Planting Buckwheat Around Seedlings

[Victor Van Meter]

I have an open field that I plan to plant a mix of oak seedlings into. Instead of trying to control the weeds around the seedlings, I thought of planting buckwheat around them. Good idea or bad idea? Thanks for the insight.

VV

 

[Ben.MN/WI]

Buckwheat can get 3' tall and very thick, so it might block out sunlight to the oak seedlings if the oaks are planted directly into the field of buckwheat.

How many trees are you planting? If it is thousands, I'd spray the planting strips to kill the sod and that would be about it. If you are only planting a couple dozen, it might be best to spray the planting area, cage and apply a weed barrier or mulch.

I've planted bare root oaks in a grassy old pasture and they survived fine without any pre planting site prep. The deer browse has kept them from growing much though, but they are still alive.

 

[Victor Van Meter]

Thanks for the info.

 

[Teeder]

I like to plant the strips between my oaks, but not right up to them.

 

[Hoytvectrix]

I like to plant the strips between my oaks, but not right up to them.

Gorgeous!

 

[Hoytvectrix]

I just use tree tubes for oak seedlings and then spray around the tubes for 2-3 years. Anything else is going to also compete with the tree seedlings.

It probably depends on your deer density, but I have had almost zero success just planting oak seedlings without any protection. There are a couple that have survived, but they look about the same size as the day I planted them. Meanwhile, most of the white oaks are out of 5 foot tree tubes in 2-3 years.

 

[Teeder]

I agree. Protection is mandatory for my plantings.

 

[OakSeeds]

VVM,
The issue of competition and the issue of protection are two different issues; however, they are related. Competition deals with the battle for water and nutrients (sunlight / not an issue in open pasture) that occurs between a tree and surrounding vegetation (grass, weeds, grains, other trees, etc). It effects growth rate substantially; therefore, it is usually most problematic for a younger tree. Studies at KS University have shown competition can retard the growth rate of a young tree by as much as 60-70%. Your oak tree likely won't die ... it will just grow veeeery slowly. For me, chemical control or the use of mulch represent the best methods to ensure growth potential is realized. Protection, on the other hand relates to damage to trunk/limbs by a variety of critters (deer-eating or-rubbing, mice, rabbits, squirrels-if-you-direct-seed, voles, etc), and is essential - I believe - if your DPSQ (density) is relatively high. I'm a cage (6' dia - one and done) plus mulch (fabric-pea gravel-mulch) planter. Higher cost, more work ... but again, one and done! 20 trees a year per property adds up quickly. How are protection/competition related? The more vegetation, and its height and closeness to tree trunk, provide mice/rabbit habitat and better security (hides) from predators for critters who damage trees. That's my take on it.