How to Plant a Tree Farm
Planting a tree farm can make use of otherwise empty land, enabling you to create a sustainable forest that can prove profitable in fewer than 10 years, depending on the variety of tree planted. A tree farm can be used to grow fruit trees, timber for building use or decorative varieties, but regardless of the tree type grown, the process used to plant a tree farm remains essentially the same, with minor variation necessary due to soil contents and actual tree types. By making the necessary changes, which can be determined after a short trip to a local gardening center, you can successfully fill an empty field with a renewable crop. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Wooden stakes
- Shovel
- Tree plantings
- Compost
- Mulch
- Grow tubes
- Fertilizer
- Small pruning saw
Instructions
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Choose the location at which to plant each tree, and mark each location with a stake. Allow room between plants for the trees to grow fully, about 20 to 30 feet apart for larger trees and 8 to 12 feet for smaller trees. Tree locations should be in a sunlit area with rich soil that has good drainage.
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Dig a hole for each new tree. The hole should be slightly larger than the root ball of the tree being planted.
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Alter the soil as needed for healthy plant growth. For sandy or clay-filled soil, add organic matter, such as compost, to increase the soil's retention of water and nutrients.
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Spread the roots of the plant from the ball-like state they are placed in for travel. Plant the trees in the soil, placed as deeply as they were grown in the plant nursery. You can determine the depth needed for the roots by examining the tree trunks for a soil line. Fill the hole, covering the roots with the treated dirt removed from it, and water the newly placed trees.
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Spread a layer of mulch over the planted tree roots, leaving a 6-inch space between the mulch and the trunk of the tree. Create mulch from potting soil, bark, hay or straw, or use prefabricated mulch purchased from a garden center.
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Position grow tubes around the newly planted trees to protect the plants from animal predation and to decrease watering needs. The plastic grow tubes function as greenhouses and enhance the trees' early growth.
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Water the trees four to six times weekly for up to six months. Allow the soil to dry slightly before each watering.
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Add a balanced fertilizer to the soil one month after the trees begin to leaf. Test the soil to determine whether any minor elements, such as nitrogen, must be added with the fertilizer. Continue to fertilize the trees in spring and early summer to take advantage of growing seasons. Use 1 lb. fertilizer for each inch of the tree trunk's diameter for the entire year, with portions divided by the number of applications made during that year.
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Prune the trees with a small pruning saw to shape decorative trees, if desired, or to produce the best possible fruit. For example, cut away the tops of peach trees at planting to force the trees to open widely and to receive more light to ripen the fruit. When pruning branches, cut as close to the trunk as possible without actually cutting into the trunk and damaging the tree.
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Tips & Warnings
A common mistake with new tree farms is to over water newly planted trees. Closely follow watering instructions for your particular tree type to avoid damaging them by flooding the root system.
