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Hillside Christmas Tree Farm
Приєднався 12 лют 2015
Founded in 1983 Hillside Christmas Tree Farm is a choose and cut Christmas Tree farm located about 30 miles southwest of Ann Arbor Michigan. Our farm is 83 acres in size and has roughly 30 acres of tillable land. . Follow along as owner Tony Stefani demonstrate the tools and techniques we use to cultivate and market our farm. If you just love Christmas Trees follow along and watch how much work is involved into growing your Holiday centerpiece.
Tree Field Tour: 2024 Shearing and Growth Progress
Welcome back to our Christmas tree farm! In this video, we're taking you on a walk through our beautiful tree fields to give you an update on this year's Christmas tree shearing process. Join us as we explore how our trees have grown and developed over the past year, and learn about the techniques we use to ensure they are in perfect shape for the holiday season.
In This Video:
A walkthrough of our tree fields
An overview of this year's growth patterns
Insights into our shearing process and techniques
Tips for maintaining healthy and beautiful Christmas trees
We love sharing the journey of our Christmas tree farm with you, and we hope you enjoy seeing the progress and care that goes into preparing our trees for your homes. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more updates and behind-the-scenes looks at our farm!
Subscribe to our channel to stay updated on all things Christmas tree farming: [Your Channel Link]
Like this video if you found it informative and enjoyable.
Comment below with any questions or topics you'd like us to cover in future videos.
Thank you for your continued support, and we can't wait to share more with you as we prepare for the holiday season!
Support the Channel with Buy Me A Coffee:
www.buymeacoffee.com/TonyStefani
#ChristmasTreeFarm #TreeShearing #FarmUpdate #HolidaySeason #ChristmasTrees #FarmLife #TreeGrowth #BehindTheScenes
In This Video:
A walkthrough of our tree fields
An overview of this year's growth patterns
Insights into our shearing process and techniques
Tips for maintaining healthy and beautiful Christmas trees
We love sharing the journey of our Christmas tree farm with you, and we hope you enjoy seeing the progress and care that goes into preparing our trees for your homes. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more updates and behind-the-scenes looks at our farm!
Subscribe to our channel to stay updated on all things Christmas tree farming: [Your Channel Link]
Like this video if you found it informative and enjoyable.
Comment below with any questions or topics you'd like us to cover in future videos.
Thank you for your continued support, and we can't wait to share more with you as we prepare for the holiday season!
Support the Channel with Buy Me A Coffee:
www.buymeacoffee.com/TonyStefani
#ChristmasTreeFarm #TreeShearing #FarmUpdate #HolidaySeason #ChristmasTrees #FarmLife #TreeGrowth #BehindTheScenes
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Відео
Hillside Christmas Tree Farm 2024 Summer Projects: What We've Completed & What's Next
Переглядів 287Місяць тому
Welcome back to our Christmas tree farm! In this summer update, we're giving you an exclusive drone tour of our farm, showcasing the progress we've made and highlighting the projects we have yet to complete. Join us as we fly over our beautiful Christmas tree fields, discussing the hard work that goes into maintaining and improving the farm during the summer months. You'll get an insider's look...
Top Work Pruning and Staking: Correcting 5-6 Feet Fir Tree Tops
Переглядів 233Місяць тому
Welcome back to our Christmas tree farm! In this video, we focus on the essential techniques for top work pruning of 5-6 feet tall fir trees to create beautifully shaped and structured holiday trees. In This Video: • Essential Tools: We’ll introduce the key tools needed for top work pruning fir trees, including hand clippers, tree top rings, and a tapener. Explore the affiliate links below to f...
Behind the Scenes: Pruning Fir Tops on 3’ tall Christmas Trees
Переглядів 447Місяць тому
Welcome to our Christmas tree farm! In today’s video, we're diving into the unique techniques for pruning fir tops to create beautifully shaped and structured holiday trees. In This Video: • Essential Tools: We’ll introduce the key tools needed for pruning fir trees, including pruners, loppers, and hand saws. Explore the affiliate links below to find the best tools for your tree care needs! • A...
Behind the Scenes: Pruning Spruce Tops on a Christmas Tree Farm
Переглядів 4862 місяці тому
Welcome to our Christmas tree farm! In this video, we dive into the essential techniques of pruning spruce tops to achieve the perfect shape and growing structure for your holiday trees. 🌲✨ What You'll Learn: • Tools Needed: We'll go over the must-have tools for pruning, including pruners, loppers, and hand saws. Check out the affiliate links below to get these tools for your own tree maintenan...
