Tree Farm

B. P. · Feb 18, 2009

My wife and I are talking about starting a tree farm. What equipment in needed to get started??? I have about 15acres in Michigan.

BushogPapa · Feb 18, 2009

You will need to purchase or build a tree planter.
You need to evaluate your land and pick the appropriate variety trees to grow..(some tolerate more soil moisture than others).
You WILL need sprayers and plenty corn knives to shear the trees and this always needs to be done in June...about the time of the 1st 90 degree days..!!
You need to study all literature available from your Count Extension Agent about these trees and associated pests..
Once they are established, you must become a licensed nursery and be Inspected every year..
Pine trees have a wide assortment of natural pests and you must be "on top of it", or you will have wide-spread damage..even from Deer...
Saw Flies, Tortix Scale, Mites, Cut Worms, Zimmerman Moths and much more must be treated and at different times of the year..
You must mow the tree fields at least once- better-twice every year..
If you have planted 3 year seedlings with a fertilizer pill, you might be able to sell some trees in 7 or 8 years..
BTDT..!!!
Ron.

Dave from MN · Feb 18, 2009

I worked at a very, very large tree farm for years before my manufacturing days. That was my best job ever. Most advice ya got her is right on. I think you will be happy. Make sure you gain some knowlege on shearing or you can make your whole plantation a mess that wont produce premiem trees. Look at what th elocal demand is, is it the common scotch, Norawy, and White, or the more prestigeous Balsam, Fraser, and douglas? I know quite a few people that have done it in recent years,. The Nostalgia of a real tree is coming back. Good luck and enjoy what you are doing.

Walt Davies · Feb 18, 2009

Xmas trees or fruit or shade trees everything is different.
We just put in 7000 Noble, Grand and Nordman Xmas trees.
If Xmas trees forget the planter hand planting takes longer but you will have a much better survival rate of trees. First you need to know what will grow on your farm an what will sell in your area. Xmas trees are not a business to get into blind you should get a partner who has been at it for sometime with an established record of all parts of the business. And you will need lots of expensive equipment to cut wrap and load them. Believe me this is no business for someone who is not experienced in all the aspects of it. Xmas trees need to be trimmed in the spring and fall for best looking trees and be prepared for 5 to 7 years of just watching your hard earned money go down the drain. then 3 months of very hard work every year after that. And if you don't sell them what will you do, its a tough business to get into with lots of big time competition.
Walt

GeneMO · Feb 18, 2009

Just an idea, you should not need to purchase a tree planter. Her in MO. our Department of Conservation will loan or rent you one. I have planted 5 or 6 thousand trees for CRP projects and always got along good with the ones they loaned me. Now these are for the smaller trees. The tallest I ever planted were probably 3' tall.

Good luck, Gene

Rick Kr · Feb 18, 2009

BP,

I have a tree farm in Michigan. Is this a full time job or nights/weekends?

Are you plant Christmas or landscape (deciduous) trees?

At one time I had three planters, could plant all the way up to 12-13 foot bare root trees.
I plant all my own. Some conservation districts have planters to rent, or there are contract planters that will come in too.

The bigger tree you plant the quicker you can sell. The Christmas tree market seems to be quite saturated, plus add on the economy, trees are just plain selling for cheap.

I grow landscape trees, market is probably just as bad.
No new subdivisions = no new houses = no landscaping.

Everyone else hit the highlights, most all applies whether conifer or deciduous trees you are planning on.

If you want to talk in detail, shoot me an email.

Rick

B. P. · Feb 19, 2009

Thanks Rick,
We are really looking at landscape trees. I have a full time job but trying to keep the wife busy. I would love to pick your brain on a number of things. My wife is the one that really wants this. She is in the middle of a "career change". (She was a dancer). Maybe I could hook you two up.
Thanks
BP

BillinCentralMO · Feb 19, 2009

What kind of Dancer ?

Tree Farm

B. P.

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BushogPapa

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Dave from MN

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Walt Davies

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GeneMO

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Rick Kr

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B. P.

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BillinCentralMO

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