End of the tree planting season (nearly)!

[Ninjastrike]

Im still planting away we should be going right up till the start of June not great for the trees as the ground is dry as a bone, but if they want them in that's the way it will be..

[aspenarb]

Just finished trans-locating a field full of 5`+ hawthorn to the boundary's of this place. App 5000 plants around the perimeter to form a hedge. Do you like the drive?

 

Bob

 

 

[thorndene forestry]

Just finished trans-locating a field full of 5`+ hawthorn to the boundary's of this place. App 5000 plants around the perimeter to form a hedge. Do you like the drive?

 

Bob

 

 

 

That aint a drive. Its a main road!!

 

NINJA - If it's there, take it!! (Plus the beat-up!!)

[thorndene forestry]

Charlieh - never been a fan of mechanised planting. New trees deserve more than that

[aspenarb]

That aint a drive. Its a main road!!

 

NINJA

 

We got roped into the drive because we had machines on site. 750mts of it with sleepers for edging and a foot of crushed concrete topped of with scalpings. Nothing fancy but it looks ok, in a year or two the guy will have it tarmacked

 

Bob

 

 

 

 

 

The short bit down to the main road we topped with plannings in an attempt to stop the binder in the scalps getting on the main road. Dont think it will.

 

[Goaty]

Charlieh - never been a fan of mechanised planting. New trees deserve more than that

 

 

Maybe but the planters deserve the machines.

It's one of those jobs only a small minority will stick at and do to a high standard. It's the old " anybody can stick a tree in" they can roots out above ground or contorted underground.

The other day when with my clients the wife said

"look they all coming"

the husband replied " they will, they've been planted well"

Knowing how we did plant them with tlc. It's satisfying.

If u had a large planting job I would prefer machine because I know at least the depth would be good. Rather than trusting a team of rustled together planters.

 

I did start my working life on a tree nursery and have planted various ways,

 

Whatever you do, do a proper job for the trees not pure monetary greed.

[Charlieh]

We have actually increased the % take since using the planter on the tractor over spade planting, good operator on the machine makes a hell of a difference and it takes a big chunk of the hard work out the job. The biggest falling down point with large scale planting is the follow up, although with the new FC grants there is compulsory weed control for the first 5years (from memory) so that should stop neglect in newly planted woodlands.

[matelot]

We have actually increased the % take since using the planter on the tractor over spade planting, good operator on the machine makes a hell of a difference and it takes a big chunk of the hard work out the job. The biggest falling down point with large scale planting is the follow up, although with the new FC grants there is compulsory weed control for the first 5years (from memory) so that should stop neglect in newly planted woodlands.

 

is it cheaper to plant by hand or tractor? how flat does the site have to be for tractor planting?

[Goaty]

If you have the tractor already for other work. Then do plenty of machine planting. Yes.

 

But if you spend £1000 on planter and plant 1000 trees no. Economy comes with scale.

Two of us plant a mixed woodland at a rate of 200+ trees per day tubex guards and stakes.

3 people using a planter will do 2000 a day I guess. Compare that to our rate. It saves 18 days labour. If that was £50 a day. That's £900

 

All my figures are guesstimates. But give the general idea. £50a day is poor pay.

[thorndene forestry]

Maybe but the planters deserve the machines.

It's one of those jobs only a small minority will stick at and do to a high standard. It's the old " anybody can stick a tree in" they can roots out above ground or contorted underground.

The other day when with my clients the wife said

"look they all coming"

the husband replied " they will, they've been planted well"

Knowing how we did plant them with tlc. It's satisfying.

If u had a large planting job I would prefer machine because I know at least the depth would be good. Rather than trusting a team of rustled together planters.

 

I did start my working life on a tree nursery and have planted various ways,

 

Whatever you do, do a proper job for the trees not pure monetary greed.

 

I agree.