Road Construction Begins: Mowing a Field for Tractor Access
Переглядів 3262 місяці тому
In this video, we take you through the process of mowing a field to create a new tractor road. Using our trusty Ford 3600 tractor and a Brush King Bush Hog mower, we'll clear a path and show you the step-by-step journey from a grassy field to a usable tractor road. Watch as we tackle tall grass, navigate uneven terrain, and transform this space into a functional pathway for our tractor. Don't f...
Replacing Christmas Tree Holders at Our Choose and Cut Christmas Tree Farm
Переглядів 2322 місяці тому
Join us behind the scenes at our Choose and Cut Christmas Tree Farm as we upgrade our Christmas tree holders in the processing area! In this video, we'll show you how we replace the temporary holders where our freshly cut trees rest while customers complete their purchases and get ready to load their trees onto their cars. These holders are crucial for keeping the trees upright and organized, e...
Backpack Sprayer Techniques for Weed Control in Christmas Tree Farming
Переглядів 3592 місяці тому
Welcome to our Christmas tree farm! In this video, we’ll show you how to effectively control weeds using a backpack sprayer. We'll cover everything from mixing the herbicides correctly to applying them across different fields on our farm. This step-by-step guide is perfect for both beginners and experienced farmers looking to improve their weed management techniques. In this video, you will lea...
Gravely Pro Mower 50” Model 888048: How to Replace the Deck Belt
Переглядів 4772 місяці тому
Welcome to our channel! In this video, we'll guide you through the step-by-step process of replacing the drive belt on a Gravely Mower Model 888048. Whether you're a seasoned DIYer or new to mower maintenance, this tutorial will help you get your mower running smoothly again. What You'll Learn: • Tools you'll need for the replacement • Installing the new drive belt properly • Tips to ensure you...
Christmas Tree Planting Update: Successful Herbicide Application Results!
Переглядів 2852 місяці тому
Welcome back to our Christmas tree farm! In this update, we’re thrilled to share the impressive results of applying herbicides to our newly planted Christmas trees. Join us for a scenic drone flight over the farm as we discuss the process and the positive impact it’s had on the growth and health of our trees. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more updates on our Christmas tree jo...
Cones Galore: The Long Process of Cleaning Christmas
Переглядів 2722 місяці тому
In this video, I tackle the tedious and time-consuming task of picking fir cones off Korean fir trees. De-coning is a crucial step in ensuring the health and fullness of these beautiful trees. Cones consume a significant amount of the tree's growing energy throughout the season, and if left unchecked, they can prevent the tree from looking as lush and full as it should. Join me as I explain the...
Christmas Tree Transplant Bed Makeover: Creating Room to Grow
Переглядів 2023 місяці тому
Responding to valuable viewer feedback, we've taken action to enhance our Christmas tree farm's transplants efficiency and growth potential. Thanks to your insightful comments, we've optimized our transplant bed and adjusted tree spacing for healthier, more robust trees. Join us as we share our journey in this video, showcasing our commitment to continuous improvement in Christmas tree farming....
Dare to be Different: Growing Exotic Christmas Trees
Переглядів 2233 місяці тому
Welcome to our latest farming adventure! Join us as we delve into the fascinating world of exotic Christmas trees. In this video, we're planting three unique varieties - the majestic Nikko Fir, the lush Nordmann Fir, and the elegant Turkish Fir. These exotic trees are not your typical holiday fare, but they bring a touch of rare beauty to any festive setting. What makes this planting even more ...
Chainsaw Skills 101: Cutting Firewood with Confidence
Переглядів 1093 місяці тому
Welcome to our latest video where we delve into the art of chainsaw firewood cutting, featuring the renowned Husqvarna 455 Rancher! Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting out, this comprehensive guide will equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to efficiently and safely cut firewood like never before. In this video, we'll cover everything from essential safety precautions to adv...
From Seed to Spruce: 2024 Christmas Tree Planting
Переглядів 5093 місяці тому
Welcome to our Christmas tree planting adventure! In this video, join us as we plant a variety of beautiful evergreens, including Canaan Fir, Balsam Fir, Fraser Fir, Concolor Fir, Nikko Fir, Turkish Fir, Nordmann Fir, Black Hills Spruce, and Colorado Blue Spruce. Watch closely as we demonstrate both mechanized and hand planting methods, showcasing the efficiency of a tree planter alongside the ...
