Fall planting of Christmas tree plugs for better survival rate. Get winter root growth.

Transplanting Christmas tree seedlings can be a challenge. This is especially true of Noble fir seedlings that tend to get root shock and not thrive as well as other species. We are planting Noble fir plugs today in November (should have got it done in October). This is being done to allow the soil to settle around the roots all winter along as well as allowing for the October/November root growth season. We used a six inch auger to open up a hole and loosen the soil. #Flanagan Homestead #East Fork Christmas trees

[@uncle-andy-guitar-herbst]

Thanks for all the info Mr. Flanagan. Great video.

[@kylemulford5830]

About to start planting our first trees this spring. But man i really thing fall planting for me here in Southern NJ would be so much better for the trees. guess we'll find out.

[@kusterflattail]

Milwaukee 18 Volt fuel brushless hammer drill, with 4" auger bit way easier. Same drill used for drilling holes ice fishing. Same drill used to run self feed bits through studs for plumbing work.

[@FlanaganHomestead]

@@kusterflattail good recommendation.

[@daviddaniken7248]

We have fall planted several times in the past. We mainly do it when we have had a terrible spring and summer with poor survival rates. This lets us get a jump on replacing the trees next spring. We have had success with this timing, but as others have said, the additional work complicates an already busy time. We use a combination of planting bar and auger depending on size of transplants and species. 2-0 scotch pine we have great luck with a planting bar. Bigger 2-2 white pine and most all spruce / fir trees are augered. Timing, temperature, and precipitation are crucial to success. In a perfect world I would plant 2/3 spring 1/3 fall, but that just doesn't pan out for us. No matter what you do it's a crapshoot with timing and weather. I'm interested to know how your insurance claim works out. NAP insurance? We used to carry it, but lost 18,000 trees out of 45,000 total on the farm in 2012. That wasn't enough damage to warrant a payment. Seems they want you to lose a percentage of the value of all trees regardless of how many trees you lose. Last time I wasted my time with that program. BTW I'm still a little bitter about that one. Even the local USDA folks thought I got screwed, but the rules are the rules.

[@FlanaganHomestead]

Thanks for all your input. We did meet with the USDA lady last week she said their insurance wasn’t worth it. Had to have a 50 percent loss before you qualified for a dime. What we are getting is not technically insurance it is federal farm natural disaster relief due to our excessive heat. We lost almost all of the 2000 noble we planted last year. After she came out took pictures and a count she said we would likely be receiving about $4000 relief funds and may get money to rehabilitate old damaged trees.

[@gregkirchner1907]

Been enjoying your videos and appreciate all that you are teaching. Have you considered using an auger attached to a Bobcat that you could rent for a day and save your back and labor? You could do your layout several days before and use a paint stick to premark your holes to use the machine efficiently.

[@FlanaganHomestead]

Thanks for the suggestion the problem is half the trees were planted in the middle of my larger trees replacing cut ones. I can’t get larger. equipment in and around effectively.

[@timkyne286]

Good job Rob. I think it is a probably the best tactic to mitigate against repeat of what happened to your trees last year. Im no expert but a good fall/winter imho with soil intact on plugs should be a even better defence than your spring planted plugs. Interesting experiment nonetheless if you get repeat weather this spring. Good luck.

[@FlanaganHomestead]

Thanks. Head that is what we are aiming for. Some previous year root growth and the roots really packed in tight in the soil.

[@cheyennesmith5561]

We have had great success planting during the fall. We have only had it be a problem once...had an unexpected hard freeze in October a few days after planting.

[@FlanaganHomestead]

Good to hear of your success rate. We too are expecting good returns

[@johngalt2931]

Try using a 3” auger in a cordless drill. Somewhat easier than lugging a big gas powered auger. I’ve had great success!

[@FlanaganHomestead]

That sounds like a good idea. Where did you pick up a 3 inch for your drill.

[@johngalt2931]

@@FlanaganHomestead I actually welded a longer rod to the auger bit to avoid bending over. I leave the actual planting to the younger guys.

