Growing Poplar and Willow Trees on Farms, National - FAO

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Use the right equipment Experienced farmers have adopted the following st<strong>and</strong>ard equipment for tree pruning: • Hard hat with muffs <strong>and</strong> visor. • Chaps for leg protection. • Special forestry boots – not just the normal steeltoed farm boots. • Compression b<strong>and</strong>age pack <strong>and</strong> comprehensive first aid kit. • Mobile phone (where reception is available) or other effective communication equipment. • Fire extinguisher (pruning is best done in dry summer weather). • Forestry pruning ladder <strong>and</strong> a strap to secure it to the tree. • Pruning harness. • Adequate drinking water. • Short length of rope – for lowering the chainsaw or the operator. • Efficient top-h<strong>and</strong>le chainsaw (high-speed pruning model). 3.2 Sleeve removal The Dynex sleeves split as the growing trunk exerts pressure on them, <strong>and</strong> while the bark remains soft for a few weeks after shedding, progressive shedding reduces the area of vulnerable bark exposed. Farmers should protect their trees from bark damage following the removal of the sleeve. Brief grazing spells among young trees are recommended, especially when pasture feed is scarce. Netlon sleeves stretch <strong>and</strong> break as the tree trunk thickens. The bark under Netlon hardens by itself because of the greater exposure to weather. Using electric fencing to isolate exposed young trees is worthwhile. The biggest reported risks are with browsing by bull beef herds, especially rising two-year-old stock, <strong>and</strong> Friesians are reported as causing more damage than other breeds. 39
3.3 Form-pruning poplar for timber <strong>Poplar</strong> trees can be pruned for eventual timber production while still providing erosion control <strong>and</strong> fodder during droughts in their earlier years. Remember that silviculture aims to maintain tree health <strong>and</strong> to keep trees in good shape. Begin form-pruning trees at around 5 years after planting them as poles, depending on their growth <strong>and</strong> local wind exposure. This may check root development for a short period after pruning but the extent of this remains to be determined. <strong>Poplar</strong>s grown for timber in Hawke’s Bay When a tree is growing well it can be pruned after 4 years, but if it is growing slowly or in an exposed position, waiting until the 5th year is preferable. When pruning these young trees for timber production, aim to develop a healthy tree with a single leader. This will also reduce the wind loading on the tree. The first pruning for a tree should reduce the leaders to a single leader. Prune the lower two whorls of branches at two years after the first pruning, <strong>and</strong> then every year thereafter prune off a whorl of branches up to a height of 6 m. Pruning trees in this way will develop a tree with a straight form <strong>and</strong> a good potential for timber use, especially for poplars. Remove any large ramicorns (steeply angled vigorous branches) as early as possible, as these are likely sites for splitting in old trees. For timber trees, continue to remove the lowest whorl of branches until there is at least six metres of clear wood developed (the butt log). Remove any 40
Page 1 and 2: Growing Po
Page 4 and 5: CONTENTS 1 Poplars
Page 6: Introduction Millions of poplars <s
Page 9 and 10: was reported growing in Marlborough
Page 11 and 12: soils and desert a
Page 13 and 14: Eridano (P. deltoides × maximowicz
Page 15 and 16: ‘Crowsnest’), but are darker gr
Page 17 and 18: Available willow clones Tree willow
Page 19 and 20: managed to avoid heavy side-branchi
Page 22 and 23: 2 Establishing Poplar</stro
Page 24 and 25: The other steps to take before tree
Page 26 and 27: preventative for further slipping.
Page 28 and 29: 2.3 Planting poles Essentials of po
Page 30 and 31: Propagating on-farm material On the
Page 32 and 33: locks with newly planted poles, eve
Page 34 and 35: For converting a wet area to a brow
Page 36 and 37: systems; either as vegetation to be
Page 38 and 39: 3 Managing Poplars
Page 42 and 43: egrowth from the trunk each year. A
Page 44 and 45: They were also stationary. Risers a
Page 46 and 47: Managing browse blocks These are hi
Page 48 and 49: At the tenth year following plantin
Page 50 and 51: limb growth, leading to breakout <s
Page 52 and 53: Herbicide use There are numerous la
Page 54 and 55: Timing Treatment earlier in the gro
Page 56 and 57: treatment so proceed cautiously <st
Page 58: What about roots thicker than 10 mm
Page 61 and 62: Create a ‘pruning nest’ A tree
Page 63 and 64: 4.3 Pests Possums There can be nume
Page 65 and 66: adult is reluctant to lay eggs on t
Page 67 and 68: lock without trees because a reason
Page 69 and 70: established, the annual growth of e
Page 72 and 73: 7 Further information Public librar
Page 74: Guidelines to help land</st

Growing Poplar and Willow Trees on Farms, National - FAO

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