This will help the roots establish and increase the tree's ability to deal with harsh weather. They can grow up to 90 cm in the first couple of years. I prefer the latter so that the planting has a more natural look. Look for smaller spacing of 5-by-5 feet for lots retailing to homeowners; lots retailing to commercial buyers should plant trees farther apart to produce larger trees. *3000 trees with a 12x12 spacing may be enough to plant 5 acres, but this will result in very poor bedding habitat. It is hardy to zone (UK) 4 and is not frost tender. Care to buy us a beer? I recommend taking off only one inch of the growth from last year, as this puts the least stress on the tree and will accomplish what you … Anyways, if I had to do it again I would plant a combination of Norway spruce and pitch x loblolly pines. Picea abies is an evergreen Tree growing to 30 m (98ft) by 10 m (32ft) at a fast rate. In 15 years if someone visits your land the best compliment that they could give you is that they though the trees grew naturally. I have found that black locusts grow at an astronomical rate! ). Pest resistant, the trees hardly ever fall victim to insect damage or disease. If you plant the tree with … To alleviate compaction, the soil was ripped prior to planting. Photo by S. Smith . Planting pine trees for deer cover seems to be popular, but spruce will often provide better thermal cover and visual screening than pine species. However combine them and you will be left with a "4". The distance between the trees can be 2' or 10', but it pays to attempt to create the most natural looking planting as possible. While you don’t need a ton of soil along with it, make sure you include at least enough … When the mid term planting takes shape, you can convert the EW area into additional food plot space, and you may elect to do the same when the spruce planting … Grid patterns equal boards per food and low wildlife values, non-grid patterns equal low timber values and high wildlife values. Deer feed 5xs in a 24 hour period as rhythmic patterned feeders. While U-cut operations can utilize a 5-by-5-foot spacing, larger trees could suppress newer seedlings because stands contain various ages of … A combination of conifers can be an oustanding practice for your deer bedding efforts. Fertilize when planting and in early spring yearly with a slow release fertilizer. Red cedar, Norway Spruce and Cave In Rock switchgrass are just some of the monocultures of whitetail habitat that as a single, solid force, can not equal the perfect form of base bedding cover. And that includes switchgrass plantings. However, the base of conifer plantings or various grasses such as switchgrass alone again, is a very low value bedding cover (1-2/10). Norway Spruce rarely need to be trimmed but it can be done to help even out the growth. Try adding faster growing pockets of Scotch or Jack pine to your plantings. Then on my back woods planting a row cause my neighbor clean on his side of the fence row. There is no doubt that a nice food plot will attract and hold deer in an area. *Conifer, as pictured above, can become a great base cover similar to various grasses and weeds. And for the record, deer will eat norways too! I am doing 3 groups of 10. Attracting whitetails to your land begins with including enough of a base bedding cover to hide deer within that cover, to bed. But I thought they might be helpful for when I need to use a blind strategy. However, keep in mind that food and diversity drive the quality of a bedding area, and that ultimate "10" combination can only be achieved when all 4 bedding types are established in the same location. Here deer love bedding in the thick evergreen plantings. Just ordered another 1,000 plugs today to plant this spring. Think of it this way, there are four bedding area types: If you think in bedding habitat values with a "10" being the best, a conifer planting alone is a "2" (and that value is decreased to a 1 or less when planted purely in rows or grid patterns). If you use a 20' wide swath of Egyptian Wheat (EW) for your short term screening option, you can plant the EW adjacent to the food plot, followed by a 20' width of switchgrass, speckled alder or miscanthus for the mid term solution, and then a few alternating rows of Norway Spruce, spaced 5-6' apart, for your permanent solution. ↑ Habitat. In Europe, red deer strip the bark of Norway spruce [ 60 ]. We'd really appreciate it! It's best to plant the tree as soon as you bring it home from the nursery, but it's important to avoid planting the tree during extremely dry weather and to give it at least six weeks to develop before the first frost of the season.. The above picture is a great start! *Conifer plantings for deer should always be planting irregularily, randomly and with absolutely no straight lines or even grid patterns. In those areas...keeping the existing rows can greatly reduce the potential for deer/human encounters by offering a level of diversity and food value that is many times higher towards the interior of the stand. Also, we plan on planting some type or variety of coniferous trees (likely spruce) behind the