Spring at Funkytown

[BT Humble]

After 3 attempts using Radiata Pine, I decided to try something different and planted Poplars along my western boundary fence.  The fence is about 500 metres long, with 2 rows of trees, and the trees spaced 3 metres apart, so that makes 330 trees.  I was hoping to get a damp summer, but that's looking increasingly unlikely.  So basically I'll be spending 4 hours each weekend for the next 6 months or so watering trees.

Here's some pictures:

http://www.smallsolar.org/BTH/treewatering/index.htm

It didn't seem so bad when it was only 50 trees every 2 weeks, but now I'm starting to  think more seriously about a dripper-fed solution.

BTH

[chadking]

Looks like you've got quite a job ahead of you. Poplars grow very quickly once they get traction, so they might not be as demanding as you think.  I had some go from about 1 foot tall to almost 4 feet tall this year.

Make sure they get a good root system built up, and they should do good on their own.  

Pine are a lot nicer for a windblock since they keep their green all winter, where poplars will lose their leaves.  But Something is better than nothing, and having some fast growing trees out there will be a rewarding experience.

[BT Humble]

Yup, I realise that I just have to get them through this first summer but if last year is anything to go by that means watering them until April! :-(

(It's a bit dry down here!)

BTH

[tecker]

Expand your berm out 4' round and much that heavy to 2'out from the edge of the berm this will save you a ton of water and keep the sun from cookin the developing tap root. .

[tecker]

Thats mulch wh=8ere''s the coffee ?

[phil b]

BTH-

Have you considered a drip irrigation system? They are not too expensive. You could also use it on your next row of trees.

[wdyasq]

Just some comments ....

Watering trees can cause them to develop a shallow root system.

Make sure the 'crown', the junction where the roots transition to the trunk, is set high enough. It should be at ground level of slightly above.

A biodegradable mulch around the tree (still don't cover the crown) will help with water conservation. I have thought, but not tried, cardboard or several layers of newspaper for this mulch.

I am a real fan of waiting until is is wet to plant 'saplings'. I place them in a hole, press the damp earth back around the bare roots and god decides if they survive.

This served me well until a couple of years ago when god took 7 of 10 trees in a drought. 2 were mature Pear trees and 2 were fig trees, my only fruit trees. (8m tall pear trees and 4 m tall fig trees).

Good luck ....

Ron

[richhagen]

Wow, It looks like you have had a bit of rain down there this winter.  The dam has a lot more water than I remember.  Sorry to hear that most of your pines bit the dust.  Looks like you've got a bit of work ahead of you with those.  Rich

[Chagrin]

Are tree tubes not recommended in your climate?

[BT Humble]

Wow, It looks like you have had a bit of rain down there this winter.  The dam has a lot more water than I remember.  Sorry to hear that most of your pines bit the dust.  Looks like you've got a bit of work ahead of you with those.  Rich



Oh no, all those pines that you saw in April are still alive.  I just meant that I'd planted 150 of them per time on 3 separate occasions and only had about 30 survive.

I was fortunaqte to have been right under the path of a few thunderstorms over the winter, but the dry weather has returned with a vengeance already.  We're already onto a "Very High" fire danger and it's still the middle of spring!

BTH

[BT Humble]

Watering trees can cause them to develop a shallow root system.

Make sure the 'crown', the junction where the roots transition to the trunk, is set high enough. It should be at ground level of slightly above.



It's a two-edged sword though, because if I don't water them at all I'll ensure that none of them survive.  I just need to get them through this first summer.

The poplars don't have a "crown" yet, they're like willows in that you cut a stick off the tree, plant it in the ground, and it'll put out roots from any part that is beneath the surface.  Here's a good page about poplar propagation:

http://handbooks.btcv.org.uk/handbooks/content/section/3575

BTH

[BT Humble]

Are tree tubes not recommended in your climate?



If you mean those triangular plastic "tents" then yes.  It's just been difficult to get ANY tree going around here for the past few years, due to the drought.  We've gone into remission from it a couple of times, but realistically we haven't had a year of "average" rainfall since about 2000.

BTH

[BT Humble]

BTH-

Have you considered a drip irrigation system? They are not too expensive. You could also use it on your next row of trees.



I can assure you, I spent 5 long hours thinking about a dripper system on Saturday! ;-)

BTH