Spotting young trees

[dirtyfingernails]

Hey Dustbunny,
Seems that you were visited by either a skunk or a squirrel . They tend to dig around disturbed earth . Try sprinkling cinnamon around your transplants if it starts to become a problem . They hate the smell .
I tend to put the green bamboo garden stakes beside my small trees and shrubs when I plant as a reminder when I mow . They blend in at a distance so they are'nt too noticeable . I'm sure it has saved some of them from an early demise.
Wishing you luck ,
Bill

[Dustbunny]

We have both and more little critters in the night come for visits here..
Thanks, I did not think about a critter pulling one up and out of the ground..


I have tired orange plastic like tape stuff around the trees last year, helped somewhat, until the grass & weeds got taller then the trees.

I forgot to say.. I have 3 lots, one is where I live, the other two are just an open almost marsh ( when the rains come) drought conditions most of the time. on the two lots- it can be a month before I can get in there to mow on the first cutting of the year.. ( weeds need to be cut now, but I will sink in the mud if I tired to mow, ask me how I know, and how many times I have had the rider stuck)
grass and weeds can grow from 1ft to 4 ft before I can mow it down
I do have tomato cages around some of the trees... and at times, even that will not help me, OH yes I have even ran over some of the cages before ( NOT GOOD)

In a few more days, I should be able to walk on the lots again, I have orange flags ready to go...
Now if I can just find all the trees I planted in the fall.. LOL

[dirtyfingernails]

That is funny ,
I could just picture it in my minds eye . I have been guilty of mower murder myself , but I have to admit I have never done in a tomato cage.
My Grand-daughter did take out a 30' bed of mums one year . I thought that I would have a heart attack . Turned out that the mower was just high enough to cut them at about 4" high and they re-grew into a hedge of flowers by the time fall came . After that experience , I mowed them each year in the spring . They grew so well that when they were in flower , you could'nt even see the foliage.
Hope you find most of your trees this year .
Bill

[red_emt]

I thought I was the only nut who loved trees this much. I transplant maples and oaks that spring up everywhere into the empty lot behind out house. Can't stand to kill something that beautiful that fights so hard for life yet can't keep it in my flowerbed. If anyone wants a sprouting acorn sent to them this spring-let me know. We will have hundreds. Our squirrels are very active and my flowerbeds are easy for them to dig into!!!

Ok_nurse,
I'd love a few acorns sent to me. I'm new to this forum and am a tree lover! We used to take acorns from Ohio every year and plant them in the vacant lot next to our house growing up. I'm also new to nursing - starting nursing school in the fall after being an EMT and teaching for 5 years. Wish me luck!

Could I send you a pre-stamped envelope?

[NJCWGRL]

Hi, I also have the baby tree bug. But,I wait for Lowes & walmart to discount them. I purchased a Japenese Cherry tree for 2.00 & it needed a little LTC But,looks great now, My problem is I am in the process of purchasing a home What's the easiest way to move my tree kids? They are still loose in the soil .Any help would be great. They have to be moved soon I hope
Thanks Shannon

[gardeningmom]

I've moved trees, perrenials, bulbs, etc. several times moving to new homes. The best suggestion is to wait as long a possible to dig and then move at the last minute. Are you selling the house where your trees live now? If so see if you can move them to a friend or family's house before you sell - wrap the root ball in burlap and keep well watered. I like to keep them in the shade even if they are sun lovers so they aren't stressed too much (buyers don't really like if you start taking things from the yard (although I have had people mow down all my hard work - thought I would die). I have also had the people who own the house I am buying let me move things to the yard early ( not planting). Hope this helps. good luck

[jessiebella677]

'I don't care if they compete or don't grow like a show specimen. Mother Nature doesn't measure her spacing and neither do I!'

To this statement I coudnt agree more!! I to have allways dreamed of living on heavely wooded land. That dream came true 2 and a half years ago!! I have birch treas that are within a couple feet of eachother. You cant plant to many trees! We need to keep planting them for future generations. I agree with the person who has neighbors that cut there hundred year old trees down and you look at the stump and think what a waste! I used to live on a postage stamp property and I had it covered in plants shrubs trees. My neighbors thought I was nuts and some even complained UNtil I put my house up for sale and they realized that the next people were not going to take careof it. The neighborhood was getting bad at the time. They then appreciated my care for the neighborhood and most of those ney sayers have also sold their house after we left. I guess you dont know what you got til its gone.