Christmas Tree Farming Tips: Building a Transplant Bed
Переглядів 3263 місяці тому
Christmas Tree Farming Tips: Building a Transplant Bed
Base Pruning for Seedlings: Cultivating Robust Plant Foundations
Переглядів 4553 місяці тому
Base Pruning for Seedlings: Cultivating Robust Plant Foundations
Pruning Perfection: Transform Your Spruce Christmas Tree with Shearing Techniques
Переглядів 3953 місяці тому
Pruning Perfection: Transform Your Spruce Christmas Tree with Shearing Techniques
Unveiling the Hidden Hero: The Christmas Tree Field Cleanup Tool You Never Knew You Needed!
Переглядів 4063 місяці тому
Unveiling the Hidden Hero: The Christmas Tree Field Cleanup Tool You Never Knew You Needed!
Time to Control White Pine Weevils: The Quick Guide!
Переглядів 2783 місяці тому
Time to Control White Pine Weevils: The Quick Guide!
From Scouting to Solutions: Managing Balsam Twig Aphids in Tree Farms
Переглядів 1294 місяці тому
From Scouting to Solutions: Managing Balsam Twig Aphids in Tree Farms
Mastering Stump Cleanup: Efficient Brush Cutter Techniques for Christmas Tree Farms
Переглядів 5675 місяців тому
Mastering Stump Cleanup: Efficient Brush Cutter Techniques for Christmas Tree Farms
Winter Pruning Guide: Maximizing Your Christmas Tree Yield
Переглядів 3975 місяців тому
Winter Pruning Guide: Maximizing Your Christmas Tree Yield
Field Tactics: Installing White Pine Weevil Traps for Christmas Tree Protection
Переглядів 3155 місяців тому
Field Tactics: Installing White Pine Weevil Traps for Christmas Tree Protection
Mastering White Pine Weevil Pest Control: Your Ultimate Resource Guide!
Переглядів 4095 місяців тому
Mastering White Pine Weevil Pest Control: Your Ultimate Resource Guide!
Tiny Trees, Big Impact: The Art of Pruning Young Christmas Trees
Переглядів 9046 місяців тому
Tiny Trees, Big Impact: The Art of Pruning Young Christmas Trees
Step Into Hillside Christmas Tree Farm: Your Premier Hub for All Things Christmas Tree Farming.
Переглядів 2496 місяців тому
Step Into Hillside Christmas Tree Farm: Your Premier Hub for All Things Christmas Tree Farming.
Bagworms No More: Your Go-To Resource for Saving Your Christmas Tree Investment
Переглядів 2546 місяців тому
Bagworms No More: Your Go-To Resource for Saving Your Christmas Tree Investment
Oh Deer! The Unseen Perils of Running a Christmas Tree Farm
Переглядів 6366 місяців тому
Oh Deer! The Unseen Perils of Running a Christmas Tree Farm
Greening the Season: Sustainable Ways to Recycle Your Christmas Tree
Переглядів 1627 місяців тому
Greening the Season: Sustainable Ways to Recycle Your Christmas Tree
curious what the results were 3 months later
I had M4s fail on me from new, got the replacement parts and fixed, it was interesting and quite good fun
My old boss called it the president being threatened by multiple vice presidents.
You have alot of nice trees 😊
Thank you for the comment, I'll admit there are some not so good ones also!! Thanks again
Wow, those trees ready for harvest look amazing! Do you water them?
Thank you for the complement. Yes these trees could be harvested, but in our operation I want to hold these back one more year so some of the others can get a little bigger. The year these were planted I tried some 2-0 turkish and they didn't make it so we replanted. There is some parts of this field that are small. We don't have irrigation on our farm. we will manually water seedlings if we need to. Thankfully this year has been great.
Is there a granular product to spread for bag worms? I have sprayed and picked them off this week but wondering if I could treat for them this fall for next year? I think half died when I sprayed but the others didn’t 😡
I'm not sure if there is a granular product. here is a link to a useful resource. It lists all the control options and target dates for lots of pests, bagworm included. Looking at this, it looks like control is in the spring. www.canr.msu.edu/christmas_trees/uploads/files/Michigan%20Christmas%20Tree%20Pest%20Management%20Guide%202023.pdf
Hi, First of all, your video is like a therapy. Your blue spruces are gorgeous and fascinating. I can't believe my eyes. What a beautiful trees and colors. What kind of blue spruce are they exactly? Hoopsie, monty, montgomery or other kind? I have picea pungens hoopsi but its interior sections are green, exterior sections are blue like yours. But your spruces are completely blue color. By the way how do you plant your trees? Only from seed or do you vaccinate with blue one them more later? Only by seed blue spruces in Turkiye are not exactly blue. They look like almost green. They need to vaccinate with hoopsi ones for being real blue.