[@FlanaganHomestead]

@@johngalt2931 leaving the planting to younger guys is a good idea

[@SpartanTrees]

Im buying a 1-man auger with a 3x36in, possibly 4x36, bit for my scotch pine plugs. Should be a total of $350. I will let you know if it was worth the purchase.

[@FlanaganHomestead]

Yes. Keep me updated

[@johanwedelnielsen]

In Denmark the Normann plugs are planted in early august and thereby get much much longer growing season for the roots I Think you should try plant 500 much earlier, like august, next year and see how they do

[@FlanaganHomestead]

In early august? Do you have irrigation. That is when we are really dry. Love the concept of getting them in early but we want to wait for the fall rains.

[@johanwedelnielsen]

@@FlanaganHomestead no We dont need irrigation. It rains all year round. But noble and Normann also behave very different. Normann is very drought resistant compared to noble. Also same for turkish fir

[@FlanaganHomestead]

@@johanwedelnielsen yes we had extreme heat this year and our noordman and Turkish fir didn’t seem to mind. Our nobles got damaged badly

[@elizabethhare3266]

Do you water you plugs after transplanting your plugs; to prevent transplant shock? Do you have problems with voles? We live in willamette valley and voles are an issue for some crops not sure if they are for Nobles? We are planting 500 tomorrow and just want to plant and be successful as much as we can. Thanks for any advice.

[@FlanaganHomestead]

We do not water in for two reasons. 1 we don’t have irrigation capability. 2 it is not standard practice here as the dormant trees are not using much water and it will be raining soon. Good luck with your trees.

[@mriguy2002]

Hey we really enjoy your channel. We just planted our firs 450 trees. What type of insurance do you have and where do you get “crop” insurance?

[@FlanaganHomestead]

Thanks Glad you are enjoying the channel. Congrats on getting trees in the ground. The USDA provides crop insurance but only for edible crops. We looked into private insurance but that was too costly and they didn’t want to insure first year trees, which are the most susceptible. This Friday we are meeting with a usda agent that we have been working with. We had to prove a lot of expenses but they are going to cover the cost of some of last years loss. They are doing this because the extreme heat in our area was considered a natural disaster.

[@popandbob]

I’ve found my plugs do far better than my bareroots for growth rates. I can get 1yr old plugs or 2yr old bareroots & my plugs are larger than the bareroots after 1 year on my farm. I plant them in May in zone 3 (Alberta Canada) but my ground is often frozen from November until mid April.

[@FlanaganHomestead]

Good point. Especially on nobles with root shock. A small plug can catch up to a larger bare root

[@julier5560]

We just purchase our first set of trees and some of the roots are really long. They are bare root and I was just wonder how you would recommend to plant them? We did some by trimming the roots and used the shovel methods you have shown. Or should an auger be used maybe? And now trim the roots

[@FlanaganHomestead]

We don’t trim the roots because they come to us trimmed already by the people that grew the seedlings. If your trees have roots too long to get in the hole then trim them.

[@julier5560]

Thank you.

[@schradertreefarm]

We tried 50 Fraser plugs last fall here in SW Michigan, everyone of them died… Iam on the fence if a fall planting is worth the time with everything else on leading up to the busy season.

[@FlanaganHomestead]

That point is true. Fall planting adds to the business of the season.

[@SteveLowe-i5g]

does a fall planting result in more winter deer damage?

[@FlanaganHomestead]

Not on my farm. The damage seems to be earlier in the year and on 4 to 5 foot trees. They tend to leave the seedlings alone.

[@SteveLowe-i5g]

@@FlanaganHomestead Thanks for the reply. I'm really enjoying your channel. I'm about to harvest some timber in the next year or so and am considering allocating 2-3 acres to Christmas trees. I am trying to figure out if this is even feasible to accomplish as an absentee landowner who has to make a 2 hour drive to get to my land.

[@davejsullivan]

The trouble I've had with the auger is that the soil in the planted hole tends to sink below the surface. The trees didn't like that, especially during our wet Spring.

[@FlanaganHomestead]

I can completely understand that. I have soil that drains incredibly well. Maybe too good. So I want my plugs low to access water.