planting tree seedlings in my pasture~ any advice?

suzyhomemaker09 · #21 10/14/10, 07:19 AM

You mentioned above that you planned on putting goats in the pasture....I can almost guarantee that they will eat and kill any seedlings you plant. Dang...I *had* a huge mimosa tree in my pasture...the trunk was about 2' in diameter not circumference...my goats killed it dead by girdling it....I have a small section out front of the pasture where I'm working on creating an orchard.
You may want to check with your local conservation department...the one here sells bare root seedlings in the Spring that are very affordable...they also offer older trees too. perhaps something like that may help that way the outlay isn't too significant if the trees don't make it.

derm · #22 10/14/10, 08:45 AM

With the cheapness of the tree cost, I would plant them on about 6 foot spacing in a cluster and then you could thin out the weakest ones to the correct spacing later on. This will let you concentrate your watering and fertilizing until they are bigger as well.

agmantoo · #23 10/14/10, 09:44 AM

My cattle keep the undergrowth removed and do little or no damage to the trees they are around in the woods. Single isolated individual trees get a lot of soil compaction however as the cattle crowd around them for shade rather that go to the grove. I suggest keeping the goat headcount to the minimum at least until the trees get some height

I had some pecan trees that were grafted to hickory root stock. These seedlings survival was exceptional.

motdaugrnds · #24 10/14/10, 10:21 PM

Agmantoo has the right idea, i.e. keep goats out for awhile. However, you will still have the deer to contend with.

jcatblum · #25 10/14/10, 10:52 PM

It will be several yrs before we live on the land full time (DH thinks we might make it out there in 1 or 2 yrs, but I am trying to be realistic of his military career). My desire is to plant the trees now & have decent size trees by the time we live on the land full time. DH retires in a little over 6 yrs, but we might make the move before he retires. It all depends on where he gets to do his comand.

Once I get the trees in the ground I just have to worry about the wildlife, weather, and neighbors cows! I seem to find at least 1 cow a wk in my yard. Dh wants to fix the fence to keep them out, I figure they are the ones who need to spend time fixing the fence to keep their animals in!

I plan on talking to DH about fencing around the trees (but not until they are planted). We have lots of extra fence laying around the land, just need to buy some post, and talk him into putting the fence up!

Going to try and get a hold of our local forestry guy again next wk, and see what he recomends.

Thanks for all the good sugestions!

ErinP · #26 10/15/10, 08:06 AM

Quote:

Dh wants to fix the fence to keep them out, I figure they are the ones who need to spend time fixing the fence to keep their animals in!

You're both right. Their cows, they should fix the fence.

But obviously they aren't. In which case, since you care, you need to do it.

geo in mi · #27 10/15/10, 08:30 AM

Trees in a pasture make great lightning rods...........
Just something else to mow around and still collect weeds.....
Trees are good poison ivy trellises....
Hard to mow around tree roots above ground......
Trees won't keep livestock warm and dry in the wintertime.

I suggest just fencing off some more area alongside the existing woods. If you want trees, then you can either plant them, or the existing woods will reseed--you'll be amazed how fast. The existing trees are there because they are best suited for the land and climate--so why duplicate(or fight nature with other species)? I have always believed woods and farm animals are incompatible and a good farmer won't use a woodland for pasturing cattle, goats, or hogs. (Just my own belief) I would just mow walking and access trails in the woods and leave the rest au naturel.

geo

rambler · #28 10/15/10, 09:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ErinP

You're both right. Their cows, they should fix the fence.

But obviously they aren't. In which case, since you care, you need to do it.

Legally, many states have a 'shared' fence cost, where the propert owner is responsible for the right 1/2 of the fence along the property line. Might not always seem right, but how it often is legally. This can show up if livestock get out & cause an accident or something; if the 1/2 of the fence you are supposed to be taking care of was at fault, even if it's not your livestock you could end up involved in the lawsuit....

I personally agree that those with the livestock should be taking care of the fence.

--->Paul

ErinP · #29 10/15/10, 09:18 AM

Personally, I think it's a simple solution. Cows are where you don't want them?
Fix the fence.

Sure, you can sue your neighbor to fix his half, but you have to weigh whether it's worth the bad blood that'll create or whether it's better to just fix the fence.

