This picture of our tree farm was taken last year. During the early Spring, many hours of hobbitizing are required every year to grow veneer quality timber products. Over the past 11 years, we have established two plantations on our farm. We are presently growing Black Walnut, Figured Poplar, and Black Cherry trees.
When we started planting the very first batch of trees, the forest didn't quite look like this,
but looked like this. At the beginning of this project, I didn't totally realize the nurturing it would require to make sure that our saplings would not only survive but thrive.
A guide, including very specific directions about caring for these trees, spelled out every detail on how to grow veneer-grade timber
Here is a list of what needs to be done, most of which takes place every May.
- mulching around the tree, as wide as the drip line
- sucker removal
- eliminating mice and voles,
- spray trees with deer repellant (solution of eggs and milk)
- spring and winter pruning
The key to growing trees that will fetch the best price is to have the tree grow straight. A healthy central leader is paramount to making this happen.
The biggest threat to the bud at the tip of the tree is frost and insects.
Last year, insects ate the buds of the central leaders on about 50 trees, causing the tree to grow several new branches at the top. When this happens, all but one of the branches needs to be pruned and a new central leader established.
As long as the bud remains closed, frost will not damage it. As soon as the bud has opened, the tree is at the mercy of #Mothernature.
In the Spring of 2019, a late frost killed all of the opened buds, and many days were spent establishing new central leaders. 😪
Before getting involved with Steem #hive, three years ago this May, we kept a journal on the progress and pitfalls that occurred with the plantation from year to year.
Now I keep an account of everything happening with our trees on #Hive.
This year, neither frost nor insects have reared their ugly head, and renting one of these was not necessary. 😁 This year's growing season should be a dandy.
With no pruning required, layering about two inches of hay around each tree will be what will take a considerable amount of hobbitizing.
Remnants of last year's blanket of hay around the base of the trees have almost completely decayed.
With the drip-line ever-expanding as the tree grows, the diameter of the circle of hay around many of the trees has grown to ten feet or more.
The hay helps to prevent weeds from growing and helps to maintain moisture in the soil.
Over the years I have removed hundreds and hundreds of rocks protruding from the ground. Weed whacking the vegetation was a never-ending job, but not so much anymore.
About 80% of the tree farm can now be cut while I sit on a tractor, usually with a cold one in hand.
The piles of rocks that I removed last year, will be hauled away and added to the stone wall that runs parallel to the path leading to the plantation.
After two weeks of haying and removing stones, things are looking pretty good.
For the remainder of the spring and summer, the only hobbitation that will be necessary will be cutting the grass.
What was once a mud hole, with vulnerable saplings replacing a forest long-neglected, is now chockfull of life. Birds of all kinds decorate the trees. Deer, fox, and other four-legged critters seem to enjoy our tree farm as much as we do.
Five years ago we planted these Figured Poplars. Many of them are taller than the walnut and cherry trees that have been in the ground for twice as long.
The cool thing about the poplars is that they produce their own saplings. Each year a few new ones will shoot off of the roots of the mother tree. As they continue to grow further from the shadow of their parent, some of the new trees will be left to grow and the ones in close proximity to their parent will be removed. We started with just 12 of the poplars and we now have 25 that are far enough away from each other to flourish.
On the last day of spreading the hay around and picking up the piles of rocks, 
After the heavy lifting was done, it was almost impossible to stop her. Clipping all of the dead stalks from the blackberry bushes had her all pumped up as she transformed another patch of ground, adding to the beauty of the area.
