October OOPS

Started to cut the rushes from the next field and ran into a little problem

and then the rescuers needed rescuing

so we now have a change of plans and plan to get the diggers in first and open up and make new ditched for drainage in an attempt to drain the field more

August 2012 planting

After rotavating the ground we planted 66 noble fir and 378 nordmann fir, more nordmann fir was planted as  they tend to do better in wetter conditions, We are experimenting with cardboard squares around the bases of the transplants aswell to try to keep the weeds down around the bases, we have begun on preparation of the next field which when ready will give us the ability to plant 1000 transplants a year for about 5 years

August 2012

Ground has been rotavated ready for planting of this years transplants we are planting approx 500 this year made up of Nordmann Fir and Noble Fir

How Herbicides Work

Herbicides can be grouped into preemergence and postemergence 

herbicides. Preemergence means that they are applied before weeds 

emerge while postemergence means they are applied after the weeds 

start growing.

 Some preemergence herbicides are systemic herbicides, that is they 

are absorbed primarily by the root system, while others are absorbed 

directly into the plant surface as they emerge. Preemergence herbicides

generally need rainfall or irrigation within several days after application

to be activated and effective. Certain herbicides must be incorporated

into the soil to be effective. These herbicides do not readily leach 

through the soil but remain in the surface layer. Some preemergence 

herbicides have the potential to injure trees, especially if the trees have 

not been planted long enough for the soil to settle around the roots. 

Rainfall can carry herbicides to tree roots through cracks in the soil.

  

  Most postemergence herbicides are contact herbicides, that is they 

must be applied directly on the plant in order to be lethal. It may enter 

the plant through the leaves, stems, or roots. Post emergence herbicides 

should be applied to actively growing weeds to be most effective. In some 

cases, the size and growth stage of the weeds can affect the herbicide 

performance. 

  

  Postemergent or contact herbicides can be selective or non-selective. 

A selective herbicide will kill the target species while not affecting 

desirable plants. Anon-selective herbicide will affect a broad range 

of plants and must be used as a directed spray onto the unwanted 

vegetation. 

Roundup can seriously injure Christmas trees, especially if they contact 

foliage during the growing season. In these cases the trees should be 

protected by a shield when spraying unwanted vegetation. Injury can

also be minimized in some cases by using a lower rate of herbicide.

 

Some herbicides will have both pre- and postemergence control and may 

be both soil and foliar active. 

Many factors can affect the successfulness of any herbicide. 

As previously discussed, the age, growth rate and rooting properties of 

the tree and type of soil must be considered. Weather can also determine 

the effectiveness of any application. Moisture is critical to incorporate 

many herbicides into the root zone. Too much rain can dilute the 
herbicide or incorporate it too deeply into the soil. Sunlight and
temperature, as it affects seed germination and growth rate, can 
indirectly cause herbicide failure. 

The faster weeds grow the more rapidly herbicides are absorbed 
by plants. 

Unexpected periods of cold weather can inhibit growth and hence, 

herbicide effectiveness. 

Unlike weather, application techniques can be controlled be the growers. 

Proper preparation, mixing, sprayer operation, calibration, and rates will 

all contribute to successful weed control.

Planning a Weed Control Program

A weed control program needs to remain flexible. As weed populations 

change or more resistant weeds become prominent, a change in strategy 

is in order. Most growers use a combination of herbicides to control 
different weeds at different times of the year an application of Roundup 
followed by tilling or disking may be used to control perennial weeds on 
abandoned or converted farm sites. This site preparation may be 
followed by a preemergent herbicide in late winter or early spring. 
Roundup can often be used for mid-season applications as directed sprays for control of annuals, 
perennials, and woody weeds

Late season applications of Roundup have been used, especially after 
conifer growth has fully matured (hardened), for effective control of 
brush and perennials. 

Listing or reference to any herbicide does not imply an endorsement or 

recommendation. Labels should be read completely before any 
application. 

Growers should remember that it is illegal to use any herbicide in a 
manner not specified on the label  and by doing so can nullify the 
manufacturers liability. 

It is recommended that any grower using herbicides consider obtaining 
pesticide application training.  It should be noted that many herbicides 
which are listed for ornamental, forest, or nursery applications are not 
included, even though they may be listed as safe on the label for a 
particular tree species. 

Growers should keep abreast of changes in labelling which will allow 
additional herbicides to be used legally in Christmas tree plantations.

Weed Control After Planting

Mechanical

 Mechanical methods to control weeds include cultivation and mowing. 
After planting, cultivation is sometimes used to control weeds; however, 
there are several problems associated with continued cultivation. 
These include increased erosion, trees blown over due to loose soil, and 
the possibility of damaging root systems on larger trees. Cultivating close 
enough to trees in order to control weeds also poses logistical problems. 

Mowing is the more common practice to mechanically control weeds 
between rows. Some of the limitations of mowing include difficulty in 
getting close enough to the tree and the potential to damage branches of 
larger trees. As trees grow, the area to be mowed decreases and the possibility 
of damaging branches with large equipment increases.

