Circling Back: Tree Planting -- Kinda Like Eating an Elephant

Shelters are finally getting added to the hundreds of trees we just finished planting -- this photo captures about 75 tubes,
or roughly 7% of the new seedlings to be protected

Recently, a lot of people have been asking, "How do you hand plant over 1,000 trees?" My answer: One tree at a time. In my experience, it's not a project where you can look too far forward or too far back. You are best to get as efficient as you can be, and just keep planting.

My oldest two spent a Sunday afternoon/evening planting
with me -- another 75 trees in the ground . . . 

Two poorly timed rain events -- both big ones -- derailed plans to have school groups come out to assist with the manual labor. If that could have happened, we would have likely been finished in mid-April, likely in 7-10 days. But this is a busy time of year for everyone. So ultimately, it just became most logical for us to hand-plant them ourselves. There is a lot of bending and kneeling involved, two verbs Roy's body doesn't like too much -- especially by the hundreds/thousands, so he contributed immensely toward the site prep, and I focused on the actual planting.

My wife came out twice and helped to the tune of 100+ trees;
it looks like she is in the witness protection program,
but she'll still kill me when she sees this
(she never likes photos of herself)

We also had a few locals pitch in for single days of planting -- which helped a ton. It actually became a bit of a family affair, too, with my wife and kids happy to lend a hand.

I have written plenty to provide the broader context for this project, but here are some specifics that I (and hopefully others) can learn from the next time a similar project is contemplated. (ASIDE: We are slated to plant another 2,800 trees next spring. The stock will be smaller though, and the site conditions are much more favorable, so it should theoretically be a simpler job.)

Species Planted: Pin Oak (200), Swamp White Oak (200), Burr Oak (300), Red Maple (100), Shellbark Hickory (100), Sycamore (100), and Ohio Buckeye (100).

Trees were planted ~12' on center in a random fashion (relative to species), but they were planted in rows (to simplify mowing, spraying, and general maintenance). We did pick a line that was not easily visible from any common vantage point. So from the road, for example, they do not appear to be in rows, but instead completely haphazardly planted. The goal was to plant larger stock, so most were 2-4' tall. The hickories and the sycamores were on the smaller side (some more like 18"), but all looked really healthy.

24" Sycamore, in the ground
<2 weeks and already
leafing out nicely

Because many of the trees had larger, more developed root systems, the nursery (Porcupine Hollow Farm - Central Lake, MI) suggested that we plant into a 6" hole. There is much more to this story, but we ended up drilling about 800 of these holes (~15 deep, on average) using a walk behind Dingo (power auger). Nate -- our intern from last year -- did the first 150-200 and Roy did the rest. We rented the equipment for two full days, and the auger ran more or less continuously for at least 8 hours each day. Some of the holes had to be drilled twice because the heavy rains came before we could get the trees planted in all of them, and the surrounding soil swelled and seeped back into the hole.

Low-lying areas were like working in peanut butter -- at least after the rains -- but the soil itself is surprisingly dark, organic, and workable at this particular site when it's not too wet. We did import 8 cubic yards of very sandy top soil from a local yard to supplement each planting. There was a lot of labor involved (hand-delivering ~1/3 of a 5-gal bucket of topsoil to each hole), but in the end, I think we had a much better finished product. Especially when the imported topsoil could be kept dry, it was great for backfilling around the vulnerable roots such that air pockets could be eliminated, or at least significantly reduced. Void spaces are a main culprit for seedling mortality soon after transplanting, so we got in the practice of (1) pinning each seedling against the outside of the hole -- at the right elevation relative to where it was growing at the nursery; (2) backfilling and compacting loose topsoil under and around the newly placed roots; and, (3) straightening the seedling as we gently but firmly compacted more soil into and over the auger hole using our boots.

Matt, my student shadow from
last week, adding a protective
tree tube

On a good day, with holes drilled and topsoil placed around each opening, I could hand-plant 175 trees in a 10 hour day by myself. I did have an hour or so of prep (e.g., getting organized and wrapping bundles of seedlings in wet burlap to protect them from drying from sunlight and wind). I also had to allow some time for clean-up each day. If in a rhythm, I could plant about 20-25 trees per hour, once I was set up and ready to go.

