Trees and shrubs for wildlife

SDJIM

SDJIM

New member
Ok --question time--now that I have moved back to the land and can be "hands on" 24/7 its now time to IMPROVE the habitat some more.:thumbsup:

I have over the last 6 years planted lots and lots of shrubs and small trees but with limited success, most likely due to the fact that I lived 300 miles away and could not tend to those plantings.

What should I plant and how do you get better results--I can order bare root plants from NRCS at $1.75 each or bundles of 25 for $35 per bundle. Does anyone have experence with things like Golden Currents or other small fruit bearing plantings--thinking of a little jam for the panty--also I will be planting some larger trees to improve the wind break around the new house and want to add some cover type trees or shrubs within that wind break.

So any ideas would be greatly appricated:)

JIM
 
Have you tried and Sambucus (elderberry) plantings? They form nice shrubs and attract lots of pollinators. The fruit is great for jelly and wine and many birds readily take the fruit. I'm not sure which sub species would be native in your area but I bet there is one. They should be fairly easy to get established if you find the one suited to your area.

Maybe try Prunus Americana also? And a Rosa sub species if one is native, pheasants love a craw full of rose hips.
 
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Jim, I have had some good success. I have planted about 40 acres of windbreaks that required zero replants. Here's the best practices:

1. Plant species that are hard to kill in SD (plum, cedar, juniper, Russian olive, freedom honeysuckle, willow (wet areas), silver maple, etc.
2. do all your tillage and ground prep in fall so trees can be no-till in spring when moisture is in the ground. Spring prep tillage dries it out too much
3. Only mow once in early spring. This preserves nest cover between trees as well as creates a snow catch over winter and traps deep snow providing summer long moisture even during droughts.
4. I started using princep in spring before leaves emerge and right after clipping to minimum competition in the wholes of fabric.
5. Use fabric (I live 400 miles away)
6. Use the soil district to plant them. They know what they are doing
7. After planting, drive tractor along side planting to pack to get good soil root contact and also flatten out ground for mowing.
 
Thanks Chris---good input:thumbsup:

QH I'll check into those ideas also--thanks
 
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First check and find out what species can move on you and become a problem on you and your neighbor's property. Avoid those. You didn't mention what species of wildlife you want to benefit, that may influence what you choose. A 30 foot tall tree isn't going to benefit wildlife on the ground. Pheasants and quail need thickets. If that's your goal, pick species that form a thicket. Golden currant is short and thin, but can be a component. Any of the various native plums, fragrant sumac, elderberry, chokecherry are options. Check into sterile cultivars for your taller trees. May be some all male or sterile types out there that will stay put for around the house. A short drive around may tell you what to stay away from. Here it is cedar, osage orange, honeylocust, blacklocust, and Siberian Elm.
 
I would for sure go with UGUIDES recommendations, actually produces wild pheasants, tons of them. :)
 
UGUIDE said:
Jim, I'd be happy to give you a tour of the place anytime and show you what the research project has produced:)
Click to expand...

I gladly accept your offer of a tour--the best way to learn is to see positive results--remember that 6 short yrs ago I had no knowledge of any of this--its been fun so far and now I'm ready to really work at it. :D
 
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