a field screen by my house and also in a mixed planting with Norway ( Red) pine.
After about 35 years, the Jack pine are dying. In the stand, that is working as a natural thinning. I am near the south end of the JP range and the drought hit them hard. Plus just too thick.
My thoughts are that JP and Norway spruce are meant for different soils/ locations and that should have been clarified.
J P can grow fast on lighter soils with some rain. I have only seen Norway Spruce do better on heavier soils.
I don’t know what soil types or climate you are facing, but might consider JP for early quicker growth to be taken out and let Black Hills Spruce in an outside row take over after a few years…. If lighter soil.
Once again, my suggestions might be completely wrong for your area.
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Post by Sandbur on Feb 27, 2024 3:18:16 GMT -6
On light or hot locations, I like the idea of red cedar on the outside row instead of black hills spruce. RC is not a good idea if you are planting apple trees. I do have a RC field screen in another location that has worked well and created a staging area where my daughter and I have killed nice bucks.
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Post by Bwoods11 on Feb 27, 2024 7:35:19 GMT -6
On light or hot locations, I like the idea of red cedar on the outside row instead of black hills spruce. RC is not a good idea if you are planting apple trees. I do have a RC field screen in another location that has worked well and created a staging area where my daughter and I have killed nice bucks. Black Hills Spruce was not on the list, but when I did a windbreak two years ago . It was on the list ? Soils ? Maybe .. ? Cedar is about guaranteed to survive and I don’t have to cage them. The area is full of cedar . Matter of fact I need to cut a bunch. In this case, I’ll have a fairly good outside row (almost guaranteed to survive)! |
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Post by Bwoods11 on Feb 28, 2024 9:06:35 GMT -6
I agree that jack pine is an odd species for a windbreak. I really like the ninebark and wild plums for shrubs though and also the different dogwood varieties. br] I thought it was odd too ! It’s switched out now….to Cedar & Spruce mix . I’d do all Spruce, but I won’t have time to cage 50 spruce. Without cage, it’s pointless. Cedar will take off ! They will be 5-6 feet in 4 years. |
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Post by benmnwi on Feb 28, 2024 11:48:08 GMT -6
Do the deer eat the spruce you've planted? I've had good luck planting white spruce trees without caging them. I've never had browsing on spruce like I have with pines. Occasionally the bucks will rub the main leader on a spruce tree, but the tree then gets bushier, making it harder for the bucks to rub the next main leader it sends up.
I ordered 500 white spruce to plant on my new place this spring, so I'm hoping my luck with white spruce continues!
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