6 Steps to Growing trees
A step-by-step guide to successful farm forestry on your property
Six steps to growing trees
The right trees in the right place are an investment in your property, business and future income.
These 6 step fact sheets will help you determine why you should plant trees on your property and exactly how to incorporate commercial tree species into your whole farm plan.
Arrange an appointment with Private Forests Tasmania's Private Foresters to talk about what you want to achieve from growing trees on your property. Phone 1300 661 009 or email admin@pft.tas.gov.au
Step 1 - Why plant trees on your farm?
Planting trees in the right place on farms with the intention of harvesting and replanting is a win for the environment, society and landowners.
Trees can deliver increased primary production while growing high value timber products, delivering biofuel, providing stock and crop shade and shelter, improving water quality and efficiency, and improving the carbon balance.
Step 2 - Start your plan
Start planning by taking a holistic look at your entire farm plan, assessing the size of your plantation and identifying the best location for trees to be planted. Think about the purpose of the trees, will they be planted to provide shelter for crops and livestock, are they for future pulp and sawlogs, are they being planted on a slope?
Step 3 - Develop an establishment plan
Develop your establishment plan, check your sites suitability, match tree species to your site and prepare. Establishment can take 12 to 18 months, planning is key to success.
Step 4 - Weeds, managing the competition
Weed control is essential to protect your investment and future profits from tree plantings. Developing a good weed management strategy will allow seedlings to grow to the best of their ability and assist with competition for water, nutrients and light.
Step 5 - Manage your plantation
Proper control of pests and disease, pruning at the right time and thinning to alleviate competition will ensure your plantation thrives.
It is important to conduct regular checks for both native and introduced pests and disease and browsing damage.
Pruning will improve growth and tree form increasing the value of your timber, whilst thinning will alleviate competition.
Step 6 - Your private forests - how to use it.
Understand how your trees can be used and marketed. Whether you are growing your timber for a large commercial venture, special species woodlot or a shelterbelt, there are many ways to utilise your private forests.
The most common method for selling your timber is to negotiate the stumpage with potential buyers either directly through a wood broker or forest management company.