When I look back on my notes, I spent three full days (8-10 hours) and five half days (4-5 hours) planting from 4/12 - 5/8/18. When the site was just too wet or the temperatures got too high (didn't like planting when it was above 65 degrees), we just kept the seedlings wrapped in moist burlap, loosely contained inside plastic within large cardboard boxes and housed them either in our field office (if the temps stayed below 55 degrees) or in a neighbor's storage room. The neighbor's was preferred as it got warmer outside because it was dark, cool (50ish), stable, and humid (because it was adjacent to a large minnow tank). Ideal storage is 40 degrees and dark, but even though our temps crept up a bit, we didn't have any issues with mold, and nothing started to leaf until it was in the ground. Keeping dormancy is important because it really helps minimize shock to the newly transplanted seedling.

Protection is the next step in this process, and it is no small task. While we are not obligated by our funding partner (NRCS - EQIP) to do so, we are going to place 4' tree tubes over as many of the newly planted seedlings as possible. Despite the high cost (tubes and accessories cost more than the trees themselves), we have purchased enough to shelter all 1,100. These biodegradable plastic structures serve several important functions: (1) they reduce browse from mice, voles, and rabbits from below and deer from above; (2) they conserve moisture and create a greenhouse-like environment to accelerate vertical growth; (3) they hold back competitive weeds from smothering the seedling; (4) they protect the young seedlings from harsh winds; and, (5) they help keep the seedlings growing straight.

Each tube is fastened to a 48" x 1" x 1" pine post that is hammered within 3" of the seedling's trunk (but not through the roots!). The tube is connected to the post using pre-installed zip ties and is capped with a mesh net to prevent song birds from getting trapped inside the plastic (tubes/stakes are common perches and smaller birds think they might make a good place for a nest, but they often can't get back out once they get in). We are also adding a 2' x 2' plastic square (stapled on each of the four corners) to provide extra protection from competing weed growth. Studies have shown that these investments can more than double survival to a mature canopy. Even if 25-50% of our trees survive long-term, we will consider the planting to be a tremendous success.

A young (30") red maple seedling in a newly installed 48" tall "tree tube" by Tree Pro

All this seedling needs is the bird net
on top and it is ready to grow --
1 down, 1,099 to go!

P.S. If you ever want to read more on a particular subject, don't forget about the "Search This Blog" feature on the right sidebar. For example, if you enter "tree planting" into the search box, you can catch up on all posts related to this particular subject.

A Month of Milestones

When one wooden stake represents one new hardwood seedling, one starts to appreciate what 1,100 new seedlings
looks like -- that's a lot of trees! Here is the Tower woods, about half planted (4/25/18)

The last four weeks represent the most physically demanding month in my history with this property. I have not completed a publishable entry here since April 12th. Coincidentally, it was two days earlier (on April 10) that the first shipment of bareroot tree seedlings arrived (unexpectedly early) at our doorstep. It has been a full-court press ever since to work around heavy rains and periods of above-average temperatures to effectively get them in the ground.

So technically, I don't have any one excuse for not keeping current with blog entries -- I have 1,100 of them! But I am happy to report that as of about 4:30 pm yesterday, the entire 5.7-acre site is planted. Now the focus will shift to protecting the vulnerable seedlings (from animal browse, drought, competition/smothering by surrounding weeds, etc.). But more on all that in a pending entry.

While we won't have much time to revel in our success, we did recognize the accomplishment last evening around the dinner table. Jenny, the kids, and I celebrated the milestone as any family of little ones would -- with dessert. I didn't have the energy to make a run out for ice cream, so a raid of the Girl Scout cookie cabinet had to suffice. Once again, I slept hard last night.
_______________
Much has happened in and around these tree getting in the ground. So at the risk of giving away punch lines, I've decided that I'm going to try to circle back and write entries for some key happenings over the last four weeks. I can't promise I'll have them online immediately, but my goal is to write a handful of posts to continue to recognize milestones and progress.

