Establishing a New Pine Plantation

[WDH]

This was bare root stock.  I really focused on quality site prep after the clearcut of the original plantation.  That pays big dividends.  Poor site prep usually results in a poor stand. 

[SwampDonkey]

Yes for sure. I've seen landowners clear alder off fields to plant and then never control the alders. The trees can't survive that.

[customsawyer]

Looking good.

[WDH]

Thank you.  I have always been handsome. 

[Gary_C]

And forthcoming too.  ;D

[stavebuyer]

More of a accounting question. Are the tree planting costs treated as an expense and deducted as you incur them or do you have to capitalize and use as them as a basis when you sell sawtimber 20 years down the road?

[Raider Bill]

Thank you.  I have always been handsome.

Danny is ageless!

[WDH]

Some of the best performers after two growing seasons.



 

[Nebraska]

Two seasons growth!!?  I was lucky to have my Ponderosa pines make it to my kneecaps the first two seasons.  I'm sure your site is much better though.

[WDH]

The majority of this growth response is due to genetic improvement.  These seedlings are Arborgen MCP Elite.  MCP stands for Mass Control Pollinated.  The father and mother of these trees is known and are chosen specifically for top growth response.  Each individual cone on the mother tree is sealed in a brown paper bag to prevent any other male pollen from pollinating the cone, and the chosen father's pollen is collected and injected into the bag with a syringe.  The seedling grown from the seed cost about 3 times as much as the standard 2nd gen seedling.  Since this is my 2nd and last rotation on this site due to my longevity (not the trees), I wanted to go with the very best.

[SwampDonkey]

Don't stand in the way of them pine. I heard they grow so fast they could knock a man out of his saddle. :D ;D

[Plankton]

Just wanted to say thanks for recording and posting all this I've been reading through the years and have appreciated watching and learning.

[thecfarm]

Them things are just a growing!!

[Ron Scott]

Looking good!

[customsawyer]

Easy Danny. I'm  sure Ron was referring to the trees. :D Just kidding I think all three of you are looking great.

[caveman]

I hardly recognize them.  They are growing up so fast.  It is good to see you out there doing what you enjoy to do.  They look to be staying 6' apart too.

[PJS]

Just finished reading through this entire thread. Very informative and some laughs! great to see the progress from the start! Glad I stumbled my way onto this site! 

[WDH]

This year so far, 2020, perfect weather for my plantations as we have had copious rain.  The trees are happy and will maintain their social distance until the first thinning in 10 years from now if I live to see it. 

[WDH]

Update:  Here is pic after the third growing season.  Compare with pic in reply #357.  They are really taking off. 



 

[Nebraska]

Wow! That's impressive.

[WDH]

In forestry, there have been great strides in genetics. 

[Southside]

Wow Danny, just Wow!!  

[Andries]

A picture like that shows a lot of know-how coming together.
Nice work Danny!

[Darrel]

I'm impressed!

[Ianab]

That's NZ growth rates there.  ;D

Just interested if you can get a premium for clear pruned logs later? That's a big thing here as clear pine lumber is worth MUCH more than your regular knotty stuff. So year 3 to 8 is all about lift pruning to get clear butt logs. After the last prune they would be thinned to final stocking and the thinned trees left to rot. Unless it's a really easy access site ( most aren't) it's not economic to harvest the pulp / post sized logs.