bare root seedling problems

[Weed Wacker]

I am hoping that maybe someone could tell me what I might be doing wrong with my bare root seedlings.I have a farm in South Central PA. We bought some seedlings from the PA Game Commission, There Was mixed oaks,White Pines,red Pines crab apples, and nannie Berry Vibrams. I don't think much more than a handful of the oaks survived, hardly any of the Pines but most of the Vibrams. We tried some Spruce from a local Nursery this year.I received the seedlings on a Thursday and planted them Saturdays, buy 2 weeks later 50% of them were dead now I believe there's only about 10% of them alive. We had sprayed the areas with gly early on in the spring so it was clear of weeds. We used a planting bar, made sure the Tap root was not J hook tried to make sure all the ground was packed properly with no air pockets and we also watered them the same day we planted we had a wet spring and early summer so I don't believe it was from being too dry could someone give me any tips or ideas of what I might be doing wrong?

 

[Bill]

Any chance you got a bum batch. If you did everything you said the survival rate should have been higher. Particularly with the timely rains the east coast has had.

Makes me wonder if the roots didn't dry out before you got them.

 

[bueller]

What were the conditions on your planting day and how did you transport the seedlings as you were planting them? A warm sunny day, especially with some wind, will really dry out the roots quick if they are laying exposed in a wheelbarrow or something.

 

[wbpdeer]

Bueller is right. First time I planted red cedar for a road screen I exposed them to sun and wind both. Now when I plant bare root I take a bath towel to wrap them in and continue to wet the towel. I have a small 2 gallon bucket with water that I use to dunk the seedling for about one minute before it goes into the hole.

The bath towel method is effective - wish I had of done that with those cedars. I lost about 25% of them rather fast (within a month).

Hope this helps somebody.

 

[Weed Wacker]

I kept the seedlings in the original shipping box until I was ready to stick them in the ground. I would open about 20 or so holes then get a hand full of seedlings and stick them in, one per hole, so maybe 10 to 15 min from box to closed hole. I cant imagine that they would be that sensitive. I like the wet towel idea, I will have to try that if I ever plant bare root again.

I am thinking about trying plug seedlings next spring. I'm already two years behind and don't feel like risking another year with bare roots. I need a road screen badly.

I tried about 24 mixed oaks from mossy oak native nurseries and couldn't be any happier. I believe I have 100% success on those except for three that a bear decided to destroy.
I also tried 4 chestnuts from Chestnut Hill and they are also looking very good.

Thanks to all of you for your help.

 

[chickenlittle]

Not sure how long from receipt to planting. I've sometimes regretted not opening and inspecting immediately. Sometimes the packaging was not sufficient to keep roots moist.

 

[chummer]

The seedlings I got this year were dry when I got them I imediately put water on them. Started planting the next day. I used a water absorb product. I am down to 10% survival at this point. From reading this I think they may have been dead upon arrival. They were all pine and spruce. I have always had a high success rate so this is what I am going with.

 

[Bill]

I kept the seedlings in the original shipping box until I was ready to stick them in the ground. I would open about 20 or so holes then get a hand full of seedlings and stick them in, one per hole, so maybe 10 to 15 min from box to closed hole. I cant imagine that they would be that sensitive. I like the wet towel idea, I will have to try that if I ever plant bare root again.

I am thinking about trying plug seedlings next spring. I'm already two years behind and don't feel like risking another year with bare roots. I need a road screen badly.

I tried about 24 mixed oaks from mossy oak native nurseries and couldn't be any happier. I believe I have 100% success on those except for three that a bear decided to destroy.
I also tried 4 chestnuts from Chestnut Hill and they are also looking very good.

Thanks to all of you for your help.

What state are you in? And how tall does your screen have to be to be effective?

 

[Weed Wacker]

What state are you in? And how tall does your screen have to be to be effective?

My farm is in south central Pa. Have about 600 linear feet of road along one of my fields, half of it is even with the road, the other half would start out at even and drop off to about 6 feet lower at the location were I am trying to establish the screen. The field would be lower than the road.

 

[Bill]

My farm is in south central Pa. Have about 600 linear feet of road along one of my fields, half of it is even with the road, the other half would start out at even and drop off to about 6 feet lower at the location were I am trying to establish the screen. The field would be lower than the road.

I asked height because if your land went up trees are the only option. Location because of growing conditions.

Have you considered Miscanthus Giganthus grass. It would require 600 rhizomes in two rows of 24 inch spacing. I'd go at least 5 foot between rows. MG will be a 10 to 12 foot wall in year 3 under decent growing conditions. There is a thread on it here in the habit section. Maybe on page 2.

Spruce trees tend to sleep, creep then leap so 3 years after planting they'll be 4 foot tall maybe.


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[Bill]

Hybrid willow cuttings have also worked well for me.

Although when they loose their leafs their not as good of a screen.

These are about 5'years old. They work well in conjunction with getting pines established because they grow faster thus giving you screening while the pines creep along.

Just throwing these ideas out because I hate waiting too.

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[roofer 1]

I plant at 500 seedling every year for last 15 years 95% survival besides last year i only had 40% survival had to much rain after planting rain almost the month june and july then it didn't rain till october

 

[Weed Wacker]

I plant at 500 seedling every year for last 15 years 95% survival besides last year i only had 40% survival had to much rain after planting rain almost the month june and july then it didn't rain till october

What area are you from and were do you purchase your seedlings?

 

[Weed Wacker]

Hybrid willow cuttings have also worked well for me.

Although when they loose their leafs their not as good of a screen.

These are about 5'years old. They work well in conjunction with getting pines established because they grow faster thus giving you screening while the pines creep along.

Just throwing these ideas out because I hate waiting too.

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I was going to try some willows this past spring but ran out of time. I will try some this coming year.

 

[Weed Wacker]

I asked height because if your land went up trees are the only option. Location because of growing conditions.

Have you considered Miscanthus Giganthus grass. It would require 600 rhizomes in two rows of 24 inch spacing. I'd go at least 5 foot between rows. MG will be a 10 to 12 foot wall in year 3 under decent growing conditions. There is a thread on it here in the habit section. Maybe on page 2.

Spruce trees tend to sleep, creep then leap so 3 years after planting they'll be 4 foot tall maybe.


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I will definitely be checking into this grass.
Thanks for the info.

 

[roofer 1]

Indiana , mostly my state nursery but have bought missouri and virginia state nursery

 

[buckdeer1]

I have planted thousands of trees and shrubs and run in the area of 75% after 2 years.The biggest thing is dry the roots out.I use a root slurry and have done a lot with a dibble bar and a lot with a pull behind tree planter.i have never heard of 10% survival

 

[H20fwler]

I've had better luck planting bigger conifers, I plant the biggest I can afford to buy at the time.
I also do the soaking wet towel around the roots immediately thing and I get them out of any plastic wrap that is around them to keep them from getting to hot.
As soon as they come I get them out of the box wet toweled and in the garage, I try to get mine in the ground ASAP after I get them.