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Nurse species for oak

  • 10-09-2013 8:11pm
    #1
    periodictable
    Closed Accounts Posts: 931 ✭✭✭


    Usually Scots, larch or alder used as a nurse for oak, but I've heard the Forest Service is moving toward Rowan or birch as a nurse.
    Any thoughts on which might be preferable?


Comments

  • #2
    blue5000
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 12,711 Mod ✭✭✭✭blue5000


    Just wondering why you are planting oak?

    I'd imagine if the soil was poor/acidic birch would be better. Does rowan have any commercial possibilities?

    If the seat's wet, sit on yer hat, a cool head is better than a wet ar5e.



  • #3
    periodictable
    Closed Accounts Posts: 931 ✭✭✭periodictable


    blue5000 wrote: »
    Just wondering why you are planting oak?

    I'd imagine if the soil was poor/acidic birch would be better. Does rowan have any commercial possibilities?
    The site is some of the best land in the country, so will carry an oak crop. Just looking for a nurse species for frost protection.


  • #4
    Oldtree
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,104 ✭✭✭Oldtree


    not an expert n this, but wouldn't birch be an excellent nurse crop? or would it be too fast growing for oak?


  • #5
    periodictable
    Closed Accounts Posts: 931 ✭✭✭periodictable


    Oldtree wrote: »
    not an expert n this, but wouldn't birch be an excellent nurse crop? or would it be too fast growing for oak?
    Should provide cover from spring frosts then can be removed once the oak is taller. It wouldn't cast a strong shade. Scots pine or larch were common nurses but FS has now changed its mind.


  • #6
    blue5000
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 12,711 Mod ✭✭✭✭blue5000


    I think larch got some sort of disease, that's why it is gone. For this reason it might be better to put more than one nurse species in. Alder grows very fast, I wonder would it shade out the oak too much, or would it force the oak to grow nice tall straight stems? I have alder on wet land, I don't know what it would be like on good land. What is the pH of your soil OP?

    If the seat's wet, sit on yer hat, a cool head is better than a wet ar5e.



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  • #7
    periodictable
    Closed Accounts Posts: 931 ✭✭✭periodictable


    Neutral soil. The other trees have been traditionally used, just wondering if anyone has had any experience of birch as a nurse.
    Prob have to ring FS


  • #8
    robp
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 1,934 ✭✭✭robp


    periodictable wrote: »
    Neutral soil. The other trees have been traditionally used, just wondering if anyone has had any experience of birch as a nurse.
    Prob have to ring FS

    In my experience alder grows very fast even if the soil is sticky/heavy but not quite wet.


  • #9
    tabby aspreme
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,047 ✭✭✭tabby aspreme


    When I planted some oak in 2010 there wasn't a nurse species planted as such , it was 10 rows of oak and then 3 rows of any broadleaf followed by 10 rows of oak and so on.
    It used to be alternative rows of oak and Scots pine I think


  • #10
    periodictable
    Closed Accounts Posts: 931 ✭✭✭periodictable


    The thinking has changed- 10 rows oak, one row nurse...trying to up potential stem quality and also there's a cosmetic element involved.


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