Norway Spruce Screen Decisions

[bwoods11]

If the screen is not by a road — this 5 row screen is ideal, or if you want a travel corridor.

Black Hills spruce, Red Cedar, Scotch Pine, Red Oak, Plum. Hard to beat this option, and a nice variety.

 

[Telemark]

Scotch pine will lose all lower branches as it grows, even when not planted tightly.

 

[ruskbucks]

Scotch pine will lose all lower branches as it grows, even when not planted tightly.

Yes my road screen is 75 percent scotch pine. I loved them for the first 12 years. They grew so fast. Now I'm regretting them. They are losing their bottom branches and through the holes, my food plot is exposed again from the road.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Every blue spruce I see looks sick and pathetic.

Many here as well, Buck.

 

[bwoods11]

That’s the benefit of a 5 row tree screen or 5 row shelterbelt. One row of pine will not expose your plot. But deer will travel and move along that pine row.

It’s actually best in a travel corridor. I have a bunch, they like that pine row.

 

[Tree Spud]

That’s the benefit of a 5 row tree screen or 5 row shelterbelt. One row of pine will not expose your plot. But deer will travel and move along that pine row.

It’s actually best in a travel corridor. I have a bunch, they like that pine row.

I have a 4 row red pine bordering my east property line. Planted in 6x6 configuration, all mature trees. The deer bed here as they get the morning sun. Big travel corridor with lots of rubs & scrapes.

I think the key is at least 3 rows, preferably 4-5 rows.

 

[Derek Reese 29]

I would consider the Siberian Crabs. Malus Baccata ... cold hardy and good producer for birds.

will deer eat these as well? I dont think I have too many grouse near where I will be planting, but I do have turkeys?

 

[jsasker007]

In my climate and on my soils, blue spruce get a disease where they loose their needles on lower limbs. I think the other spruce have just a bit more resistance.

We really need advice from a forester on this.


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Looks like I might be in trouble. Time will tell.

 

[homerj1]

Looks like I might be in trouble. Time will tell.

FWIW, I agree with you on the appearance of blue vs. BHS. I do notice non-infected blues growing in spots where their limbs aren't touching the limbs of other spruces.

 

[Tree Spud]

will deer eat these as well? I dont think I have too many grouse near where I will be planting, but I do have turkeys?

Yes, they will produce crabs 3/8"-1' in size.

 

[Derek Reese 29]

Yes, they will produce crabs 3/8"-1' in size.

awesome! I will have those more for screening but its good to know it will be good for food too

 

[Tree Spud]

awesome! I will have those more for screening but its good to know it will be good for food too

They were traditionally used in fence rows for snow screening by farmers. They can create a shrub like bush but you have to let all the lower limbs form and grow out. Should be caged, not tubed.

 

[Derek Reese 29]

They were traditionally used in fence rows for snow screening by farmers. They can create a shrub like bush but you have to let all the lower limbs form and grow out. Should be caged, not tubed.

thanks for the advice! I am planting a variety of trees (different rows of BHS, norways white pines and hybrid poplars) and was hoping this would be a more shrub like variety...

 

[Bowsnbucks]

awesome! I will have those more for screening but its good to know it will be good for food too

Those smaller crab apples will feed deer, turkeys, grouse, birds of all kinds. foxes, coons, rabbits, etc. We have several of those smaller crabs at camp, and all critters benefit. Beside that, they are good pollinators for other apple and crab trees, and pollen sources for bees, butterflies, hummingbirds.

 

[chucker66]

Between Paint Creek and the WI DNR I have 600 trees coming. Which Wolverine Spade do you guys recommend? I was thinking this one would work well. I had a shovel similar to it years ago and it somehow disappeared
.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

Does this seem like a decent price for this stuff these days? $93.63 for a 100' roll of 4' height? I just bought the 5 rolls in stock from the one down the street but wondering if I shouldn't buy more from other locations. I thought i was seeing it for $130ish / roll a few weeks back.

Everbilt 4 ft. x 100 ft. Welded Wire 308312B

The YARDGARD 4 ft. x 100 ft. Welded Wire is made of galvanized zinc-coated steel for long-lasting use and features 2 in. x 4 in. mesh for strength and 14-Gauge wire for durability. The general purpose

www.homedepot.com

Edit: Guess i should have searched first.. $68.00 at lowes

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Garden-Zone-100-ft-x-4-ft-Gray-Steel-Welded-Wire-Garden-Welded-Wire-Rolled-Fencing/5000203787

 

[Brian662]

Does this seem like a decent price for this stuff these days? $93.63 for a 100' roll of 4' height? I just bought the 5 rolls in stock from the one down the street but wondering if I shouldn't buy more from other locations. I thought i was seeing it for $130ish / roll a few weeks back.

Everbilt 4 ft. x 100 ft. Welded Wire 308312B

The YARDGARD 4 ft. x 100 ft. Welded Wire is made of galvanized zinc-coated steel for long-lasting use and features 2 in. x 4 in. mesh for strength and 14-Gauge wire for durability. The general purpose

www.homedepot.com

Edit: Guess i should have searched first.. $68.00 at lowes

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Garden-Zone-100-ft-x-4-ft-Gray-Steel-Welded-Wire-Garden-Welded-Wire-Rolled-Fencing/5000203787

When I click your Lowes link it comes up at $109 for me. I'm amazed at how much this stuff varies in cost depending on region.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

When I click your Lowes link it comes up at $109 for me. I'm amazed at how much this stuff varies in cost depending on region.

That is wild. You'd think something like this would be pretty consistent anywhere with reasonable access to regular deliveries.

 

[BuckSutherland]

I paid $89 from Tractor Supply about a month ago. Tractor supply does price matching to everyone except Amazon. If you can get it for $68 from Lowes you should go and load the truck up and then go back and load it again for me, but get it from TS on price match. $82.99 is about as cheap as I have seen it in 12 months. About 14 months ago (Dec 2020) I bought a bunch for $54.99 from Tractor Supply. Those days are long gone. The brand they carry at Tractor Supply is gonna be better quality then the stuff they carry in the big box stores.

Lowes price shows up at $109 for me too.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

Ordered 16 rolls for in-store pickup. This is from various twin cities locations.

Now what is the most economical way to stake all these cages out? I might be able to salvage a bunch of t-posts from old fallen down fences but not nearly the 150+ i'll need.