Palms with crownshafts should never need pruning if properly fertilized. We have expended very little in actual cash to establish our trees because we pulled most of our seedlings from our own land, did all of the planting, pruning and other care ourselves, and use a tractor and bush-hog that we would have bought for the farm anyhow. Alternatively, you can push the transplant much deeper into a hole than the desired planting depth, then pull it back up so that it is set at or slightly deeper than the root collar. ( Shown here is an effective method of corrective pruning of an Austrian pine tree. It is also not advisable to prune conifers in winter, as they will not regrow any branches from the cut points. ( The best discussion I have seen about the nutrition of Christmas trees is Granger et al., Christmas Tree Fertilization. (See bibliography.) Not only will summer pruning help keep your trees small it encourages WAY more fruiting branches. According to ATTRA, steam weeding is an old practice that has resurfaced as a viable technology with recent equipment developments (brand names include Waipuna and Aqua Heat). ( ( ( Trees can be cut right to the ground to produce a tree of maximum height and to leave no stumps over which you might trip. Attention should be given to maintaining the desired taper. ( This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Second, you should cut the tree at a 45-degree angle. I find that if I dont ask her to help and just let her do what she wants when she shows up in the trees, she is very helpful and is good company, to boot. A publication from the University of Kentucky suggests watching livestock carefully during fly season, when they may rub against trees, and when trees are putting on new growth and animals may be tempted by the succulence. Our Christmas trees will be on sale from our plantation in Worcestershire from: Saturday 19 th November 2022 to Sunday 18 th December 2022. In addition, real trees are recyclable, so when youre done using them, you can reuse them as mulch. The soil should be deep enough to allow for good root development and moisture retention. ( ( The total cost of producing an acre of Christmas trees, including all the costs of establishing and growing costs over the 7-year planning horizon, is $6720.87. ( ( ( Service, Manhattan, KS, Media Inquiries:Contact Jennifer Wilhelm [emailprotected]. Proper pruning requires a basic understanding of how plants respond to various pruning cuts. Christmas Tree Farming: Christmas Tree Cultivation, Christmas Tree Production, Christmas Tree Pests and Weeds. ( ((h ( (&F+1-j For the past 25 years, Raley has brought home a live tree to celebrate the holiday season with her family. There are two other reasons. ( Pruning is one of the most important cultural practices for maintaining woody plants, including ornamental trees and shrubs, fruits and nuts. It also maintains a uniform shape all over. We have not used any fertilizer on our trees yet. Good old Dennis (who was younger then) climbed those trees for me, got all sappy, but also got the goods. ( Worcester 19 minutes drive A tree will seal over a small cavity eventually, and the tree's new wood is stronger than anything put into the hole. You have to be careful with fertilizers, though, because if you add nitrogen and dont suppress the growth of competing vegetation somehow, that vegetation will take up much of the nitrogen and compete even more with your Christmas trees. Growing your own conifer as a Christmas tree is lots of fun, and if you keep it in a container for several years you can bring it indoors for the festive season before it gets too big and needs to be planted out. During the three years that we have been selling trees, only two people have specifically said they wanted a Scotch pine. But interior designer Lauren Makk says its important to be gentle and fluff each branch individually. ( ( It should be about 1 inch above a good bud. ( $5 from Dr. Deborah Hill, Forestry, 201 Thomas Poe Cooper Bldg., Univ. ( ( This will be the direction of the new growth. Blumenstock, Bud, Christmas Trees Pay Off, If You Can Wait a Few Years, Yankee Woodlot, Coop. ( ( ( Assess the tree. Granger et al. Still others recommend applying bands of herbicide where the trees are to be planted and mowing the grass in between. $299.99 reg $414.99. When Ive tried this, though, they continued to grow after I sheared them, and I ended up having to go through the plantation a second time to shorten leaders that had grown too long. ( This is where we take off the lower branches to. ( Comis, Don, New Money-Making Options with Trees, Agricultural Research, Nov. 1997, Davenport, O.M. I knew that Ralph and his wife made enough money from his trees and wreaths to pack up the day after Christmas and spend the rest of the winter in Florida, so I felt confident that I could grow my trees without chemicals, too. We set out both balsam fir and Scotch pine in our first year of planting. You can adjust all of your cookie settings by navigating the tabs on the left hand side. Shape by pruning (selective removal or cutting . This can be as early as 5 years of age for pines but is usually about 10 or more years for balsam firs. They came when they came. ( ( If evergreens are beginning to grow in a field on their own, the site will probably support cultivated evergreens. ( ( 24 separate fact sheets on growing Christmas