willows to provide a long-term, year-round screen for the deer in the swamp. You can plant Norway spruce in sun, shade or partial shade and it grows just the same. Also, grass is a "2". Basically if you can find a variety that you can plant, the deer will not eat and can grow successfully it is probably a strong candidate. Care of Norway Spruce Trees. Norway spruce has become established at scattered locations across North America, mostly in the northeastern US and Canada, with some in the upper Midwest and southern Appalachians, and a few locations in the mountains of the northwest. It is an evergreen tree, meaning it does not shed its leaves in the fall. As you begin the ordering process for your Spring time tree plantings, conifers can be an oustanding addition to just about any parcel. Fruits, nuts and flower buds make up the bulk of a deer’s diet. It is in leaf all year, in flower from May to June, and the seeds ripen from October to November. *When deer bed within low-value bedding areas during the day it is because the have to, not because they want to. *Long ago, MN grouse studies showed that staggered rows and irregular plantings of trees increased population #s 10Xs over straight, grid pattern plantings. Add Hardwood regen and you have a "6", and when all 4 bedding habitats are combined you have a solid "10". These Norway spruce were planted in a dense clump to provide wildlife cover. The site was also treated with an herbicide prior to planting to control competing vegetation. The Norway Spruce is wind, cold, and deer resistant. Last year after Christmas I took down groves of poplar and some red maple. Norways will provide a nice dark background for more showy plants which can be placed in front of the trees. Page 1 of 2 1 2 Next > Jan 21, 2016 #1 . Is Norway Spruce better than a White Spruce? The very shallow, spreading root system benefits from a 3 to 4 inch layer of organic mulch to moderate soil temperature and conserve moisture. Those varieties of pine lose their lower branches early, and allow for a large amount of sunlight to hit the forest floor beneath. Here is how I store the plugs to keep them healthy until I plant … Oh man! Deer are creatures of stress, so it makes sense that as the stress level of bedding area increases, the use and level of attraction decreases. Slower growing spruce are great and provide the ultimate level of future future thermal protection with branches hanging to the ground even at maturity. If you are looking for a fast growing tree. With a heavy disc diversity can be added very quickly. But really the type of conifer isn't necessarily as important as what you combine your plantings with, and how you distribute them. Here are the basics for creating your switchgrass deer bedding pockets: 1) In the Spring, spray when the weeds are 5-15" and growing aggressively, with a mix containing 2 quarts per acre of Glyphosate and 1 pint per acre of 2-4D. I think the best time is right before the new growth starts in the springtime and this is anytime after March 1st until the new growth starts to grow out. Figure 4. Check out this, "Switchgrass Plantings For Deer Guide". I have done this on two of my propertys. Required Norway spruce care is minimal. I have experienced many times over that this is true for whitetails as well, and most likely most wildlife species. Norway spruce is a fast-growing evergreen conifer which can reach 40m and live for up to 1,000 years. It is not a tree for smaller yards. The distance between the trees can be 2' or 10', but it … Forums > Michigan Hunting > Michigan Whitetail Deer Hunting > Whitetail Deer Habitat > Planting Norway Spruce Plugs Discussion in 'Whitetail Deer Habitat' started by Wild Thing, Jan 21, 2016. Also when a tree is set back, in front of it is a nice place to insert a beautiful ornamental tree. Norway spruce cones are one the … Messages: 10,489 Likes Received: 28,040 Location: Iron Mountain. Forums > Habitat Management > Native Habitat Management > Good source for Norway Spruce. This would allow for more individual doe groups to exist and thrive. Its establishment in North America is largely a function of where it has been most widely planted, and it could likely … Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube. Look to locate these where there is a south exposure or adjacent to travel corridors and transitions to food. I have been planting Norway spruce in place of the harvested pine and as screens around my food plots and access trails. Its native habitat includes mountainous areas of Europe and Asia. Simply, it all boils down to soil type! Watch Queue Queue. Because straight and grid patterned plantings increased disease, stress and warfare among grouse populations. Find one of two planting distances for Norway spruce in tree farm operations. The tree produces cones that contain seeds in late summer and early fall. But, those options are scarce for part of the year, and so deer feed on tree buds and bark instead. If you are looking to do the entire 11 acres with trees, I would plant at least 3 rows of norways around the 11 acre field, Then fill in the middle with assorted hardwoods.