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<blockquote data-quote="KDM" data-source="post: 324499" data-attributes="member: 314">Just some random thoughts from planting trees and bushes for 20 years......1. Avoid the so called &quot;free&quot; govt. money programs.&nbsp; One swipe of the pen by that same govt. and your life and land can change dramatically.&nbsp; The CRP program is a prime example.2. Realize that any trees you plant won't necessarily be for you to enjoy.&nbsp; It takes 15 to 20 years to get a good stand of trees.3. Determine EXACTLY what you want to do with the land and then dig into the details if it can actually be done. 4. Woody cover doesn't necessarily mean trees.&nbsp; Bushes like caragana, dogwood, and junipers can make some real good cover.5. If you actually start to plant stuff, you need to protect it somehow.&nbsp; Wire rings, fences, etc.&nbsp; Deer are MURDER on growing woody plants.&nbsp; Sometimes they are their own worst enemy.6.&nbsp; I would set up a pump from the slough to water whatever you intend to plant.&nbsp; Getting woody plants past the first 5 years seems to be the real problem.&nbsp; If the deer don't rub them, eat them, or top them and the rodents don't strip the bark off them, you might just get them to grow.7. Establishing habitat IS NOT a fire and forget proposition.&nbsp; It takes time, effort, dedication, and money.&nbsp; If you aren't willing to visit the site at least once a week or every couple weeks to water, work on weeding, (grass will crowd and kill a small tree) fix fences, take care of pocket gophers or other pests that kill your plants, I would question the initial outlay of time and money just to buy the plants and put them in the ground.8.&nbsp; Then there is WINTER.......&nbsp; I've still lose 4 inch diameter fruit trees to winter kill.&nbsp; Just lost a 7 year old plum tree in the yard to winter kill and it was an easy winter.&nbsp; Consider the hardiness of the plant you start with.&nbsp; They will probably need to be TOUGH if you plant them in the wide open like you want.&nbsp; Even though I've probably given you some &quot;wet blankets&quot;, I don't mean to rain on your parade.&nbsp; I just wanted to jog you brain a bit before you charge in.&nbsp; I don't want you to get disappointed if something doesn't work out like you plan.&nbsp; Have Fun!!&nbsp; Building habitat is a BLAST when you get to see how many critters use what you made.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="KDM, post: 324499, member: 314"] Just some random thoughts from planting trees and bushes for 20 years...... 1. Avoid the so called "free" govt. money programs. One swipe of the pen by that same govt. and your life and land can change dramatically. The CRP program is a prime example. 2. Realize that any trees you plant won't necessarily be for you to enjoy. It takes 15 to 20 years to get a good stand of trees. 3. Determine EXACTLY what you want to do with the land and then dig into the details if it can actually be done. 4. Woody cover doesn't necessarily mean trees. Bushes like caragana, dogwood, and junipers can make some real good cover. 5. If you actually start to plant stuff, you need to protect it somehow. Wire rings, fences, etc. Deer are MURDER on growing woody plants. Sometimes they are their own worst enemy. 6. I would set up a pump from the slough to water whatever you intend to plant. Getting woody plants past the first 5 years seems to be the real problem. If the deer don't rub them, eat them, or top them and the rodents don't strip the bark off them, you might just get them to grow. 7. Establishing habitat IS NOT a fire and forget proposition. It takes time, effort, dedication, and money. If you aren't willing to visit the site at least once a week or every couple weeks to water, work on weeding, (grass will crowd and kill a small tree) fix fences, take care of pocket gophers or other pests that kill your plants, I would question the initial outlay of time and money just to buy the plants and put them in the ground. 8. Then there is WINTER....... I've still lose 4 inch diameter fruit trees to winter kill. Just lost a 7 year old plum tree in the yard to winter kill and it was an easy winter. Consider the hardiness of the plant you start with. They will probably need to be TOUGH if you plant them in the wide open like you want. Even though I've probably given you some "wet blankets", I don't mean to rain on your parade. I just wanted to jog you brain a bit before you charge in. I don't want you to get disappointed if something doesn't work out like you plan. Have Fun!! Building habitat is a BLAST when you get to see how many critters use what you made. [/QUOTE]

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