Tree Planting Approach

Planting cottonwoods plus mixed hardwoods
The GreenTrees planting approach requires that 302 hardwood seedlings be planted on a 12‘ by 12’ spacing and 302 cottonwood cuttings are planted on a 12’ by 12’ spacing providing the landowner a total planting per acre of 604 trees.  Each acre is being fully utilized from the start to produce timber products and forest associated conservation benefits.

Click here for a tree planting diagram.

From this 302/302 planting regime, the cottonwoods provide early timber returns to the landowner and serve as a nurse crop to reduce weed competition with the hardwood seedlings.  Survival of the hardwood seedlings, the growth rate and form and future timber quality will be greatly enhanced in comparison to a traditional planting approach where the hardwood seedlings are planted in an open field situation.  The rapidly growing cottonwoods also provides for establishment of a moderately dense tree canopy and forest setting in as few as 3 to 5 years.  Forest dwelling wildlife species will benefit greatly.

Taking special care
The implementation process associated with the 302/302 planting requires that the site be properly prepared, the trees be planted in subsoil trenches, and the planted trees receive weed and insect control attention during the first growing season and possibly into the second growing season.  This practice makes it possible to achieve exceptional planting, survival, and growth results, facilitate future timber harvest activities that the landowner may wish to pursue, and capture the most greenhouse gases possible.  Without appropriate and specific oversight and management the cottonwood portion of the planting will likely be a failure. 

Helping landowners
We provide technical assistance for landowners to help with the site preparation, planting, and weed and insect control process.  The landowner is free to choose who does the work and we will work with those entities to provide training and guidance as needed.  Our services are no cost to the landowner.

We have access to a large supply of cottonwood cuttings and can provide access to that source.  We do not have any special access to hardwood seedlings but will assist as needed to identify sources of quality seedlings.  As needed, we will work closely with USDA to ensure that our contract with the landowner is in full compliance with CRP contract requirements.  Our technical personnel are available to provide real “boots on the ground” technical assistance.  Professional foresters will be assisting us throughout to monitor timber stand conditions.

For more information on cottonwood seedling supplies, visit Big River Cottonwood Nursery.