During the last two weeks, we have been planting bareroot seedling trees. They were purchased from the Kentucky Division of Forestry. We bought 10 each of 12 different species: Loblolly Pine, Flowering Dogwood, Red Mulberry, Pawpaw, Black Cherry, Persimmon, Eastern Redbud, River Birch, Chinese Chestnut, Hazelnut, Black Locust and Shortleaf Pine. About two months ago, we planted 100 Eastern Red Cedars, and next month, we will be getting another 100 Loblolly Pines. Our goals are increased privacy, wildlife food and shelter, erosion control, reforestation of some of the pasture, as well as some fruit and nuts for us! Here are pictures of River Birch, Loblolly Pine and Cedar trees.
Much of our soil is clayey and badly compacted, so we are "soil staking", which means driving wooden stakes on a diagonal into the ground near the planted trees. As the wood rots, it provides open space for the roots to grow into, and humus. We dug the holes for the trees 8" to 12" wide and worked rich soil from the woods or near the creek into the clayey soil of the hole. The soil from the woods helps to inoculate poorer pasture soil with mycorrhizal fungi, which has been shown to benefit new trees (see Edible Forest Gardens). Here is Randy soil staking a Black Cherry tree in front of the cabin.
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