(BTW, this is assuming you don't have to replace a bunch of posts, rotten wire, etc. Ie, all that's involved is work rather than a large expense...)

bee · #30 10/15/10, 09:55 AM

Been folowing this thread and will now add to it for what my comments are worth.

I have a plant that I HATE growing all over my property..Multi-flora Rose. Goats love it. Deer eat it and the only thing good about it that I have ever heard is that if you plant a seedling tree in the middle of it the browzers work on the rose canes and your seedling tree gets the chance to get above the size they will destroy. I post this because you will be absentee and need to protect your seedling trees. Absolutely check status of this plant before you introduce it where it is already not a problem! Your goats, when introduced to the pastures, will clean it out pretty good but in the meantime birds will spread it by seed far and wide. If you already have it in your pastures, plant your seedlings in it.

rambler · #31 10/15/10, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bee

Absolutely check status of this plant before you introduce it where it is already not a problem! Your goats, when introduced to the pastures, will clean it out pretty good but in the meantime birds will spread it by seed far and wide. If you already have it in your pastures, plant your seedlings in it.

No one wants this miserable weed. Noxious & invasive. Would lower the value of the pasture a great deal. Just because some critters eat it, doesn't mean it provides good feed value or is a good thing to have.

In no way would any sane person plant it on purpose. Neighbors should get a tar & feather party for anyone who does!

Read once where a person on 5 acres planted mulberry trees as feed for their livestock. Sheez. Why plant a weed like that, when you would be so much farther ahead to plant grasses & legumes in the same area?

I understand your point, if you got the dern weed already, maybe can use it this way, but for sure wouldn't want to mess up one's pasture by intentionally planting it!

--->Paul

ErinP · #32 10/15/10, 10:29 AM

Mulberry trees are weeds??
I've never lived anywhere that had more than one or two.

Yvonne's hubby · #33 10/15/10, 12:07 PM

I always plant trees with the roots down, they grow much better that way.

jcatblum · #34 10/15/10, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ErinP

Personally, I think it's a simple solution. Cows are where you don't want them?
Fix the fence.

Sure, you can sue your neighbor to fix his half, but you have to weigh whether it's worth the bad blood that'll create or whether it's better to just fix the fence.

(BTW, this is assuming you don't have to replace a bunch of posts, rotten wire, etc. Ie, all that's involved is work rather than a large expense...)

Fence is just a few wires down, it wouldn't be a big deal to fix it, and honestly the stray cows don't bother me we have plenty of pasture to share(the kids think it is very exciting when the cows our in the yard). I do worry when a calf comes over that it might not get back to a water source. DH will prob fix the fence this weekend. Silly me thought when I told the neighbors that their cows were getting out they would be concerned! There only question was "are they out in the road?" I told them they shouldn't be able to get to the road since our driveway since we have a cattle guard by the gate. They never even came to over to look! It just makes me crazy that someone who raises cattle for a living doesn't worry about keeping the animals in the fence!

Oh-- I have hated mulberry trees for a long time (we had one that hung over our driveway and LOTS of them on our rental properties). I was putting my own feelings aside & thinking the birds would love them. I just will be sure to plant them away from my homesite so I don't track those squashed berries inside!

rambler · #35 10/15/10, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ErinP

Mulberry trees are weeds??
I've never lived anywhere that had more than one or two.

On the good side, they really help protect the strawberries - the birds would rather sit in the tree eating them, instead of going after the strawberries.

But, the birds tend to spread the seed, and the new shoots come up all over, and are very hard to kill.

That is 'here', in my climate. My fenceline is full of them, there are several growing around the silo & barn. You can cut them off,t hey grow right back. Miserable weed.

We had a huge lovely black mulberry tree that was 50-60 years old, but 2 wind storms blew it down in 2 different directions - actually leaning one of my machine sheds over. That was a good tree, with good berries on it. I'm not totally anti-mulberries.

We have some reddish/ whitish ones in the grove, and they don't ever amount to much.

Either way, the fresh seedlings pop up all over & are difficult to keep under control. Weeds!

--->Paul

Dexter · #36 10/15/10, 11:26 PM

Try to find those plastic mesh tubes to ward off deer. They are cheap.
They DO NOT work on cows or goats.