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Regenerating Red Alder

This article provides information on the regenerating red alder, including site selection, site preparation, seedling quality, and planting techniques. It includes research trials, operational experience, and valuable resources for successful red alder regeneration.

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Regenerating Red Alder

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  1. Regenerating Red Alder Jeff DeBell June 14, 2006

  2. Main Sources of Red Alder Experience in Pacific Northwest • Research trials by USFS Olympia lab • Research trials by Hardwood Silviculture Cooperative at Oregon State University • Operational experience of Weyerhaeuser Company

  3. Site Selection Focus on “mild” sites • Elevation: less than 1000’ • Moderate moisture conditions • avoid poorly-drained or excessively-drained sites • choose medium textured soils – silts/loams; avoid sandy or heavy clay soils

  4. Site Selection • Moderate Weather Conditions • Avoid upper slope or ridge top sites • Avoid frost pockets • Avoid hot/dry sites, such as S to SW exposures • Avoid sites with difficult to control brush species (e.g. salal)

  5. Site Selection Good alder sites will be some of your best Douglas-fir sites GIS tools can be used to help screen for good candidate sites

  6. Site Preparation • Two goals of site preparation • Ensure availability of evenly spaced planting spots (mechanical) • Control competing vegetation before alder is established (chemical)

  7. Site Preparation • Chemical site preparation options include: • Atrazine • Accord • Escort

  8. Seed Source • Seed zone booklet and maps on DNR website under “Publications” • www.dnr.wa.gov

  9. Seedling Quality • Height: range of 18-36 inches, with an average of 26-28 inches • Caliper: 5mm minimum with average of 6-9 mm • Fibrous, branched root system with many Frankia nodules; good root:shoot ratio • Healthy buds/branches along the whole stem • Free from disease and damage

  10. Seedling Quality

  11. Planting • Planting window: mid-March to mid-April • Avoids hard freezes yet leaves time for root development before dry weather • Ideally, seedlings should be lifted in January and freezer-stored until spring planting time

  12. Planting • Planting crews need to take special care to avoid breaking brittle stems • Minimize scalping and make sure planting spot is clear of slash for 6 inches in all directions; this helps avoid sun-scald and mechanical abrasion from slash • Avoid duff; get roots in mineral soil

  13. Planting • Plant deep; root collar 1-2 inches below surface • Plantation spacing should normally be about 8-10 feet; this strikes a balance between maintaining good stem form and good diameter growth as the trees get larger • It is very important to maintain uniformity in spacing in order to get good stem form; latex paint on stems may help planters and checkers to see trees

  14. Post-planting weed control • Very few options: • Broadcast application of Atrazine over dormant red alder in late winter • Directed spray application of Accord in early spring when red alder is dormant but weeds are active

  15. Webster Alder Seedlings Plug-1/2 Seedlings • Sow early April using 1 in3 plugs • Transplant early July • Good spacing control, and creates superior root systems • Higher cost compared with 1+0 seedlings

  16. Webster Alder Seedlings 1+0 Seedlings • Direct sow into nursery beds in early May • Cool springs can hamper good germination • Even spacing harder to achieve compared with transplants • Lower cost to produce compared with transplants

  17. Height Control(better packout, lower cost) • Top mowing • Control tallest seedlings • Gives little guys a chance • Can create forking, timing is critical

  18. Pelletized Seed • Makes small seed easier for equipment to handle • Allows single sowing in greenhouse • Helps achieve more even spacing in bareroot beds

  19. Sowing Pelletized Seed

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