Planting burlap balled trees

[buckdeer1]

I was at the farm tonight and noticed the real difference between the trees I planted as seedlings and a few that were burlap balled trees.I had got a good deal from a nursery for a couple sawtooth and a couple I believe pin oak.I am guessing it was 10 to 12 years ago.These trees are now between 20 and 30 ft tall. I had a ladder stand in one and finally shot a deer out of a tree I planted.After planting thousands of trees and shrubs I know for sure if I was just starting out I would plant as many balled trees as I could afford every year. I have found a couple nurseries that have seconds that they sell cheaper at end of year.Don't forget to cut all the strings tying the cage on.I missed one around the trunk but luckily caught it about a year in.

 

[catscratch]

Glad they worked well for you. A B and B tree is typically 3-5yrs old when you buy them, is there any chance the other trees you compared them to were in the ground 15ish yrs ago so that they'd be the same age?

As the saying goes... "the best time to plant a tree was 20yrs ago". I'd take it further and say the best tree to plant is already 5yrs old verses a nut.

 

[buckdeer1]

No doubt they were several years old but what surprised me was there didn't seem to be that period where all the growth goes to the roots.At our age we need that extra 5 years of growth.

 

[catscratch]

Darn right we need that extra growth at our age. It reminds me of an Eagles song!

When I was landscaping we planted a lot of 3 to 5 inch caliber trees. Made instant yards. Guaranteed them for 2yrs if we took care of them, so I got to keep tabs on a lot of our plantings. It seemed like the larger the tree the longer it took to take off. But if a tree is big enough when you plant it then "taking off" isn't a big deal.

 

[KSQ2]

Darn right we need that extra growth at our age. It reminds me of an Eagles song!

When I was landscaping we planted a lot of 3 to 5 inch caliber trees. Made instant yards. Guaranteed them for 2yrs if we took care of them, so I got to keep tabs on a lot of our plantings. It seemed like the larger the tree the longer it took to take off. But if a tree is big enough when you plant it then "taking off" isn't a big deal.

We will prolly go this route with at least one or two trees when we build. We’ve planted quite a few trees in our eventual yard, but not knowing exactly where everything is going has kept us from planting a bunch. People say plant them anyway and cut them if you have to, with what it takes to keep them going during dry spells and keeping the deer off them in the meantime, I don’t really want to do that.

 

[catscratch]

We will prolly go this route with at least one or two trees when we build. We’ve planted quite a few trees in our eventual yard, but not knowing exactly where everything is going has kept us from planting a bunch. People say plant them anyway and cut them if you have to, with what it takes to keep them going during dry spells and keeping the deer off them in the meantime, I don’t really want to do that.

How long until you build, do you know?

I'll be honest... I planted zero trees in our yard after building. I have no desire to clean up leafs/sticks in the yard or crap in my guttering.

 

[KSQ2]

Hoping to begin within the next 2 years. Drilling crew coming tomorrow to see if we can find water.

 

[catscratch]

Hoping to begin within the next 2 years. Drilling crew coming tomorrow to see if we can find water.

Good luck! We drilled over 180' deep without hitting, but looking at our geology it wasn't real surprising.

 

[Mennoniteman]

We will prolly go this route with at least one or two trees when we build. We’ve planted quite a few trees in our eventual yard, but not knowing exactly where everything is going has kept us from planting a bunch. People say plant them anyway and cut them if you have to, with what it takes to keep them going during dry spells and keeping the deer off them in the meantime, I don’t really want to do that.

If you plant trees in your yard, I'd advise leaving defensible space from said trees to the proposed house. As a builder I don't like to see tree limbs and branches overhanging a roof by even an inch, and ideally, IMO the closest tree should not reach the house if a storm takes it down. Then there's also the fact that you can't grow nice lawn grass under tree, plus as cat said, all the falling debris. Ideally, trees around the perimeter of the yard is what makes the nicest house setting, and lower landscaping closer to the house..

 

[KSQ2]

If you plant trees in your yard, I'd advise leaving defensible space from said trees to the proposed house. As a builder I don't like to see tree limbs and branches overhanging a roof by even an inch, and ideally, IMO the closest tree should not reach the house if a storm takes it down. Then there's also the fact that you can't grow nice lawn grass under tree, plus as cat said, all the falling debris. Ideally, trees around the perimeter of the yard is what makes the nicest house setting, and lower landscaping closer to the house..

That’s our plan. Our house now has trees all around it, and it’s a vulnerable feeling.

 

[KSQ2]

Good luck! We drilled over 180' deep without hitting, but looking at our geology it wasn't real surprising.

The well where we live now is 278’ deep. The well guy is guessing about 140 for the drill today. It can be a little hit and miss in the neighborhood around the Massey, so this is not a done deal by any means. The guy said we’re looking for sandstone +100’ deep, that’s where the good water is according to him. He’s drilled lots and lots of wells in our country and around Wichita, so he’s pretty knowledgeable about the area.

 

[buckdeer1]

Dang,my windmill has a high water table.When it was drilled they had a 25ft min. We drilled 25ft and I have 12 ft of water. For the rental house 1/2 mile from that we had to go something around 80 ft.Good luck