trees. Because we sell on a cut-your-own basis, we get to see many of our friends and neighbors when they come for trees. Unfortunately, the equipment may be cost prohibitive to the small-scale grower; consequently, these growers may have to build their own hot water devices. You want to leave on the outer layers of wood, which are the most efficient in taking up water. It is usually started when at tree is 4 to 5 feet high, although some shearing may be necessary at a younger age to control a gross defect. Category: Documents. ( Proper pruning cuts are made at a node, the point at which one branch or twig attaches to another. Our Scotch pine plantation got away from us, too, when I was pregnant and when my son was an infant, because I wasnt able to get to the pruning then. The latter is a popular tree in the mid-South. The central leader the top, vertically growing stem of the tree, the place where the angel or star will sit is cut back to 8 to 10 inches in order to make a well-shaped, dense tree with a uniform spacing between whorls. ( Late October is a good time to do this in Maine. ( Learning how to shear a Christmas tree is not difficult and the benefits are well worth the effort: For the first few years after planting, corrective trimming during the dormant season is all that Christmas trees require. Basal pruning consists of removing all the branches from the ground up to a full whorl or set of branches. You may miss a year with firs, but your trees will look better if you dont. Access roads can also be important in case of fire. ( } !1AQa"q2#BR$3br Carbaryl (Sevin), for example, apparently directly cause mites to reproduce faster, and it can further favor spider mites by increasing the level of nitrogen in leaves. In some locations, you can cut down a tree without a permit, but its best to check the regulations in your area before cutting your own. ( Once shearing has been started, it must be done every year to maintain uniform density. ((h This is an easy place to begin pruning. Z ((h ( ( ( The classic example of aggressive pruning is rejuvenation or basal pruning. Service, Univ. ( Pruning and shearing produce the symmetrical, high-density, cone-shaped characteristics of a quality Christmas tree. This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages. Kapple-Smith, Diana, A Christmas Business, Country Journal, Dec. 1980. You should avoid cutting the tree too close to the trunk to avoid damaging the natural defenses. ( ( This will prevent it from dropping needles and ensure that the tree is fresh. Secondly, not all palms require pruning. ( The needles of this tree are very sharp they are awful to prune and the tree doesnt have the fragrance of balsam. . Our 3-acre plantation is in a field that was cut for hay a few times each summer for at least a decade. from the top whorl. ( }, 2018-2023 American Society for Horticultural Science, Copy this link, or click below to email it to a friend. Depending on the extent of basal pruning, the tree tries to replace the lost foliage by increasing the density of the remaining branches. ( ( (Other experts cite losses of 25 to 30% due to mortality and culling even with pesticide use. If you plant your trees in check rows, and if you have level soil, youll be able to mow in two directions for a couple of years for better weed control. The species you intend to plant makes a difference, too. For evergreen trees, pruning in late summer and autumn is ideal. J (h(h ( ( ( ( Shearing a tree properly will stimulate new buds, put additional growth on the desirable branches, and control foliage and shape. ( Any dead or damaged shoots should also be removed. Corrective work may have to be done for two or more seasons before the tree is shaped properly and is saleable. Christmas trees respond surprisingly well if the growing tips are snipped back regularly in late summer or autumn. ( The distance between the whorls (rings of branches) determines how full the finished Christmas tree will look. To propagate bottle brush from cuttings using clean, sterilized pruners to take 6-inch cuttings of semi-mature wood in summer. ( ( ( ( ( . They will not need shade in the transplant bed but may need to be watered and fertilized periodically. These cost about $45 at Agway, but I was lucky to find one for about $20 at Renys one summer. ( Is there an organic alternative to using herbicides before planting trees? 1 or U.S. Apply a fine mist of water to avoid washing the soil away from the tree roots, and apply at least 1/2 inch each time you water so that the moisture gets deep enough in the soil to reach the roots. I spend about 60 hours in late June, July and early August pruning the 2500 trees in our 3-acre field. The trees should be set as deep as they were in the nursery, and the soil should be firmed around their roots after theyre planted to eliminate air spaces. Before cutting the tree, its essential that you check whether any permits are required. On spruce and fir it is not as essential to shear all lateral branches as they have a more desirable and natural growth. Match case Limit results 1 per page. ( There are a few important things to remember. We started advertising that our operation would be open on weekends only, but people didnt pay much attention to that. ( } ( Lilley, William D. and Vivian J. Holmes, Growing a Continuous Supply of Balsam Fir Wreath Brush, Christmas Wreath Notes #4, Bull. ( If you want to save some money but still buy plants, you could buy 2-0 seedlings and grow them in your own transplant bed for a year or two. We dont have to deal with chemicals that may be proven toxic some day; we dont have to worry about contaminating our neighbors wells; and we dont have to worry about poisoning wildlife or destroying habitat. Thats one way to start a plantation or to get some early trees while waiting for plantation-grown trees to mature, but because self-sown trees rarely grow in rows, they can be difficult to manage. A well-shaped, dense tree has a fairly uniform spacing of 8 to 10 . If you cut too much off the tree, youll end up with open wounds that will attract bacteria. ( ( ( ( ( ( The soil is moist enough (usually quite wet) in the spring that you dont have to water your transplants in. With an associate degree in Applied Science for Construction Practice & Management from VT Technical College, Rayon has gained 10 years of experience in heavy highway construction management. Use soil and foliage tests to refine fertilizer applications after the second growing season. ( ((h Bissell, Lewis, Planting Balsam Fir for Christmas Trees, Forestry Notes, Feb. 1974, Univ. After two years in the seedling bed, move the plants to a transplant bed, where they can be grown about 2 inches apart or at a density of 30 to 50 trees per square foot for two more years. ( ( by By Stanley W. Knowles, Extension Specialist, Forestry and R. Marshall Patmos, Cheshire County Extension Forester Published in cooperation with the Division of Forests and Lands, Dept. ( The grower doesnt put livestock in with her trees until the trees are 5 feet tall or more. At this point, I would recommend setting the trees 5 to 6 feet apart within rows and setting the rows 7 feet apart. Basal pruning reduced cutting time approximately 25%, and baling time approximately 10%. As an alternative to mowing and herbicides, you could try using a mulch of several sheets of newspaper held down with about 4 inches of sawdust, straw, bark chips or wood chips and applied in a 2- to 3-foot-diameter circle around each tree. ( You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. Pruning and Shearing Christmas Trees [fact sheet] Terminal Leader Pruning. ( 7012, Univ. Kym Pokorny | Supposedly you can prune 50 to 70 balsam firs an hour, depending on tree height and site conditions; pines can take about twice as long. Z ( ( Shearing and shaping is the most important activity of Christmas tree farming because the results of the time and labor will determine the marketability of the trees. So says a North Carolina extension publication, and this is where we have put most of our time. Spend a few moments looking at the tree's size and shape and imagining how it should look when you are finished. Bulletins, Room 245, 30 N. Murray St., Madison, Wisconsin 53715. Z ( Grazing sheep on your Christmas tree land is another way to cycle nutrients organically and keep weeds down at the same time. ( ( %&'()*456789:CDEFGHIJSTUVWXYZcdefghijstuvwxyz 1 or a U.S. No. ( Nordmann Firs are a popular Christmas tree choice ( Most growers apply fungicides a few times each summer to help reduce this needle cast, which can also be caused by some disease organisms. ( Each Christmas tree species requires special skill and specific knowledge to be grown successfully. J ( In addition, a long list of insects, diseases and mites can attack the trees, and weeds are an ever-present threat. Balanced ratio fertilizers which utilize ureaform as one nitrogen source (such as 18-11-17) also work well. ( ( When pruning beneath power lines or clearing a tree from interfering with a structure, always prune back to a fork where there is a live branch at least half the diameter of the limb being removed. Taper Overall, trees with a 60 to 70 percent taper are considered the most visually pleasing. .item01 { ( Experiment Station, Lexington, KY Donovan, Dave D., Seedling Availability, Planting, Initial Care, Oklahoma State Univ. ( Big birds such as trumpeter swans come in at 47 while brown pelicans have a BMR of 75. ( ( ( Most growers in our area spray Scotch pines for weevils, which can ruin central leaders. ( ( Premium, according to the United States Standards for Grades of Christmas Trees. of Maine Coop. Attached to the swinging arms are rotary tines or disks. ( ( ( ( ( ( The summer before the trees are to be harvested, shear them very lightly so that they have a natural appearance come December. ( Basal pruning is accomplished by cutting of all branches from the ground up to a full, complete whorl of branches. of N.H., Durham, NH 03824. This publication outlines how trees grow and the culturing practices necessary to develop the size, shape, and density of true fir, Douglas-fir, pine, and spruce Christmas trees so that they are marketable. Lots of people are very happy using machetes, though. Once the decision is made to shear a tree for the first time I recommend removing the bottom branches from the ground up to at least 8 inches (20 cm). Four types of pruning cuts are made: basal pruning; central leader pruning; lateral branch pruning; and corrective . This method is known as basal pruning. TTY Users: 7-1-1 or 800-735-2964 (Relay NH) ( ( ( Dec 2022 | Extn., Orono, ME 04469. ( ( ( They will trample the little ones, though, and in pushing between the larger trees, they will snap off some twigs and