Looking to replant areas of woods

[cj7jeep81]

Some of you may have seen my other post, but I recently purchased 16 wooded acres that had been heavily logged 7 or 8 years ago. Many trees have blown over, and there are a few pretty bare spots. I would like to replant some of these areas, but am unsure of what to plant.
One thought was to plant some black walnuts, and possibly cut them down when I retire for a little extra cash (probably in another 30 years or so). However, I'd imagine by that time I wouldn't want to, and would just leave them up.
Any other ideas for something that might have some good value in that time period?

 

[tomreeve]

CJ,
30 years is not a lot of time for your slower growing hardwoods. Sugar maples for example will only grow about 30' in that time frame. Not quite sure about the rate of growth from walnuts, but I don't think that they are mcuh quicker. I would grow nut trees, fruit trees and the like. You could harvest the product. Not much money, but good stuff to eat.
Tom

 

[cj7jeep81]

Thanks for the info. I wasn't sure if that would be enough time or not. I'll probably just plant some to fill in the areas, and for the kids/future grandkids to enjoy later.
I see your from Muncie. Is there anything you would recommend in particular to plant (as far as non-fruit/nut bearing trees go)? I'd like to have a nice variety of trees on the property. Right now it is pretty much 100% decidious trees (previous owners planted a screen of evergreens on one edge of the property). I'd like to plant some other evergreens as well, but I'm not sure what type to plant in the woods (where there would be a lot of shade from the other trees).

 

[tomreeve]

Not many evergreens really enjoy being under deep cover. Hemlock can stand it, but doesn't do too great in Muncie, other areas I'm not so sure. White pine will often sit in the shade, waitng for a tree to fall so it can take over. If there is an open area (from a cutting or fall down) with ample light (i.e. not covered all day long) then any evergreen will do. Keep in mind that evergreens are not native around here and need a lot of care during the beginning and drought times. I have seen a decline in them because of the drought that we had this summer.
One important thing to do is kill all the honeysuckle in your woods. THey will shade out seedlings and eventually cause the woods to decline.
Therre is a good tree book for Indiana. 101 Trees of Indiana by Marion T. Jackson. It focuses on native and naturalized trees found in the wild and has great pictures. good luck
tom

 

[cj7jeep81]

I found that book on a search here, and will be ordering it soon. There aren't too many different species of trees on my property (and I don't know what most of them are). But I do have a few walnut trees, and some sycamores. I'll have to get that book to ID the rest.

 

[Elmore]

trees

cj7jeep81, what USDA plant hardiness zone are you in? 5b? 6a? Grow Ginkgoes. They transplant well. Dig well. Relatively rare for certain cultivars. Grow em' and sell em' or grow em' and enjoy em'. Japanese Maples are easily managed and will bring top dollar. If you want to sell them. A whole lot of asian maples will do well there.

 

[Tree Machine]

I think Elmore has the ticket. Planting rare cultivars, semi-exotics and inordinately cool trees; things that you can sell for a decent price, AND charge for the transplantation of in a few years. Planting hardwoods for lumbering purposes might possibly benefit your grandchildren. Planting trees of just about any specie is generally a good thing to do, but you're trying to zero-in on a purpose and figure out how and what to do and the best way to get started. I respect your vision.

 

[cj7jeep81]

Thanks for the tips. According to the usda website, I'm in either 5b or 6a (maps too small to see my county). I'll search the web for some info on ginkgoes. Do you guys know of any good places to purchases these trees? The only Japanese maples I see around here are pretty pricey, and I'd rather get some small ones to ofset the costs.

 

[Newfie]

How about let nature reclaim the plot and see what she brings you. Enjoy your woods for the peace and tranquility.Thirty years is not long enough for merchantable hardwood trees. From your previous thread most of the "dollar value" has already been raped from your acreage.

If you want to start a tree farm,buy a field.

 

[cj7jeep81]

How about let nature reclaim the plot and see what she brings you. Enjoy your woods for the peace and tranquility.Thirty years is not long enough for merchantable hardwood trees. From your previous thread most of the "dollar value" has already been raped from your acreage.

If you want to start a tree farm,buy a field.

I thought about letting it go naturally, but would like a little more variety. I definately don't want a tree farm, but was just curious to see if I could get a little extra cash down the road with hardwood lumber, which I now see I really can't.

 

[glens]

I'd put out a bunch of black locust and use/sell it for firewood.  30 years is just right.