Thank you for the comment. Yes, they are really consistent and that is why we plant them. They are Picea pungens “baby blue”. We plant using a transplanter and the trees are 4 years old when we plant.
I'm looking at getting one of these. Sounds like you are a bit disappointed that you didn't get one with a feed roller?
yes, a feed roller would be great. but this does get the job done, just more manual at times. Thanks for the comment
Beautiful property. Planning to start some trees next year on a very small (3 acre) hillside plot. Soaking up all the information can, thanks for this.
Thank you for the comment. Best of luck!! If you have any specific question please reach out!!!
Great video !!!!! Thanks !
Thank you for the comment!! hope it helps
Always top quality
Thank you for the comment! I hope it helps
What time of year do you do this? Does that matter?
It is best to do mid summer. When the growth is firm enough to not rip out at the base and not woody enough to be hard to mold. If its too early the new growth will break off where the new shoot started. It can be done on old growth, it's just going to take more support and more effort. I hope this helps. Thank you for the comment
Fantastic video
Thank you for the comment
Can You write the Latin name of Your Black Hills Sprcue?
Picea glauca var. densata
This is a helpful video thanks 🙏. Is June a good time of year to shape/prune the new growth on conifers? I have a Spruce and a Korean Fir which need some work.
Thanks for the support. Top work like this yes. When the growth is still soft is a good time. It’s still too early for the heavy shearing with the knife. If the growth is too soft when you shear you will knock off the new growth at the stem. I think that is still a month away
@@Hillsidechristmastreefarm Thanks 👍
@@Hillsidechristmastreefarmwhat do the name make my etc of the bander you are using
it's called a Max Tapener. Very useful tool!! use this affiliate link to support the channel amzn.to/3A1OGw3
Where can I buy those yellow rings?
All those links to the tools used in the video but nothing about the yellow ring? Please, someone tell me where I can get that!
Sorry I missed that one. Here is a link. www.hd2412.co.uk/products/pruning-shaping-and-bird-protection/branch-adjustment-on-christmas-trees/toprings/top-ring-plastic
I have a Colorado Blue spruce in maybe a 2 1/2 gallon pot. It has 3 thick, hardened leaders. One comes off of a significantly curved trunk that leans, so it was probably supposed to be the main one, but probably grown in a cramped space to where two more decided to compete. The shortest of the 3 and the wimpiest one seems to be the one that will make the tree look straight with that trunk that curves and leans in one direction. Should I choose a leader which will make the tree look straight as in grows or the thickest one that would work but will make the tree look crooked? As you know, Colorado blue spruce trees are stiff and prickly, except for the new growth.
Thanks for the comment. What are your plans with the tree? Sometimes I don't pick the strongest leader if others have the length that I'm after. If the tree is young and can recover I would pick the one that makes it the most straight. I hope this helps. I actually just put out a video on spruce tops cutting out some old leaders like you're mentioning. It's a long video but covers a lot. ua-cam.com/video/MgXKSzld9_E/v-deo.html
what brand of hand clippers do you use?
Thanks for the comment. We have a lot of hand clippers, I like the ARS both the needle nose type and larger set. I usually get the fixed blade ones and just replace and sharpen as needed. ARS Needle trimmer amzn.to/3VomFI0 ARS hand shear: amzn.to/3XoJu11 A lot of farmers also use a Felco #6 amzn.to/4ba2Gm5. I think the felco shears a large bulky, i like a smaller set. and nothing I'm cutting when shearing is very big. I hope this helps
SAFETY TIP - Wear tall rubber boots, especially when walking through the spray zone.
Thank you for the tip Jennifer
Thank you! I love staples for My business cards and wanted to see how this worked!
glad it helped!!
Thank you
I'm glad it helped
Tony, What kind of blade are you using on the stump cutter? How many teeth? How long does the blade last? What is the horsepower of your engine? Thanks.
How much stinger did you put per gallon of water? We use 1/4 ounce per gallon when backpack spraying. And that’s on the high side. Great herbicide. A little goes a long way.
1/2oz, I didn't use a surfactant and I'm wondering if that's going to burn me with the clethodim. Thanks for your insight. I'm about two weeks and I'm starting to see some browning in the areas I sprayed.
That looks really good.
