Norway Spruce Screen Decisions

[matinc]

Nice job Brian. That's awesome please post completed pics

 

[Brian662]

Finished up yesterday. Time to start hunting.

 

[Ben.MN/WI]

That looks really nice. A forkie will be out there tonight to shine up those trunks for you!

I'd recommend adding a couple of steel T-posts to mark the rows as well. It will help reduce the likelihood of the township ditch mowing crew or the farmer's sprayer from hitting your trees.

I once lost a couple hundred trees when my farmer renter accidently sprayed a section of my visual screen, but that was when I only used short wood lathes to mark the row. I've also had snowmobiles, atv's and trucks run over trees that I planted when they were small and hard to see. Steel fenceposts took care of both of those issues.

 

[Brian662]

That looks really nice. A forkie will be out there tonight to shine up those trunks for you!

I'd recommend adding a couple of steel T-posts to mark the rows as well. It will help reduce the likelihood of the township ditch mowing crew or the farmer's sprayer from hitting your trees.

I once lost a couple hundred trees when my farmer renter accidently sprayed a section of my visual screen, but that was when I only used short wood lathes to mark the row. I've also had snowmobiles, atv's and trucks run over trees that I planted when they were small and hard to see. Steel fenceposts took care of both of those issues.

Down near the timber I used steel t-posts near every tree to discourage buck rubbing similar to @marlin suggestion. Good idea to do it all the way down nearest the field edge for spacing from the farmer/sprayer. I'm not as worried about the road side because the set back is 10' further than the corn was previously.

 

[matinc]

Just remember the best time to plant a tree was yesterday.

 

[Ben.MN/WI]

This spring I took the steel rebar cage off a 12 year old red pine that I planted for a visual screen. That turned out to be a mistake because a buck shredded that tree this week. After seeing the damage, I threw some random tree branches around that pine tree and hopefully that prevents any more damage to the tree. There is about 1/4 of the trunk that was not shredded, so there is a chance the tree lives.

That buck clearly didn't know that I planted those trees to hide deer from my poaching neighbor!

 

[Brian662]

My trees from the above screen had a rough winter. Severe needle cast and some deer damage have them looking sad this spring. Will weed mat and mulch yet this spring and replace those who didn't make it through. My guess is about 15% are cooked.

My plan is to fence the whole lot of them with 5' welded wire fence. Does anyone have experience with this and how often do you think I need a T-post? Initial thought was every 10' or so. Any ideas or experience?

 

[TenPoint]

I’ve been fencing mine individually. 4’ welded wire. I make them 12.5’ or so. Just expanded a few last weekend as my trees are getting bigger. I had overlapped the wire previously to match the size of the trees. I use one post. Or none. Those tip over a lot. lol.

 

[sandbur]

My trees from the above screen had a rough winter. Severe needle cast and some deer damage have them looking sad this spring. Will weed mat and mulch yet this spring and replace those who didn't make it through. My guess is about 15% are cooked.

My plan is to fence the whole lot of them with 5' welded wire fence. Does anyone have experience with this and how often do you think I need a T-post? Initial thought was every 10' or so. Any ideas or experience?

Ten foot should be about right. I have used that on a deer exclosure for groups of crab apple trees. Only one or two deer have gotten in there.