Selection and arrangement of plants for protecting crops and livestock buildings October 2007

1. Selection and arrangement of plants for protecting crops and livestock buildings October 2007 André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

2. Presentation overview • Shelterbelt characteristics based on protection objectives • Factors affecting porosity • Analysis of various shelterbelt models André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

3. Shelterbelt characteristics based on protection objectives • Crops • Livestock buildings (roads) André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

4. Summer porosity: 40-50% André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

5. Winter porosity: 60-70% André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

6. Distance between shelterbelts = 180-240 metres André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

7. Protection for buildings, roads and animals • Summer porosity: 30-50%. • Winter porosity: 50%. • Leave a distance of 30-60 m between the outer row (most exposed to wind) and the protection target to allow snow accumulation. • Extend the row over 30-60 m to mitigate the incidence of convoluting winds. André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

8. Low porosity André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

9. Medium porosity André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

10. Factors affecting porosity • Foliage and branch density of each species • Crown width • Distance between plants André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

11. Foliage and branch density • Genetics • Shade tolerance André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

12. Norway spruce Eastern white cedar White spruce André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

13. Sugar maple Red ash André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

14. Crown width • Wide crown (15 m and more): maple, oak, linden, walnut, hybrid larch, white ash • Intermediate crown (10-15 m): red ash, paper birch, hop hornbeam, hickory, tamarack, red pine, Scots pine • Narrow crown (5-10 m): hybrid poplar (some clones), spruce, jack pine, Eastern white cedar André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

15. Distance between plants • 1.5 to 3 m (usually 2 m) • Direction of prevailing wind • Number of rows • Strength of wind • Maintenance capability • Growth rate of the trees André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

16. What we’re looking for… • Consistent porosity both vertically and horizontally • Continuous protection over time, despite renewal of plants André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

17. Consistent porosity • Make sure the base of the shelterbelt is covered if pruning is planned. • Select trees that will have connecting crowns. • Select species that are well adapted to the site (make sure you have “winners” dispersed over the length of the hedge). André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

18. Continuous protection over time • Combine species with different growth rates and life spans. • Arrange plants so as to preserve diversity after harvesting. André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

19. Compatibility of plants • Avoid combining species that may be host to pest insects or diseases affecting other species • Look at natural hedges for inspiration. André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

20. Protection will be afforded by the spruces after the removal of the poplars André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

21. Replace dead trees rapidly André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

22. Hedge layouts • Protection of crops • Protection of livestock buildings André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

23. Protecting crops • Single row • Trees • Trees and shrubs • Shrubs (small plots) André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

24. Protecting livestock buildings • Two- or three-row hedge; not as long as hedges designed to protect crops • Easier to renew • Wider variety of species • Provide ultimate distance required between plants. André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

25. Different possible arrangements • Space availability • Availability of tree and shrub species • Personal preferences • Protection requirements André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

26. Prevailing winds Row 1 Row 2 Row 3 30 to 60 m Prevailing winds 30 to 60 m 30 to 60 m Main building requiring protection 30 to 60 m Legend Row 1 :Evergreeens (3m spacing) Row 2: Poplars (2 m spacing) Row 3: Hardwoods (3 m spacing) Spacing = 3-4 m André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

27. Manure storage Hog barn Hog barn Row 3 Row 2 Row 1 Prevailing winds Prevailing winds Row 1: Fast growing trees Row 2: Spruces or cedar Row 3: Decidous and shrubs Réal.: Roch Lavoie André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

28. Types of hedges • 6 models of row combining trees and/or shrubs that can be associated to meet the needs of protection André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

29. Type 1: Hardwoods spaced at 2 m or 3 m • Production of shading. • Production of high quality timber. • Aesthetic value. • Higher protection when trees are in foliage; minimal protection otherwise. André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

30. Red ash – Red oak (17 years; 2.5 metres) Sandy loam, St-Aubert de l’Islet André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

31. Tamarack – Red ash – Yellow birch (16 years, 3 metres) Clay loam, St-Roch-des-Aulnaies André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

32. Tamarack – Red ash – Yellow birch (16 years, 3 metres) Closer view André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

33. Suggestions • Plant trees in pairs to maintain diversity after harvesting. • Alternate wide crowns and intermediate crowns. Spacing = 2 m André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

34. Type 2: Hardwoods and shrubs • Shrubs cover the lower portion of the hedge. • Fruit harvesting may be possible. • Space plants at 1,5 to 2 metres. • Avoid conifers (except pine) with shrubs. • Beware of far-reaching shrubs. André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

35. 2 metres 2 metres 2 metres 2 metres Legend: A: high branching tree, B: bushy shrubs, C: small trees or shrubs André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

36. André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

37. André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

38. Red ash – caragana – caragana (6 years, 1 metre) Sandy loam, St-Aubert André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

39. Red ash – Common lilac (6 years, 1.5 metre) Sandy loam, St-Aubert André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

40. Red ash – American elder (6 years, 1.5 metre) Sandy loam, St-Aubert André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

41. Red ash – Ninebark – Silver buffaloberry – Ninebark (15 years, 1.5 metre) Clay, La Pocatière André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

42. Osier – Red ash (15 years, 1.5metre) Sandy loam, La Pocatière André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

43. Red ash – Arrowwood – Red ash (17 years, 2 metres) Organic soil, Sainte-Clothilde André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

44. Trees and shrubs (17 years, 1 metre) Backfill soil, La Pocatière André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

45. Type 3: Evergreens spaced at 3 metres • Protection is maintained year-round. • Slow juvenile growth. • Space at 1,5 m if the objective is to spade one tree at of two when the trees reach 1,5 m in height. • Irrigation is necessary if large trees are to be planted. • Requires less maintenance than hardwoods. André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

46. Spruces (white, Norway and Colorado) • White spruce offers better wind resistance than Norway spruce. • Colorado spruce is tolerant to de-icing salts. André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

47. André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

48. White spruce Sandy loam, Montérégie André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

49. Norway spruce (25 years old) spaced at 3 metres, (1 out of 2 trees was removed 10 years ago) Clay, L’Acadie André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus

50. Colorado spruce (approx. 20 years, 4 metres) Wingham, Ontario André Vézina, ITA, La Pocatière Campus