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planting sitka in subsoil

  • 13-03-2024 10:55pm
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,238 ✭✭✭


    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?



Comments

  • Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 12,722 Mod ✭✭✭✭blue5000


    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?

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



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,238 ✭✭✭Good loser


    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.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 718 ✭✭✭$kilkenny


    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.



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 564 ✭✭✭timfromtang


    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



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,238 ✭✭✭Good loser


    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.



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  • Registered Users Posts: 5 Picea


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



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,238 ✭✭✭Good loser


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



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,248 ✭✭✭✭Nekarsulm


    If it's grey boulder clay, nothing will grow in it.



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