planting sitka in subsoil

Good loser · 13-03-2024 11:55pm #1

Five years ago I planted on a 4 acre plot. All grew okay with big height variations.

However in a 60/80 meter strip, which crosses drains, some 6/8 meter wide where the surface was grey subsoil ( where a ditch was levelled) the trees failed as did the growth of any vegetation. Numbers are not huge, between 3 and 4 plants (at 2m Spacing) in each line.

Anyone any suggestions? A fertiliser? Dung/some slurry (laborious)? Dig a new hole and plant into relocated topsoil? In the last case would a 3 gal (yellow) bucket full suffice?

blue5000 · 16-03-2024 9:17pm

Is birch/alder/willow an option. Some of them can fix nitrogen. Is there good soil underneath the subsoil where the spoil from the drains was dumped?

Good loser · 17-03-2024 2:22am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121903170#Comment_121903170

To your question no. Don't want to plant any of those weed trees. Practically nothing grows there presently.

What I will try is dig a 4 /5 gallon hole; get 2 buckets topsoil nearby for hole; dig out a replant sitka in vicinity (there are quite a few of these) with 2 sq ft

sod if possible and transplant to hole.

$kilkenny · 17-03-2024 9:57am

Throw some 18/6/12 fertiliser beside the trees if they are alive. Might give them enough growth to get below the subsoil and maybe into some clay.

timfromtang · 18-03-2024 1:07am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121904097#Comment_121904097

These suggested trees are "pioneer species" in "natural" conditions they would be the first tree species to colonise disturbed ground, they would live their short lives and the "improved" ground would be subsequently colonised by other more demanding longer lived species.

weed trees!!!

what are you thinking?

tim

Good loser · 24-03-2024 11:41pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121904097#Comment_121904097

Tried some of that last week. Brutally hard work what with tripping over briars, getting scratches from furze, falling into drains etc

Only got 7 transplants done in 1.5 hours labour. If a few granules of 18/6/12 worked as suggested above it would be a lot lot lot easier.

Picea · 20-06-2024 10:22pm

Spread slurry on it and replant in spring. Nutrients and bacteria will give life to the soil

Good loser · 02-08-2024 2:30am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122285353#Comment_122285353

Can't access the area with slurry. As stated above may try some 18/6/12.

planting sitka in subsoil

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