Progress on a project like this is kind of like tree planting: one at a time.

More to come soon . . .

Calling All Tree Enthusiasts . . .

Most of the stock we will be planting is currently 2-3' in height;
all are hardwoods native to the immediate vacinity

Well, I'm finding ourselves in a predicament that I was really hoping we could avoid: yesterday, over 1,000 trees were delivered to the marsh three days before we expected them, and now a major rain/wind event is predicted for this upcoming weekend (when a decent number of volunteers were on-deck to help with the planting effort).

Candidly, we are in a bit of a bind.

Bare root seedlings do best if transplanted quickly -- in a matter of days -- and while still dormant. The early delivery is going to make the "quickly" part of this equation difficult. This project was choreographed to begin Friday, not Tuesday, and days matter with this type of work. The evolving (deteriorating) weather forecast and the availability of volunteers (impacted by weather) also introduces complications. The good news is, considering the forecast next week (highs in the upper 40s to low 50s), we should be okay on the dormancy front.

So how can you help? If you live in the vicinity, you may be able to assist in two ways:

(a) If you have access to tree planting hand tools (specifically dibble bars or hoedads), we may be able to utilize them for the next week or so if we can align volunteer availability with suitable weather, and

(b) if you have interest and availability during the work week to assist with on-the-ground tree planting, we could likely use your help. If you have interest in contributing either way, please Contact Us.

If you want more background on this specific project within the broader context of our woodland restoration efforts on the site, see my post from a couple weeks back. As always, thanks for the interest and support.

P.S. 4/19/18 UPDATE -- This past weekend's major storm (3"+ of rain and sustained and strong NE winds) put us further behind the eight ball. For those still interested in hands-on volunteering, we will likely host people this coming Monday (4/23) and Tuesday (4/24). All volunteers must be at least 18 years of age unless accompanied by a guardian. No experience is necessary, and the work does NOT involve any heavy lifting -- just repeated bending, if you are actually planting trees.

We may be able to host some people this weekend (4/21 & 4/22) if we continue to dry out. We will need to continue next week (4/23-27) as weather allows, but rain is once again in the forecast for mid-next week. The marsh is approximately 1 hour east of Toledo and 1 hour west of Cleveland. Come for a couple hours or come for the day. We will give marsh tours for those interested at the end of each work day. Please Contact Us if you have interest and time to help out. Thanks!

SAVE THE DATE(S): VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

You don't have to be a tree hugger (like my daughter) to help with a significant reforestation effort
taking place at Standing Rush this April

This is a first call for volunteers to help with the planting of more than 1,000 hardwood trees over nearly six acres in Erie County, OH. Preparations for this reforestation effort have been ongoing for more than a year, but we now have a delivery schedule for our new trees!

Dates and times will be finalized soon, but we will likely host volunteers for planting and related tasks on Friday, April 13 and Saturday, April 14 with marsh tours to follow for all those interested. We will likely need additional volunteers throughout the week of April 16. If you are interested, please reach out via the Contact Us page. If you can't join us this month but would like to be involved, there will be ample opportunity for support with ongoing maintenance.

High quality woodlots are painfully scarce in this region of Ohio, particularly within such a short distance of Lake Erie. It will take time, but these efforts will pay dividends!


For some additional backstory on this project, check out:

Step 1 of a Woodlot Restoration
Step 1 of a Woodland Restoration, continued . . .
Treework, Field Mowing & Indian Summer

Also, know that this is the first of two significant reforestation projects that will be taking place at Standing Rush. This year's planting will include 1,100 trees. Next year, we will be planting an additional 3,800 seedlings.

Nature's Vitamins and New Trees

Gizzard shad -- a welcomed and well-timed morsel in the marsh

Yesterday, I took about twenty images of the individual photographed above before I got the lighting right. (It didn't help that I was using my cell phone and a crude kitchen light in the bunkhouse.) I went to the trouble of getting the shot of this modest (and smelly) "baitfish" because the species always reminds me of this time of year. And their presence in the marsh lead to a few interesting sights as my day progressed yesterday.

