If you’re an Indiana woodland owner, or you have a backyard you’d like to spruce up, now is the time to plan if you’re adding new trees to your property this Spring.
“One of the things I like to tell people is the best time to plant trees was 20 years ago and the second best time is today,” says Lenny Farlee, Forester with Purdue Extension and a board member of the Indiana Forestry and Woodland Owners Association (IFWOA).
He says there are many different things to consider if you’re looking to plant new trees.
“What is already there? If there’s an over-storied forest and shade already there, we have to select seedlings that will tolerate some shade—things like Sugar Maple, Beach, and Basswood. However, if it’s wide open and there’s a lot of sunlight, we have a lot more choices of trees and shrubs that could do well,” says Farlee.
“We also have to look at the soils and the site condition. Is there impeded drainage or is it a dry site? What kind of textures, types of soils, and soil depths do we have? That’s also going to have a big impact on what tree and shrubs species would be most adapted to that site.”
He says now is the time to be planning ahead for your spring planting.
“This is really the prime time to be ordering what I call conservation tree seedlings that are suitable for reforestation, wildlife habitat, windbreaks, soil erosion—all of those conservation style plantings,” he says. “The nurseries, both public and private, that have those seedlings available are typically taking orders in the fall to reserve your seedlings for when we typically do the plantings in the spring, so you really want to get your orders in with both the state and private nurseries that are available.”
Farlee adds that the key to making sure you have the right trees for your property is by doing your research.
“Those gardening mistakes you can fix next year, but with tree planting mistakes, you’re kind of stuck with for a long time,” he says.
For more information about the Indiana Forestry and Woodland Owners Association, visit IFWOA.org.
CLICK BELOW for Hoosier Ag Today’s complete conversation with Lenny Farlee to learn more tips for conservation tree planting.