Many growers use deflection shields on the tractor wheels to prevent branches
 from being caught by the mower tyres. Damage to the trunk of trees should be 
avoided in all cases as it opens avenues for the entry of insects and disease.

A new grower should plan the plantation around the size and maneuverability 
of the equipment the grower already owns or plans to use. If trees are planted 
on equal spacings, then the mowing can be done in two directions.

 

Although mowing is considered an effective treatment for weeds between rows, 
it is difficult to obtain adequate control immediately around the seedling or tree. 
It has generally been found that mowing between rows and limiting chemicals
to the planting strip and tree row does the best all-around job.

Chemical

 Use of herbicides to control weeds in Christmas tree Plantations has become 
an accepted and imperative practice. Although herbicides are expensive and 
much care must be Taken during application to avoid tree injury, they are 
extremely effective, especially in controlling weeds around the base of small trees.

 

   Herbicides, to be effective, must be applied at the proper rate and time. 
Before applying any herbicide, a grower should follow label recommendations 
and make sure that the herbicide may be used for the christmas tree species 
being grown and the weed species to be controlled. The grower should also 
learn whether weeds to be controlled are annual or perennial, grasses or 
broadleaves and the stages of growth in which they are most easily controlled.

   The type of soil is also an important consideration when choosing the type 
and rate of a herbicide. High organic matter and clay content in a soil can 
“tie-up” certain herbicides and reduce their effectiveness. Coarse textured 
soils high in sand content ties up less herbicide, and so less herbicide is 
usually needed for effective control. Trees planted in coarse textured soils 
may be more susceptible to injury from soil applied herbicides.

July 2012

2012 area has been weed killed ready for this years planting, once the grass and weeds have died down it will be rotavated first week August

there is still time to order your wholesale bulk transplants from us €1.00 a piece for collection end of August Christmas Tree Bulk Wholesale Transplants

Pre Planting Weed Control Part 2

Methods of Weed Control

Site Preparation

Weed control efforts in a christmas tree plantation begin with site preparation activities. Repeated disking or rotovating of the site destroys many weed species. Some chemicals, such as Roundup, may also be used in site preparation activities. Many growers use a combination of mechanical and chemical control because once the weeds are controlled by mechanical methods, herbicides work well to keep the vegetation from becoming a problem during the remainder of the rotation. Some preplant herbicides can also be effective, following site preparation, especially if the vegetation to be controlled is primarily annual weeds (since they kill germinating seeds and not roots capable of reproduction

  

Trees have little chance of doing well if they are planted in established vegetation on a site which has not been properly prepared. Alternatives to completely tilling a site maybe to strip disk the area where the trees are to be planted. A nonselective, non-residual herbicide applied in bands 4 feet wide or in circles 4 feet in diameter where the trees are to be planted is another alternative. 

Complete eradication of all weeds is generally unnecessary as light vegetative cover

Weed control is an important factor in producing quality christmas trees. between rows, if kept under control, prevents erosion and does minimum damage to trees.

  

It is important to remember that vegetation control is more Important around newly planted young trees than around older trees. It is also important to control weed competition while the trees are actively growing, during this time competition for water and nutrients is most critical.

you can still purchase christmastree transplants from us www.xmastreetransplants.com 

Pre Planting Weed Control Part 1

Over the next few weeks i shall explain weed control before planting young trees into the plantation this is part 1

Weed Control in Christmas tree plantations is one of the most important cultural practices during the early life of a plantation.

Weeds compete for water, nutrients, and light and extend the time required to produce a marketable tree.

Successful weed control helps the grower produce high quality trees and can result in a more rapid return on initial investments. In addition, weed control can prevent trees from forming deformed bases since shading inhibits proper formation of lateral branches. Weed control can reduce the potential of insect and disease damage and damage by animals, such as mice or rabbits, since their habitat is removed.

Weed control reduces the hazard of fires by removing unwanted fuel. Finally, reduction of weeds reduces interference with labour and equipment movement and improves the plantation’s appearance for consumers.

There is still time to buy your transplants from us prices €1.00 each

Some pictures of the next field to be used for xmas trees it will take about 2 years to get this field suitable for xmas tree use, the size of the field is about 4 acres, At the moment it consists of rushes, brambles, gorse and hawthorn that has self seeded over the years, the gorse will need to be cut back to expose the ditches for drainage, rushes and brambles will be cut down and weedkilled, the trees that have self seeded will be dug up and used too fill in the boundary gaps to keep horses out that roam around the area

You can still pre order your christmas tree transplants from www.xmastreetransplants.com we also have a new facebook page Xmas Trees Ireland

Looking to the left

Looking to the right

Approx centre of field

more land

April 2012 we have recently acquired a further 4 acres of land to increase the amount of cut trees we can grow, this land should give us room for a further 5000 trees approx

Now is the time to be ordering your transplants from our transplant site www.xmastreetransplants.com

April 2012

Weed control between current tree plantings has begun, mowing, hand weeding, where possible we try not to use chemicals

Now is the time to pre book your transpalnts of nordmann or noble fir for colection/delivery in about August www.xmastreetransplants.com