Glen

 

[cj7jeep81]

I'd put out a bunch of black locust and use/sell it for firewood.  30 years is just right.

Glen

We have a lot of locust at our house now (not the land). I'm not sure if it is black locust or not. I'm hesitant to use it mostly because of the thorns (if I did, I'd want to plant it out of the way to keep it away from the kids), but what we have spreads like crazy. An empty lot next to our house had a few growing, and I just cut down a whole stand of them a couple months ago (probably 30 or 40 1-2" in diamter).

 

[Elmore]

Worthy Trees

A bunch of these would be nice.
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/Elmore/Ginkgo/ginkchichi1resized.jpg">
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/Elmore/Acer%20palmatum%20dissectum%20Edgewoods%20Golden/EdgewoodsGoldenandOisame11-20-2004.jpg">

 

[cj7jeep81]

Elmore, what kind of tree is that first one? Going by the picture name, is that a ginkgoe? The second is a Japanese maple, correct? Any idea where a good place would be to get the top one?

 

[glens]

ginkgos are separately male/female trees and I doubt you want a female near the place since their foul-smelling fruit are nasty.

I've already made my suggestion for something you can put to great use in your own lifetime.&nbsp; Yes, the twigs have few thorns like those on a rose bush, but the wood is phenomenal for fuel and the scent of the flowers is almost orgasmic.

Check out http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/data_results_with_common.cfm?state=IN, where some of the links have quite verbose and informative links to USDA forest service data.

Glen

 

[cj7jeep81]

ginkgos are separately male/female trees and I doubt you want a female near the place since their foul-smelling fruit are nasty.

I've already made my suggestion for something you can put to great use in your own lifetime.&nbsp; Yes, the twigs have few thorns like those on a rose bush, but the wood is phenomenal for fuel and the scent of the flowers is almost orgasmic.

Check out http://www.cnr.vt.edu/dendro/dendrology/data_results_with_common.cfm?state=IN, where some of the links have quite verbose and informative links to USDA forest service data.

Glen

Thanks for that link, there is a lot of good information in there. I might plant some locust trees, but after looking at that fact sheet I'm not sure where. It looks like they don't like shade much, and I don't have too many open areas. I might just dig up a few from the house, and see what happens.

 

[Elmore]

Tree ID

The Ginkgo in the top picture is Ginkgo biloba 'Chi Chi'. The other picture shows two separate Japanese Maple cultivars of two separate species. I placed them together for the color effect when making the photo. The broad leaved, yellow plant is Acer japonicum 'O isame' and the laceleaf in front is Acer palmatum 'Edgewood's Golden'

 

[Elmore]

Female Ginkgoes

Yes, Ginkgoes are dioecious. Pronunciation:, dI'eeshus. Meaning that some trees are female, pistillate (sometimes referred as ovulate) and others are male, staminate. Producing male, fruitless trees, is one of the reasons that people graft this species. Another reason is for obtaining characteristics other than simply male vs. female, dwarf, variegation, columnar, unusual leaf or even, as shown in the picture that I previously posted, a nice set of tits. Unless you are sure of the source I would be skeptical of any trees purchased as male rooted or grafted. Seek out a reputable grafter. On young grafted trees, a graft union is usually still visible.
A few people want a female tree. Those too, should be grafted or rooted. I believe that overall most trees that can be found in garden centers across America are likely seedlings, un-grafted or un-sexed. It generally takes between 15-30 years for a straight seedling to show it's sex, to flower. Unless you get an asexually produced male tree, you risk ending up with a fruit bearing specimen and yes some think that the fruit really smells like a "specimen". You can eat the seed (cooked and in moderation) and benefit, both physically and mentally from it. A female is worthwhile and is a beautiful tree. I would not want one planted real close to the house or a picnic area but you have 16 acres, I'm sure it would not hurt to have a few on your property.

Here is a pretty little female bearing a nice crop of fruit.
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v186/Elmore/Ginkgo/Huntsvillefemale9-16-04.jpg">

Ginkgo info: http://www.hcs.ohio-state.edu/hcs/TMI/Plantlist/gi_iloba.html

 

[cj7jeep81]

Those are really neat looking trees. Is the fruit good for wildlife? I wouldn't mind having a couple on my property.

 

[Elmore]

Wildlife value

I know of no significant value for wildlife other than cover and nesting. Something gets into my plastic bags of fruit that I leave out. I do see some nuts broken open as if eaten. Probably squirrels. Most likely a curiosity more than a desire for food. Ants seem to like them a bit.