Low Impact Development Manual for Michigan - OSEH - University ...

° The least expensive fencing is eight-foot
plastic fencing, which is also effective against
deer and is easily repaired
• Vegetation
° Consider using plants that are able to survive
frequent or prolonged flooding conditions.
Plant trees that can withstand high water table
conditions.
° Soil disturbance can allow for unanticipated
infestation by invasive plants.
• Accidental or purposeful destruction by
landowners
° Signage, posts, fencing, boulders, etc., may
be required to alert adjacent landowners
to the location, purpose, and management
aims of riparian buffers. This is particularly
important where actively managed
landscaped areas abut native plant buffers.
Signs that stress no mow/no pesticide and
fertilizer zones may need to be in several
languages, e.g., English and Spanish.
9. Restoration design within your budget
The planting design (density and types) must
ultimately conform to the financial constraints of
the project. See discussion below for estimating
direct costs of planting and maintenance.
10. Draw a restoration planting plan
• Planting layout: The planting plan should be
based on the plant types and density. The plan
must show the site with areas denoted for trees
and shrub species and plant spacing and buffer
width.
• Planting density: Trees should be planted at a
density sufficient to provide 320 trees per acre at
maturity. To achieve this density, approximately
436 (10 x 10 feet spacing) to 681 (8 x 8 feet
spacing) trees per acre should be planted
initially. Some rules of thumb for tree spacing
and density based on plant size at installation
follow:
° Seedlings 6 to 10 feet spacing (~700
seedlings/acre)
° Bare root stock 4 to 16 feet spacing (~200
plants/acre)
° Larger & Container 16 to 18 feet spacing
(~150 plants/acre)
Formula for estimating number of trees and shrubs:
Number of Plants = length x width of buffer (feet) /
50 square feet
This formula assumes each tree will occupy an
average of 50 square feet, random placement of
plants approximately 10 feet apart, and a mortality
rate of up to 40 percent.
Alternatively, the table below can be used to
estimate the number of trees per acre needed for
various methods of spacing.
11. Prepare site for restoration
Existing site conditions determine the degree of
preparation needed prior to planting. Invasive plant
infestation and vegetative competition are variable
and must be considered in the planning stages.
Site preparation should begin in the fall prior to
planting. Determine whether the use of herbicides
is necessary.
Michigan State University County Extension
offices can help identify pests and provide upto-date
herbicide recommendations. Michigan
residents can use the URL listed below to find the
location and phone number of their county’s office:
www.msue.msu.edu/msue/ctyentpg/
Mark the site with flags, or marking paint, so that
the plants are placed in the correct locations.
LID Manual for Michigan – Chapter 7 Page 275