limbs. Ponies, she says, are apt to do even more tree damage, and damaged trees can take a couple of years to outgrow their broken limbs. ( Remove branches that rub together. A real Christmas tree may cause allergies to some, and its dried needles are also prone to catch fire from open flames or damaged electrical lights. What is the best time to prune a Christmas tree? ( The type of tree and the active growing season will determine when the tree should be shaped. width: 100%; .ashs_container div{ ( This publication offers an integrated approach to effective weed management in Christmas trees, incorporating diverse strategies and practices to keep weed populations off balance. Bewdley 15 minutes drive Pines are pruned from the time they are 2 to 3 feet tall (about two years after they are planted out), while spruces and firs can usually wait until they are about 4 feet tall. Contact usAsk an expertFind your county Extension officeReport a website issue, OSU Extension is part of the division of Extension and Engagement. You can also collect seeds and start your own plants in a seedling bed, grow them there for two years, then move them to a transplant bed, where theyll grow for two more years before heading for the plantation. For instance, make sure that you have a vehicle that is large enough to accommodate the tree. An extra shot of nitrogen (20 to 30 pounds per acre) in late summer or early fall of the harvest year is recommended to give the trees a good green color when theyll be sold. Year harvestedY 1995 1995 1993 1993 1993 1994; of 3 /3. Christmas trees were basal pruned (branches were removed from the lower 15 to 25 cm of the stem, ie., handle) at heights ranging from 0.6 to 0.9 m up to 1.5 to 1.8 m tall, and were harvested 2 to 4 years later. This provides a good trunk area for cutting; a good handle for hauling the tree out of the plantation and putting it in a Christmas tree stand; it reduces the growth of the terminal leader a year or two after its done, helping produce a more compact tree; it encourages internodal branching and a denser tree as the tree tries to replace lost foliage by increasing the density of the remaining branches; and it makes the tree symmetrical. ( Fraser fir [Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir.] ( J Z J ( 2023 Thompson & Morgan. Midseason washing of trees and vines with water might help prevent serious late-season mite infestations. You can run ads in newspapers using a photo of your family with the trees is a good eye-catcher on the radio or on signs or posters; send post cards or other direct mail; and/or be included in a state list of producers. sb,v @ - P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ % - P@ +P This year, it was extra short. ( Russell Libby Agricultural Scholar Awards. When pruning flowering plants, pinch off spent flower blooms before trimming. ( ( On a lopsided tree, for instance, the longest laterals on one side of the tree can be reigned in so that the tree is more symmetrical. ( The advantages of obtaining trees this way are that theyre free and you know theyre adapted to your local area. On the other hand, theyre more expensive than seedlings. How to Cut Large Branches. ( This prevents one or more of the top whorl branches from taking over as a leader and forming a crooked or multiple top. 1 0 obj<> 7013, Univ. One of the benefits of selling directly to the customer is that you can also sell wreaths, maple syrup, honey or other products. By annually trimming the terminal leader, growers can control the distance between the whorls. Box 107, Lecompton, Kansas 66050; Tel. ( ( If you are planning to use the tree for decorating your home, wait until it is at least six to eight feet tall. For more information about growing a Christmas tree, visit the Michigan State University Extension site. Next, trim the lateral branches of the top whorl. Large cavities may never close, but as long as the tree does not sustain further damage, a basal cavity may not be a problem. ( Another important aspect of pruning is to remove any dead, discolored, or overly dry branches. ( Tree pruning equipment Damcon pruning platforms . of Maine Coop. Sod can also be removed with scalpers mounted on planting machines at the time of planting. One publication recommends using a deflection shield so that you can mow close to trees without damaging lower branches. Depending on the tree's provenance and growth, start pruning in the 4th-5th growing year. Reducing the shrub's size to encourage lower blooms where we can . We thought this would be a fun project, but when we headed into the woods, we soon realized that cones arent produced until the trees are several years old and several feet tall. See if you can borrow one (Youre welcome to mine!) ( The usefulness of fertilizers in the first year is debated among growers, and Scotch pines, which grow well on soils of low fertility, rarely need fertilizers. