For Productive Tree Seedlings, Use a Transplant Bed

By Maxwell McCormack

Planted trees contribute to woodlots. Value is added by advancing regeneration, improving stocking levels, and enhancing species composition. The magnitude of a woodlot planting program can range from a dozen or so to a few thousand trees planted per year.

Previously, I indicated some of the complications with ordering planting stock from commercial nurseries, such as species availability, limited ages and quality of stock, minimal packaging, and shipping delays. Home- or woodlot-based transplant beds offer many benefits.

This approach provides owners with convenient, direct control of their own high-quality stock. Shipping risks and inconveniences are avoided. Seed sources are more likely to be known and, with pulled wildlings (naturally established seedlings), you have a guarantee of site suitability. The trees you are planting are tuned in to the local spring weather. Your intensive care, efficiently carried out in a bed, assures that planting stock is in the best possible condition with a robust, compact, fine root system, for its first woodlot season.

Fresh lifting of planting stock, in appropriate quantities at convenient times, is a significant benefit of this type of a program. Envision an early spring morning when you get an unexpected window. You can simply go out and lift a pail-full of transplants; fresh, suitable stock goes into the ground in a timely manner, planted with the capability of “hitting the ground growing.”

Establish beds in the same manner as a home garden plot on well-drained, fertile soils. In fact, I’ve observed productive transplant beds incorporated into vegetable gardens. They can be almost any size or shape, depending on anticipated needs. Soils should be managed in the interest of seedling development, especially root systems. Consider adding sand to lighten soil texture. I always incorporate peat moss (monitor pH when doing so) for enhancement of fine root system development.

Nutrients should be maintained at optimum levels, keeping in mind that top development and production of root reserves during the year before out-planting determines the next year’s growth potential. And, as in any successful garden, plan your bed for convenient, effective weed control. For example, when possible, space your rows for use of a small, narrow swath tiller. Usually a two-year period is sufficient. Occasional leftovers, or smaller individuals, can be held over until the next year. Root pruning with a spade can help to culture compact root systems, especially for oaks. Plant material can come from a variety of sources.

Seedlings or plugs can be purchased from nurseries. Seedlings can be raised from seed, but this requires some specific extra efforts. Acorns placed in small patches are one exception for me. A great source is wildlings pulled on your woodlot or, with permission, from neighboring lands. I emphasize pulling; don’t get consumed by trying to dig them. Pull small seedlings in early spring when the soil is loose and moist. With this approach you can sort for uniform size and obtain a workable quantity with minimum effort. Set them firmly by hand with what you think is a realistic space, plus a little extra, to develop for two seasons. Transplant beds have served me well for several species of pines, spruces, and firs as well as black ash, sugar maple, red oak, bur oak, and English oak.

Now is a good time to prepare a new transplant bed. Be ready to pull some wildlings next spring to place in the bed. Plant out, and mark, a few of the seedlings to compare with the transplants you will have in two years to plant along side of them. If I can’t convince you to transplant, the trees will.

Maine Woodland Owners member Max McCormack is research professor emeritus at the University of Maine. E- mail him at: mlm2@uninets.net

This transplant bed allows quantity planting of Christmas trees, with hand-pulled and planted wildlings at a density that allows adequate development while excluding weeds.

The author sets in balsam fir plugs on one-foot centers. The wide spacing allows extra care and development for special stock.