One of ten large native trees planted
around the bunkhouse this past weekend
(yellow poplar or tulip tree)

Gizzard shad spawn in huge numbers mainly in larger lakes, reservoirs, and rivers throughout Ohio (and in many states east of the Rockies) in the spring. While adults can exceed 20" in length -- and 3+ pounds -- they are perhaps most important in the food web as they grow to the size pictured above . . . a modest 3-4 inches.

While survival rates are low during early development (largely because they are being eaten along the way), millions -- perhaps billions -- survive their first summer in Lake Erie and its tributaries. As with midges and warblers, nature is setting the table with gizzard shad. Just as temperatures drop in mid- to late autumn, temperature sensitive yearling shad pulse into shallow water in huge numbers. Their fat-rich bodies serve as mobile and essential energy boots not just for other fish (stocking up for a long, tough winter) but for fish-eating birds prepping for or working through a strenuous seasonal migration.

I watched eight hooded mergansers and literally thousands of terns pluck unsuspecting shad from the marsh throughout my morning yesterday. I focused on the ducks carefully for the better part of a half hour, and based on my observation, they were batting a pretty high average. An individual duck would come up with a fish about 50% of the time. Good for the ducks; not so good for the shad.

As a sidebar, I had to smile as I drove the kids to school this morning. Our path follows the banks of the Maumee River, and when we got to the flat, exposed rocks and rapids along Side Cut Metropark, the kids couldn't believe the number of gulls feasting up tight along the shore. There had to be several thousand packed tightly together both low in the air and on the water. We have seined shad together this time of year at that exact location, so everyone knew what was going on. We pulled over briefly to take in the spectacle. Happy gulls, happy kids, happy dad. The seasons march on.

I'll share more of the backstory as to how these awesome trees got planted in a future post, but for now, I just
wanted to point out how much of an improvement they make as you approach from our south entrance

These three oaks are already pushing 15' tall; it will be tons of fun to see them grow to be 75'+!
-- we're excited for the shade they will eventually bring (not to mention the acorns)

Step 1 of a Woodlot Restoration

Ash logs -- ravaged by emerald ash borer and now destined to be repurposed (after being kiln treated) by the Amish.

It may seem strange to start a conversation on marsh restoration and conservation with an image of a new, nearly clear-cut woodlot, but this is restoration in action. While <5% of the total property is currently wooded, we have been focusing a good deal of attention this last week or so on a ~6-acre area that was decimated by the emerald ash borer, an exotic beetle from Asia that is reeking havoc on ash trees throughout much of the U.S. and eastern Canada. Because Detroit, MI is thought to have been the epicenter of this invasive species' infestation (in 2002), northern Ohio was in the crosshairs early.

We estimate that this isolated woodlot had 200-250 trees that were 12" in diameter (DBH) or larger prior to the borer infestation. Of these, the vast majority (unfortunately) were ash. Literally every single ash tree in the area is dead, and most have been dead for five years or more based on the level of decay (note bark falling off trunk wood). Unfortunately, once the canopy is significantly thinned, an ecosystem like this is often further stressed by the proliferation of another invasive species -- bush honeysuckle. (More on that later.)

You may notice that the isolated trees left standing in the photo have pink flagging tape on them. These markers showed our contractor the ~70 trees that we were able to salvage. Most of the trees spared are hackberry and locust, but we also have a handful of nice oaks, maples, and even elms.

The understory (mostly made up of nasty honeysuckle) is being completely scraped in preparation for a replanting. We are working in conjunction with the Ohio DNR (Division of Forestry) and the USDA/NRCS through a program called EQIP such that by the spring of 2018, we will have 1,100 new trees growing. It will take some time and a good amount of effort, but eventually, we'll have a healthy canopy of desirable trees supporting a much more diverse ecosystem.