This white pine was an ABP plug from Itasca greenhouse planted in the spring of 2020. It was probably about 12" tall at the time I planted it. It has received premium care since Day 1. White pine grows awesome in my woods. Red pine seems to struggle. Spruce struggle until they get about 5 years of age. Firs are damn near impossible to grow in my clay.
I have a bunch of conifers that are now approaching 8-12 feet tall. Keep the weeds down with a weed mat and keep them protected from the deer and some of this stuff grows really fast if its getting a good amount of sunlight. Also happy to report 6" of rain last week. It was desperately needed.
I'm sold. All my trees and shrubs are getting premium treatment. I wanted to do dozens of ROD, but I can only do 7 with premium treatment, so that's what I'm doing.
For me it will ultimately reduce costs, but it increases time. I will just keep moving the cages around as things establish, but that limits how many I can do per year. Ultimately I think I will find the yearly limit on planting will just give me time for other things and be a benefit to my efforts. We live, we learn.