Tree and Shrub Establishment

The planting site shall be prepared in a manner that will make planting easier, maximize seedling survivability and provide a good starting point for long-term landowner objectives. Any vegetation that would hinder planting or provide excessive competition to the seedlings should be controlled or removed with band, strip, or spot treatment. Vegetation between planted tree rows may be necessary for erosion control purposes.

Site preparation is planned as follows:

• Mechanical means such as plowing, disking or rototilling

• Chemical control of vegetation

• Hand scalping the are where trees are to be planted

• Prescribed burning based on current approved prescribed burn plan

• Other _______________________________________________

If a cover crop is needed, NRCS can assist the landowner with the species type and rate to apply.

If chemical weed control is needed, NRCS can assist the landowner with the product type and treatment type needed.

Existing brush or trees may be maintained if the site is to be inter-planted and the retained trees/shrubs will provide functions consistent with the planned use. For wildlife purposes, consider retaining some trees that will provide den sites or mast production while the new planting is becoming established. Undesirable trees that will hamper planting or provide excessive shade should be removed or killed.

NRCS can assist the landowner with deciding what tree and shrub species to maintain in inter-planted areas.

Prior to planting, adequate protection from fire and livestock should be established.

Planting Dates

Container-grown plants may be planted any time that soil conditions are suitable, as long as proper watering and weed control procedures are followed. Bare-rooted stock and cuttings shall be planted according to the following schedule:

Plant from March 1 to June 1 in the following counties:
Adair, Andrew, Atchison, Audrain, Buchanan, Caldwell, Carroll, Chariton, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Daviess, DeKalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Holt, Knox, Lewis, Linn, Livingston, Macon, Marion, Mercer, Monroe, Nodaway, Pike, Platte, Putnam, Ralls, Randolph, Ray, Schuyler, Scotland, Shelby, Sullivan, Worth

Plant from February 15 to May 15 in the following counties:
Bates, Benton, Boone, Callaway, Camden, Cass, Cole, Cooper, Crawford, Franklin, Gasconade, Henry, Howard, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Laclede, Lafayette, Lincoln, Maries, Miller, Moniteau, Morgan, Montgomery, Osage, Pettis, Phelps, Pulaski, Saline, St. Charles, St. Louis, Warren, Washington

Plant from December 1 to May 1 in the following counties:
Barry, Barton, Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Cedar, Christian, Dade, Dallas, Dent, Douglas, Dunklin, Greene, Hickory, Howell, Iron, Jasper, Lawrence, Madison, McDonald, Mississippi, New Madrid, Newton, Oregon, Ozark, Pemiscot, Perry, Polk, Reynolds, Ripley, Scott, Shannon, St. Clair, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, Stoddard, Stone, Taney, Texas, Vernon, Wayne, Webster, Wright

NRCS can assisst the landowner with species type, plant spacing, planting methods, etc.

Storage and Preparation of Seedlings

If possible, store seedlings in cold storage (35^{o to 40o Fahrenheit). Otherwise, place seedlings in a ventilated, cool, shaded place. Seedling should be kept moist, but not wet. Avoid physical damage to roots during storage. If seedlings need to be stored for over one week and cold storage is not available, the seedlings should be heeled in. This is done by digging a slightly sloping trench, placing the seedlings in the trench and covering the roots with moist soil. Do not allow the roots to dry out. If possible place the trench in a shady location, out of direct sunlight.}

If needed, root-prune seedlings that have excessively long main or lateral roots (roots longer than the effective depth capacity of planting tools or machines.) No more than one-quarter of the root system should be removed.

Bare-rooted trees or shrubs may be planted with a mattock, dibble or planting bar or mechanical tree planter. Container and balled-and-burlap plants are planted by digging a hole big enough (up to 2 times as wide as the root volume) to hold the root ball or container volume. With all planting methods, the following measures are to be followed:

1. Plant the tree at the same depth it was growing in the nursery. The root collar should line up with the soil surface.
2. Plant the tree upright. Make sure the roots are hanging downward in a natural position and not doubled or sharply bent. Remove any packaging material from container plants.
3. Pack the soil firmly around the roots so that the tree is held in place, there is good soil-root contact, and any air pockets are eliminated.
4. Plant only one tree per spot.
5. Do not allow plant roots to dry out while planting.
6. Arrange tree planting rows on the contour on sloping ground to avoid soil erosion within the planting furrow.

Operation and Maintenance:  Care after planting

Watering: Typically, large plantings are not watered. However, specialized or smaller plantings such as windbreaks may be watered to increase survival and growth. If trees are watered, the water should be applied gradually through sprinklers, soaker hoses, drip buckets or other means. Watering should be continued throughout summer anytime conditions are dry. Consider using 2-4 inches of mulch on larger container trees to maintain soil moisture and modify soil temperature. Weed control fabric will also help maintain soil moisture, but should be covered with mulch to modify soil temperatures.

Weed Control: Elimination of competing vegetation is normally carried out for one to five years after planting. Weed control is an important factor in tree and shrub seedling survival, especially for hardwood species. Weed control will be accomplished through mulching, cultivation, or herbicide usage. In all cases, the vegetation should be controlled in a band 12 to 18 inches along each side of the tree row or in a 2 to 3 foot diameter circle around each tree. Weed fabric barriers may be used for specialized plantings for extended weed control after all existing vegetation is eliminated.

Pest Management: Plant injury or death should be controlled through preventative measures. Domestic animals that might graze on seedlings should be excluded. Control of weeds (which may hide rodents or rabbits), repellants or poisons, hunting and the use of tree shelters should be considered to reduce damage from wild animals. New plantings should be monitored for potential insect and disease problems and appropriate control measures taken if significant problems are found.

Replanting: Some plants will be lost over time to a variety of causes. The decision to re-plant for some or all of the losses will be based on whether or not the remaining plants will likely meet the desired purpose(s) and any program requirements. After two growing seasons, a final status check of the plantings or regeneration should be conducted. For this planting, an acceptable level of plant survival is woody plants per acre or percent of the original planting rate.