Planting
- Potential equipment needed for planting a shelterbelt:
- Planting bags, shovel or spade or dibble bar, plot cord, proper clothing
- Miscellaneous items such as duct tape, rope, a knife and first aid kit
- A bag such as a duffel or backpack to carry your items.
Propagation
Propagating a seed will make sure that the tree will grow to be identical as the tree it came from. In other words, you can artificially select the next generation of tree or shrub, which is especially beneficial when there are some very desirable characteristics from the previous generation. Propagating your own seedling instead of buying a partly-grown tree or shrub can also be beneficial when availability of a certain species in your area is limited, and can also save money from not having to buy a seedling. To propagate a tree or shrub, you can either grow it from seed, or begin from softwood or hardwood cuttings.
Purchasing a seedling or sapling
One can also purchase a seedling or sapling. This would speed up the shelterbelt process so it could provide its service faster, but one would also have less control over how well the shelterbelt will grow and succeed. However, this is not normally a terrible issue.
Planting new trees and shrubs
There is both hand planting and mechanical planting for seedlings.
- Hand planting is more suitable for smaller-scale projects
- Consists of using a dibble bar, shovel or spade to hand-dig a wedge-shaped hole in the soil, placing the seedling in the hole and then replacing the soil and watering the area.
- Mechanical planting is more suitable for larger-scale projects
- One popular way to mechanically plant shelterbelt trees includes using a tree planting attachment on a tractor that opens a furrow in the ground that a seed will be lowered into. The seedling will be hand-lowered into the furrow by someone sitting on the tree planting attachment. The packing wheel of the attachment will then close the hole it made moments prior, with the seedling now planted in said hole. Then, have someone follow the tree planter to ensure all of the roots are covered with soil and that the soil is tightly packed, or to uncover a buried seedling.
- Water your seedlings heavily and immediately after planting, but make sure not to drown them if the soil is poorly drained.
- Weed control, fencing, tree guards/repellents, and/or fertilizer may be appropriate to use around your shelterbelt at this point in order to control weeds and wildlife harm, as well as to reduce competition for moisture, sunlight and nutrients.
Source: Colin Laroque
References
- Planter equipment checklist. (2010). Summit reforestation & forest management ltd. https://www.summitplanting.com/uploads/9/9/5/3/9953111/summit_equipment_checklist.pdf.
- Planting new trees and shrubs. (2015). Government of Canada. https://www.agr.gc.ca/eng/agriculture-and-climate/agricultural-practices/agroforestry/growth-and-maintenance-of-trees/planting-new-trees-and-shrubs/?id=1346110148472.
- Propagation. (2020). Government of Canada. https://www.agr.gc.ca/eng/agriculture-and-climate/agricultural-practices/agroforestry/growth-and-maintenance-of-trees/propagation/?id=1346183990557.