P1203

4-H Forestry Project No.1—Tree Planting

Tree planting is one of the most common activities associated with forestry. Anyone can plant trees, but not everyone plants them successfully. Tree planting is easy, but seedlings must be handled and planted correctly if the trees are to live and grow properly.

Tree planting is very important for forestry in Mississippi and the South. Millions of trees, which are produced at private nurseries in the state, are planted in Mississippi annually.

Seedlings are taken from nurseries and planted during the winter months while they are dormant. During winter, seedlings are not actively growing and can better withstand the “shock” of being transplanted from the ideal soil at the nursery to a less favorable site that you choose.

It is essential to have a clear objective before beginning a tree-planting project. Specifically, trees can be planted for windbreaks, erosion control, timber production, wildlife habitat improvement, as a memorial to loved ones, or as part of a community activity.

In Mississippi, Arbor Day and Tree Planting Week begin on the second Friday in February. These festivities are observed by planting memorial trees around schools and homes, along streets and highways, and on farms. Check with local officials about a Tree Planting Week celebration in your county. If no observance is planned, try to get one started.

These are just some of the many reasons for planting trees. Your purpose will affect the kind of trees you choose to plant, where you place them, and how you go about the task.

Project References

Please note that the Extension publications listed below are available on line at extension.msstate.edu.

• MSU Extension Publication 160, Tree Planting Is Easy
• MSU Extension Publication 146, Know Your Trees
• MSU Extension Publication 1776, Planting Southern Pines: A Guide to Species Selection and Planting Techniques
• MSU Extension Publication 3565, Thinning Hardwood Plantations
• MSU Extension Publication 4026, Yard Tree Placement and Risk Assessment
• MSU Extension Forestry Management Technical Note 4E, Seedlings Available from In-state and Regional Nurseries, available from your local MSU Extension office.

Project Materials

• At least 50 (preferably 100) tree seedlings (pine or hardwood—pine seedlings are easier to get.)
• A planting bar (also called a “dibble bar”) to use in planting your seedlings.
• A 2-gallon bucket or canvas bag to hold your seedlings and prevent the roots from drying out

Sources of Help and Information

You should be able to get plenty of help and good information from several sources.

• MSU Extension county agents, MSU Extension Service county offices
• Registered foresters, Mississippi Board of Registration for Foresters
• Area forester, Mississippi Forestry Commission, Find Your Forester—MFC
• District conservationist, Natural Resource Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, USDA Service Center Locator
• Project forester or district ranger, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Mississippi’s National Forests

Planting Techniques

Mattock or Grub Hoe

Planting Bar or Dibble

Instructions

1. Contact a local forester to help find tree seedlings and a planting bar. Seedlings will be available from December through March.
2. Partner with other 4-H’ers to share the cost of seedlings, which are often sold in bundles of 1,000 from nurseries.
3. Locate a suitable planting site. The site may be on your family’s land. If you have trouble locating a planting site, get help from a local forester or Extension agent. Be sure you have permission from the landowner if the land does not belong to your family. Plant the seedlings at least 50 feet from overhead utility lines and 20 feet from buildings. Call 811 to locate underground utilities.
4. Determine an appropriate planting spacing and number of trees per acre (TPA) based on the project objectives. Example spacing for pines can be 8 feet by 10 feet (544 TPA), 9 feet by 9 feet (537 TPA), 8 feet by 11 feet (495 TPA), or 8 feet by 12 feet (453 TPA). Example spacing for oaks can be 10 feet by 10 feet (435 TPA), 10 feet by 12 feet (363 TPA), or 12 feet by 12 feet (302 TPA). A forester can help make this determination and assist in measuring the planting spacing.
5. Plant your trees soon after you receive them and take care to keep the roots moist.
6. If you borrowed a planting bar, clean it and return it to the owner immediately after you finish planting.
7. If possible, get a forester to check your tree planting project and sign your record sheet when your project has been satisfactorily completed. Include the record sheet in your current record book.
8. Have your adult 4-H leader check your project and sign your record sheet. Save the signed project record sheet and other materials for future reference as you participate in other 4-H projects

Open the PDF above for the 4-H Forestry Project No. 1 record form.

Publication 1203 (POD-05-25)

Revised by James Shannon, PhD, Extension Specialist I, Forestry, from a previous edition by Brady Self, PhD, Extension Professor, Forestry. Written by Thomas A. Monaghan, EdD, Extension Professor (retired).