Thanks Alan, as long as it stays haha
Good job. You should get good kill down pretty quickly of the broadleafs. The grass is much slower to die back for me. Clethodim does work better with a surfactant. I just add an ounce of horticultural oil for that. I have heard that surfactant may not be good to add for the Stinger (Clopyralid). I haven't noticed a problem yet. Good luck!
Thanks Alan. I did mean to add that but forgot it at home. Time will tell. Thats why i did it on these trees. I'm good with the risk!!
I spray with glysphate and goal but use a shelded sprayer i don't like taking a chance after bud break
I've heard a lot about goal. I need to do some reading on this one and see it would suite my needs. My big one is thistle.
Aw man nothing like a good old fashioned gravely pro 50 lawnmower! These are a great classic for sure! Well done!
Sure is, I feel like I grew up using this machine haha. Thanks for the support
What’s your actually replacing is called the deck belt
Yes, I guess the drive belts would be on the side. Thank you for the correction
That's a nice unit. I have the Promaster 300. I'm waiting on a belt right now that connects the PTO to the engine pulley. Hopefully its easy to put on.
Thanks, yes I think this unit is at least 20 years old. Good luck, thanks for watching
I spray with deep woods off but had 2 ticks on me last week
Even with the Off. Seems they're evolving.
I have same problem on frasher pain in butt
I planted 100 Fraser this year. We will see how it goes lol. Thanks for watching
How do you keep up with weed control? Maybe do a segment on what type of equipment you use and chemical. Thanks
Hi Jeff, thanks for watching and the comment. I filmed some today of our mix for backpack spraying and a little recap of our spring application. They’re in the works!!!
Great informative video. J like how tell about the details. For example the male and female cones.also how you state what trees you have gotten cones from and the ones you have not. I like the videos where you walk around and do the task. I like the hands on effect. The other way is okay and very usable. But I like the details. Better to understand the problem. Thanks for sharing Keep up the good work.
Thanks for the comment Richard. A lot of time it’s good to let it flow. Today I went through more batteries than I have in the past for a video on backpack spraying. Hope you enjoy. Thanks again.
@@Hillsidechristmastreefarm I am sure the backpack video will just as good as this one. Thanks for your efforts again.
Nice soil how are your concolor doing in it appears to be heavy like mine I put lots of seedlings in transplant beds I ridge my beds up add sand and compost struggle with nutsedge first year after planting but cut my rates on herbicides after loss most of mine are 2 0 seedlings just for me doesn’t make economic sense to go any bigger but it’s mainly works for individuals farm thanks for the video sir
We have a lot of soil verity on our farm. In this video I'm closer to the pond and that is where our heavier soils are. We plant our fir trees in difference soils doing our best to match species to site in the whole plan. Concolor and Balsam get put on the higher grounds to avoid frost damage. We have lost trees on our educational path for sure.
I m wonder those trees look liner ready is there a reason your holding in a transplant bed ?
I block plant so I'm hoping to get taller trees at time of harvest. The normal transplant we put in the ground is a 2-2 I'm hoping by holding these a couple years and planting a 2-4 we can achieve that goal. This video might explain it better ua-cam.com/video/Hta77ZtjrEw/v-deo.html
Nice job, looks a lot better, next comes the challenge of the weeds 😀
Thank you for the support. Yea I should have put down a pre, I came out a week later and sprayed (video posting soon) so hopefully we can keep it under control!! Thanks again
Amazing.❤
Thanks for watching.
I live in SW MO and started our tree farm last year. I also have what I consider, exotics, in the south where we cannot grow firs. I have burkei jasper, carolina cypress, and moonglow cypress, to add a flare of different color options all natural and with different growth speeds to get my farm sales started sooner! Hoping for 4-5 years to start!
Great to hear. wishing you the best in your operation. It seems cypress grow super fast!!
Hi, I have a colorado blue spruce and it does not look like as fresh as your blue spruce ones. Could you recommend me any tips what to do with that? Also, can I grow another spruce from cuttings? Thanks
These are a specific verity of blue spruce called blue wonder or baby blue. They have really bright blue color. They are actually one of more most expensive seedlings we plant. Normal blue sprue can vary from green to blue in color. Another thing that is very common in spruce is rhizospharea needle cast. This causes older needles to drop and the tree will appear less dense. Here is a link to an article. I hope it helps. extension.umn.edu/plant-diseases/rhizosphaera-needle-cast Lastly, I don't know of many that have had success rooting conifers, I have heard more people graft trees when trying develop better seed orchards, but not in a large operation.
mmmmm round up trees
Pretty standard
We potted half our trees this year. The whole family agreed they like it better then planting them directly in the field. But it seems to be taking longer and cost more. But I think it'll pay off as we will have some potted trees to sell and if they don't sell in pots we can always plant them.
