Norway Spruce Screen Decisions

[Brian662]

Those are prices I was quoted today. The regular 2 gallon price is $15 but for the amount I need he said $14.

The 3 gallon nursery is down to $22 per now, but I'm leaning towards the 2 gallon.

The 3 gallon people came down to $19/tree, I'm picking them up tomorrow. 36-40" trees.
I don't feel like I could find a much better price.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

The 3 gallon people came down to $19/tree, I'm picking them up tomorrow. 36-40" trees.
I don't feel like I could find a much better price.

View attachment 84585

Yeah, that's a great deal. Are you going to leave them potted over winter or planting this fall yet? I figured over-wintering in a pot would be hard on them?

 

[Brian662]

Yeah, that's a great deal. Are you going to leave them potted over winter or planting this fall yet? I figured over-wintering in a pot would be hard on them?

Planning on planting this fall yet, had a few nurseries tell me to make sure the roots are "moist" before freezeup to keep the harmful frost/thaw on the recently transplanted roots.

A landscape friend recommends mulching them all, he thinks it will help winter survival as well.

 

[Ben.MN/WI]

I hope you have some cages for them since they look like prime rub trees! That's a good deal and it will get you the visual screen you want much faster than smaller seedlings or younger potted trees.

 

[Brian662]

I hope you have some cages for them since they look like prime rub trees! That's a good deal and it will get you the visual screen you want much faster than smaller seedlings or younger potted trees.

Sometimes it feels like there aren't many(any) bucks in MN and then you try to do a planting like this and get one adventurous buck to destroy 6 of them in one night.

 

[sandbur]

Sometimes it feels like there aren't many(any) bucks in MN and then you try to do a planting like this and get one adventurous buck to destroy 6 of them in one night.

Sometimes it seems like tree tubes are a magnet for young bucks as well. They must like the rattle as they destroy them.

 

[BuckSutherland]

The 3 gallon people came down to $19/tree, I'm picking them up tomorrow. 36-40" trees.
I don't feel like I could find a much better pr

The 3 gallon people came down to $19/tree, I'm picking them up tomorrow. 36-40" trees.
I don't feel like I could find a much better price.

View attachment 84585

Those look nice and a great price. How will you be planting them? With an auger? I like to "rough up" the root ball on potted trees and get some of the bottom roots to hang down at planting. I am not gentle with them. A lot of pots I have planted have the roots all spiraled and tangled together. I want some of those roots hanging down when I'm done. Potted tree survivability has been awesome for me.


How many trees in total?


I would be giving them the full package right away. Water the piss out of them, weed mats, mulch and cage right away. LOTS OF WATER. Get it muddy.

 

[Brian662]

Those look nice and a great price. How will you be planting them? With an auger? I like to "rough up" the root ball on potted trees and get some of the bottom roots to hang down at planting. I am not gentle with them. A lot of pots I have planted have the roots all spiraled and tangled together. I want some of those roots hanging down when I'm done. Potted tree survivability has been awesome for me.


How many trees in total?


I would be giving them the full package right away. Water the piss out of them, weed mats, mulch and cage right away. LOTS OF WATER. Get it muddy.

I'm renting an 18" auger for the front of a skid loader. 110 trees total for about 700' of road frontage. I'd like to think they'll get the full treatment this year but I'll be happy to get them in the ground and watered with that many. They're going close to the house so I can get the water to them without too much trouble. Weed mat and mulch in the spring I think.
I don't have the time or money for the cages this fall. Maybe next year as I rotate cages from other things I'll get some on them. Especially the ones closer to the woods edge, more likely to see deer pressure.

Good tips on roughing up the roots, I'm hoping the auger pulverizes the dirt well for ease of putting them in the ground.

 

[BuckSutherland]

If you can only do one thing this fall it would be to water them good. A good amount of water will help get air out of the roots and keep them hydrated. Seems like most of the trees I lose happen why young ones go dry into the winter.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Sometimes it feels like there aren't many(any) bucks in MN and then you try to do a planting like this and get one adventurous buck to destroy 6 of them in one night.

They will rub spruce trees!! Cage 'em to save 'em. Nice looking trees, though.

 

[Brian662]

It's go time

 

[Bowsnbucks]

^ ^ ^ ^ Beauties!!!

 

[Telemark]

I wouldn't try to cage that may trees. Fence them off.

 

[marlin]

A nursery owner 20 years ago told me to drive a metal stake next to the tree. He said they don’t like the sound or feel on their antlers. I have planted thousands of spruces and it has worked for me. Every properties different it doesn’t guarantee it will work for you but maybe an option? The tree below was about halfway up the stake when I planted it. I’m in a very high density deer area in Michigan.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

A nursery owner 20 years ago told me to drive a metal stake next to the tree. He said they don’t like the sound or feel on their antlers. I have planted thousands of spruces and it has worked for me. Every properties different it doesn’t guarantee it will work for you but maybe an option? The tree below was about halfway up the stake when I planted it. I’m in a very high density deer area in Michigan.
View attachment 84614

Nice idea. ^ ^ ^

 

[matinc]

Not sure if it was mentioned but I planted a bunch of arborvitae this year and put a thick layer of mulch around the base of the tree. It kept weeds down and kept the soil moist. Fyi

 

[bwoods11]

View attachment 84610

It's go time

Wow

 

[T-Max]

That picture makes my back hurt…


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[Brian662]

About 1/3 done. EZ Money today, skid loader with an 18" auger made quick work. Took as long to lay it out as it did to drill and plug the trees in.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

^ ^ ^ Beautiful job, Brian. They'll grow into a green wall for you.