This is Huntin’ Land, the podcast for landowners and land hunters. If you like to stay up to date on hunting tactics, land management, land values, and land market dynamics, this is the podcast for you. On this episode, Joe Baya and Butch Thierry talk with Iain Wallace of Chestnut Hill Outdoors about how to plant the best trees for deer, specifically Dunstan Chestnuts, on hunting land to provide forage for deer, and choosing planting sites, soil conditions, spacing, protection from herbicide, fire, and wildlife. Plus, they discuss fertilization, watering, and aftercare of newly planted trees.
As a landowner, it is important to know what your land is worth. You may find yourself asking the questions like, “how much is my land worth today,” “how much is my land worth per acre,” “how much is timberland worth,” “what is my farmland worth,” “how much is agricultural land worth,” and other such questions. Many factors go in to determining the value of land and seeking out the wisdom of experts is a great place to find the answers to your questions.
Each week, on the Huntin’ Land Podcast, we will bring in various experts to help provide answers to the important questions landowners have.
How To Plant The Best Trees For Deer
What different types of trees do you sell and are planting recommendations all the same?
Are we looking for particular soil conditions?
- Are soil temps ok for me to plant now?
- Do I need any certain amount of moisture in the ground?
- Is it necessary to do soil tests before or during planting?
Do I need rain in the forecast?
- Watering recommendations
Should I be worried about upcoming freezes?
- If so, what can we do if we see one coming?
What about location?
- From a maintenance standpoint, what are the qualities of a good site?
- From a hunting standpoint, what are the qualities of a good site?
- What are the best spacing patterns in your opinion? 40ft Grid or 40ft linear?
- How many trees per location? 4 or more?
- Do they need to be 40ft from other trees like pines and hardwoods?
Concern for Burns and Herbicide
- We do a lot of prescribed fire at my place. How much of a buffer do I need to keep from these trees so that a controlled burn doesn’t harm them?
- Do we need to factor in overspray from herbicides?
What is the rule of thumb on planting depth?
- Containerized level with soil
- Bare root plant at the top of the root ball
What are your recommendations for fertilizer and reducing species competition?
- Wildlife exclusion cage
- Weed mat
- No fertilizer at planting – extended-release fertilizer after establishment
Do we need to do any type of soil prep like burning, tillage, herbicide, etc?
- Dig a hole 2X the size of the root ball
What tools will help me get it done the fastest?
- Hoe to break up the ground and reduce competition
- Pruners
- Weed mat, grow tube, bamboo stake, ties
- auger/posthole digger, or shovel
- Posts, cage, and zip ties for exclusion cage
If we don’t finish, how long can my trees stay good?
- Dormant bare root, a few weeks in a cool, moist location
- Containerized, indefinitely until it becomes root bound as long as it’s watered
How often should I check on them after planting and what are we looking for?
- Weekly for water
- Weed competition
How long is a tree protection tube needed after planting?
- Remove before tree outgrows it.
Show Sponsors:
Farm Credit Of Northwest Florida
Tune in each week as we bring in various experts to help provide answers to important land owner questions like, “how much is my land worth today,” “how much is my land worth per acre,” “how much is timberland worth,” “what is my farmland market worth,” “how much is agricultural land worth,” and other such questions. Many factors go in to determining the value of land and seeking out the wisdom of experts is a great place to find the answers to your questions.