Good points, how many did you plant?
@@Hillsidechristmastreefarm We did a total of 1200, 450 in the round like normal and 750 in pots.
The town I live in has so many beautiful spruce trees in it but they all have two tips at the top. I haven't seen that very often. Why is it there's so many of them that have two tips ??
A tree wants to have apical dominance. In my operation when we cut a leader to our desired length all the buds below that cut want to become the next leader in charge so a lot will grow vertical. So, we avoid cutting these tops if possible. In a landscape it could be damage that happened a couple years ago, bird, bug, anything really. But once the tree feels that it needs a new leader it will send the signal and several could be trying for the spot. I hope this helps.
Agree, great content. keep them coming! I have a bunch of old herbicides and trying to figure out how my step grandpa mixed it. It’s labeled in i think pints per gallon. Some of it’s confusing. I also have the eastern spruce gall pest on my norways and i have 6” x 4” sticky tape squares set in the trees waiting to see the gall so i know when to spray the oil. I also usually get about 2 ticks on me a night with usually only one that just barely starts to get in me before i rip them off at the dinner table lololol
Thank you for the support. oh yes, ticks have been crazy the last couple years. I don't remember them at all as a child running around on the farm. Normally herbicides are labeled as Oz or pints per acre. Sometimes with backpack spraying it will give a % solution. Take your time reading the label and think of it one piece at a time. It comes down to how many gallons per acre your sprayer is putting down, then you can add the appropriate amount of herbicide concentrate. Here is a video I did on sprayer calibration. ua-cam.com/video/LYo0EkPsv1o/v-deo.html there is a good website link that really helps. Good luck with your gall pest. If you haven't purchased the Christmas tree pest manual it's a great resource: amzn.to/3LZpPvU Thanks again for the comment
Another great video. Thanks for showing your operation. I learn so much from watching your videos. Thanks. Keep them coming.
Thank you for watching and the support!!!
Waaaay too close. I'd be aiming for around a minimum of 6" spacing for those guys. Planting them in bundles like that will have the roots get completely knotted and you'll have to rip a bunch of roots when replanting in a couple of years. Not to mention the competition will also reduce growth rates. On my transplant bed I'm using 18" spacing because I plan on raising them until they are about 3ft tall and my other trees that size are about 18" in diameter. So I'd recommend you to take a look at a few 4-5 year old trees in your field, measure the diameter, and that will be your average spacing required for the transplant bed.
Thank you for the tip and insight. This makes sense. I’ll make the adjustments.
How do you spray the soil to prevent weed from growing?
we use a pull tank sprayer seen here. ua-cam.com/video/nntE69icePU/v-deo.html
I am a first .good lock i see your video. I too Have christmas tree farm. Good lock from Poland
Thank you for your support!!
Base pruning is a good thing to do but not at this point. You have just set those seedlings back about two years. At planting time I would trim the roots back a bit as they will tend to twist when planted and end up girdling the tree. Base pruning should only be done after the tree is well established in the field. Far more difficult to be sure, but better for the tree.
We do trim the roots a bit before getting in the planter. I've seen some pretty neat equipment from Juket and Edgal for base trimming. Maybe someday I'll get one of those. ua-cam.com/video/iljdH8O0lR8/v-deo.html
Hey Toni, what Nursery did u get ur transplants from.. if u dont mind sharing.... were located in Indiana , there beautiful teansplant
The Black hills shown here are from Northern Pines Nursery. They've worked well for us for the most part, some trees have been smaller. Last year our Balsam and this year our Blues, and Canaan were a little on the small side. We also got some exotics and balsams this year from Needlefast and I'm happy with those this year as well
5' minimum before ever touching a knife to any fir. That and weed control under skirt . Sick of seeing growers prematurely beating on fir before it's 5' , just foolish. Not to mention them shearing them into rockets and not Christmas trees. I and my brother ran a shearing crew of all white boys shearing over a million trees every year. Torn rotator cuff ended my shearing.
This was probably the first year they saw a knife and yes I feel shaping them into rockets is setting that foundation for the next couple years. Here is a more recent video taken in this field. ua-cam.com/video/Odb_MO2IVBU/v-deo.html we will be opening that field up for cutting this season. That's quire the shearing crew, sorry to hear about your shoulder.