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Regenerating Red Alder

Learn about site selection, preparation, seedling quality, planting techniques, and post-planting care for red alder regeneration with tips from experts.

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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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