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Add to the protection list mulch and trunk protection from rodents. Weeds will take a lot away from young trees and even kill them. I have 5' of fabric mulch around each tree. But don't go cheap on the mulch, you'll regret it.I also ahve 5' of fencing around each tree.
Prunning will also be very important in the early years.
Depending on the insect population, you may also need to spray the young trees. I usually end up doing this about 5 times during the year.
Soil testing is important. I also did this on my small orchard (15 trees).
Posts: 2037 | From: NY | Registered: Mar 2005
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I plant several hundred hardwoods and soft mass trees every year. I would recommend putting your trees in tree tubes. You will not believe the difference in the growth rates, they are like a mini green house and protect them from the deer. You can get them at forestry Supply or other suppliers. I have started using a 1/2 inch x 5 ft round fiberglass post made for electric instead of wood stakes which will rot off in one year. I get these at Kencove Fence through the mail. I plant a lot of persimmon trees that I get from our International Paper nursery, they have a lot of different types of trees many which are super trees with better genetics, don't know if they would have a nursery in your area, they will mail bare root seedlings which work great. They start out 6 inches and will be 5 feet in one year. Good luck.
Posts: 106 | From: Longview, Texas | Registered: Aug 2010
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I plant 20 trees every spring. I've been planting persimmons, sawtooth oaks, white oaks and even a few pecans. I use 5 ft tree tubes to protect them with treated 2X2's for stakes. The deer were breaking off a few of my 1/2 inch stakes so I switched them all to treated stakes. I've had 100% success on my trees the last two years with all the rain we've had and excellent growth rate also. I think I'll try a few pear and apple trees next year also.
Posts: 17 | From: West central Illinois | Registered: Sep 2005
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here's a pic of a nice buck who just can't get enough of granny smith apples. oddly enough, he's the only deer i've got pics of at this tree. don't know if he's guarding it and nabs the apples time they hit or just the other deer don't like this type of apple. i've lost count of how many pics i've gotten of him. most of the time there is another buck in the background feeding on my oats and vetch. my other bucks and does hang out at my mini orchard of winesap and staymen apple trees. unfortunately, the apples are almost gone. i bought a pair of 12' sawtooth oaks two years ago and one is producing acorns this year. can't wait until they start dropping!
-------------------- "There is beauty and magic in a drawn bow."
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is that the back of a second deer in the weeds just one body length behind the buck ? or just a bale ? seems like another one just in front of him too. Probably just bales. ChuckC
Posts: 3690 | From: Deforest, Wisconsin | Registered: Oct 2003
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