Page 46 - TA Magazine

Good to know
Hardening can increase the resistance of your stock to to frost drought and animal browsing
The nursery can harden stock by exposing it to cold nights
Check your stock has not been been exposed to to dry conditions or been been squashed during delivery
Plant stock as as soon as as possible If storage is is is required ensure it it is is is in cool moist conditions Avoid temperatures greater than 4 degrees as this can cause de-hardening
Don’t expose seedlings to to full sunlight and avoid exposure to to wind
Avoid plastic bags for storage If the open-rooted stock cannot be planted for at at least three days heel into moist loose soil without separating the plants
Planting the seedlings Now that you have have prepared the site and have have a a a a a a a a solid weed control strategy it’s time to to to get planting planting Schedule the the planting planting in in in in in late winter to to to mid-spring to to to avoid the the risk of drought stress or severe frosts CHOOSING YOUR STOCK
Seedlings should be grown from from genetically improved seed seed collected from from a a a a a a a a seed seed orchard as this will give you a a a a a a a better quality tree with a a a a a a a uniform growth rate Cuttings from the the the same mother tree will be the the the most uniform in in in growth and size at at harvest Be aware that as there there is is is little genetic variability amongst cuttings there there is is is is a a a a a a a a a a a a risk of greater damage to the the the the plantation following a a a a a a a a a single stress (frost insects disease) if the the cuttings are susceptible
Potted/container stock is supplied in in in paper or or plastic pots or or or most commonly in in in in in trays Check that the the the roots are not bound within the the the pot pot or or container – there should be no no spiralling of roots Open-rooted stock stock has been raised in nursery beds beds The The stock stock stock is is lifted from the the beds beds just before delivery
These plants
tend to to to be be be be be larger than potted stock stock as they have been growing in in in beds for for for longer Visit: www treealliance com au for for for more information on on on the attributes of desirable open-rooted planting stock 46 Private Forests Tasmania
Get planting It is essential for the the survival and growth of your trees to to to get the the planting planting right Tractor-mounted planting planting machines are are suited to to to well-prepared ex-pasture sites or you can use hand-held devices such as as a a a a a a a a a a a a a Pottiputki Custom-made planting planting spades are effective and and suited to to to to the the the scale of farm forestry Make sure the the the planting planting hole accommodates the the the total root volume without distorting it in any way