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. - 5:15 pm Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. ( He keeps the grass down by mowing with a riding lawn mower. While some growers do make money with Scotch pines selling them out of state or to large retailers such as Wal-Mart, I believe I would not recommend them for local, cut- your-own markets. v@@@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ PP@@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ PH.L{ % P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ Pu5, P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ PP@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ %4S[-;m3z`u @ - P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ % g5 Z J (h( display: flex; ((Ft 2 compost. J ( If youre not sure, contact the US Forest Service. We planted our first crop in a mowed field and mulched with 1-square-foot pieces of black roofing paper to keep the grass down. This step will prevent a lateral branch from taking over as the leader. You might consider intercropping as a means of generating income from your plantation in its early years. ( The smallest chap I could find was still too large and stiff for me. Comes with $125 membership in National Christmas Tree Association. Add the nutrients recommended by the test to the soil and incorporate them. Symmetry Shearing helps create a tree with a balanced form. ( ( As the trees got older, however, they outcompeted the weeds. ( ( ( ( Double leaders are removed, and deformities corrected. ( Episode 28: Christmas Trees. Editors usually are looking for some holiday photo ops in December. Benefits of not mowing between the trees are that goldenrods and other wildflowers were allowed to bloom, providing pollen and nectar for bees; and ground-nesting birds were given a safe home. ( ( )?M cC:ZA@ P@ P@ je I E1#v P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@@ P@ P@ PP@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ P@ @ - P@ P@@ @@ PP@ - P@ P@ P@ % - % P@ - % - % P@ P@ P@@ @@ % P@ P@ P@ PP@ PP@ P@ P@ P@ @@ P@ P@ KQ UC" ( It was written for orchardists, but some of the information relates to Christmas trees, as well: Purchase and release of predatory mites can be useful to establish populations in large plantings or orchards, but the best results are obtained by creating favorable conditions for naturally occurring predators for instance, by avoiding dusty conditions and pesticide sprays. University of New Hampshire Extension(877) 398-4769 ( Watch your beds carefully during the spring and summer for damping-off, a fungal disease that clogs the vascular system of seedlings and makes the plants keel over and die. J ( suggest experimenting with first-year fertilization, since a lack of response to fertilization could result from poor control of competing vegetation; from placing fertilizer too close to newly planted seedlings and consequently raising the concentration of salts in the root zone excessively; or from putting the fertilizer so far from the seedling that the roots cant absorb it. Some growers, by using a combination of basal pruning and tip pruning, are able to achieve excellent results. rotation. (Publications that recommend herbicides suggest that a circle 2 feet or larger in diameter be prepared, or that a strip of soil about 3 feet wide all along the planting row be treated with herbicide.) This way, you wont have to worry about it being too large or too small. Its only natural for gardeners to consider growing their own tree. If youre growing your tree in a container then its also important to keep it well fed and watered. ( ( ( We price our trees at $15 each and leave it up to the customers to get their moneys worth. % This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. ( ( ( 2023 Gardening Know How, Future US LLC, Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036. Avoid shaving the bark off of a tree trunk to get it to fit into a smaller tree stand opening. Our soil was very high in phosphorus to begin with and still is (probably the result of annual fertilizing with complete fertilizers in decades past, when the land was in continuous corn), and the pH of 5.5 was okay for growing Christmas trees. I was lucky when we first came to Lincolnville to interview a local grower, Ralph Hunt, who told me, I dont use any herbicides, insecticides or suicides! Actually, he later told me that he used a little herbicide around his trees the year he planted them, but encouraged me on my idea of using a mulch of roofing paper around the trees as an alternative. ( After the cones open, shake the bag to free the seeds from the cones. ( Compact foliage Shaping controls the width between the branches and helps eliminate bare spots. Small weeds can be pulled, but larger ones can be cut so that tree seedlings arent uprooted when the weeds are removed. Let's start by looking at the plant you are pruning. ( ( Their summary recommendations are as follows: Your fertilizer program should begin with a soil test a year or two before planting. ( ( This is around the last two weeks of April and the first week of May in our area. ( ( ( ( You should get a soil test before planting your trees and, if the pH and phosphorus need to be adjusted, do so then. State growers associations provide the magazine as part of their membership. Linda Kappel- Smith wrote in Country Journal: Sheep and goats will, unfortunately, eat most evergreens with relish and should only be grazed in older stands where the salable portion of the tree is out of reach. ( J Z (( 1. Our range of pruning platforms is extensive. One day last winter, my daughter traveled from the top of one tree to another and another, traversing 11 trees without stepping on the ground. ( For example, if a tree is lopsided, it can be brought back into balance by clipping the longest lateral branches on the heavy side of the tree.
