Guerilla planters

[David McLeod]

I found a couple sites that might interest those wanting to plant Black Locust, Basswood and Sourwood.

http://www.coldstreamfarm.net/pc-127-69-black-locust-robinia-pseudoacacia.aspx
This one also has the basswood and hackberry among many others. In bulk some of these are less than a C-note per hundred.

This one has the sorrel (sourwood).
http://www.eburgess.com/detail.asp?pid=6752&nav=tre
A little bit more but still can be had for around a buck apiece. I haven't been able to find a cheaper source.

[David McLeod]

I found these sites while considering "improving" the available sources around me. I live on a rail line right of way and am considering what could be growing for a mile or two in each direction. Anyone else done this? If so, what was found to be the best bang for the buck?

[D Coates]

Here in MO the state sells native bare root saplings in bulk (25 at a time) for cheap.  I get various flowering ones and plant them in appropriate locations on nearby abandoned railways, fallow fields and streams where I hunt within 2 miles of my apiary. 

I walk with 20 pound "spud buster", punch a hole in the ground, stick a sapling in it and push dirt in the hole.  I get about 80% survival.  I started doing it 3 years ago.  If they make the first year they are home free.  While I see them growing I do not anticipate noticeable results for another 10 years or so.

[AllenF]

http://www.gfc.state.ga.us/Seedlings/OrderingInfo.cfm

[David McLeod]

Your doing pretty good to get an 80% rate. My father and I are in the own some timberland in LA (lower Alabama) and in our time have stuck thousands of bare root loblolly and containerized long leaf.

[AllenF]

It's getting the time of the year to plant those pines.

[David McLeod]

Thanks, Allen. They really don't have much more than Lespadeza and Catalpa that interest me. I'm considering Black Locust, Basswood, Sourwood to the tune of around 100 each.
Still a little early on the pine, or least for LA. We usually put them in the ground in Jan down there. We've probably stuck our last tree for awhile down on the homeplace, maybe a little fill in from time to time but what we have now is cash in the bank for years down the road. Did a thinning last year and have the rest timed for a decent interval of thinning to give us a steady return. Unlike most we don't do the short rotation clear cut if we can avoid it. It's harder for us to market our way but a smaller check every three to five beats a larger check every ten to fifteen. Besides the long term goal is the final log/pole timber cut. We also try to keep a mixed inventory with a good selection of hardwoods so we can watch the markets for what's hot.
We find that it more suits our mindset of taking care of a property that has clothed and fed us for almost 200 years (been in the family since 1813). The idea is to leave it better than we got it for the next generation of caretakers.

[Hemlock]

You can plant the pines in September for a Fall planting so they establish roots.  Or you can plant them in February as a Spring planting.  Now can work too, but they wont do much.  I'm talking about GA & AL.

[AllenF]

http://www.musserforests.com/browse.asp?m=1&p=s




http://www.musserforests.com/prod.asp?p=BLL

http://www.musserforests.com/prod.asp?p=SOU

[greenbtree]

I have gotten trees from the DNR here in Iowa, planted black locust, hackberry, nanny and service berry, dogwoods, oaks and pines (not everything for the bees of course.)  I have found that planting from seed gets almost as quick results, since the transplants don't do much growing for the first year or so.  Lots of bang for the buck since I collect my own seeds (Oak, Locust, Etc.) for free from parks and tree lawns etc.

Is Catalpa a nectar source?  Got a couple of those as volunteers on my property, and I know where there are mature trees to get seed from.

I carry a iron tipped walking staff with me and a belt bag of seeds. Chunk staff lightly in ground, drop seed in hole, squish closed with foot.  Don't even have to bend over.

Cascade Farms here in Iowa used to be a good source of trees - great prices and nice healthy stock.  I think they might have gone under though - a darn shame.

JC

[Kathyp]

use some care planting the black locust.  here they grow like a nuisance plant.  they are also brittle.  even though they are not a stout tree, you don't want to plant them where they will come down on fences, roofs, etc.

[edward]

I carry a iron tipped walking staff with me and a belt bag of seeds. Chunk staff lightly in ground, drop seed in hole, squish closed with foot.  Don't even have to bend over.JC

:-D :-D what a great idea I think I ´m going to give that a try  :-D :-D

edward  :-P

[AllenF]

use some care planting the black locust.  here they grow like a nuisance plant.  they are also brittle.  even though they are not a stout tree, you don't want to plant them where they will come down on fences, roofs, etc.

Both black and honey locust trees are native here in Georgia.  Locust makes good fence post also.