At Your Service Michigan's Conservation Districts:
the gateway to natural resource management
CD Seedling Trends and Survival Tips
By Jeff Tuller & Rick Lucas Conservation District Foresters

Over the years landowners have gone to their local Conservation Districts to obtain quality tree and shrub seedlings for their conservation needs. Thousands of trees are planted on Non-Industrial Private Lands in Michigan through the assistance of local Conservation Districts. Landowners look to CD's to guide them in choosing the right tree and shrub species for the right site and to meet their management goals. Therefore it is the responsibility of the Conservation District to provide landowners with good tree and shrub choices for their area. Over the years there has been a trend change in the types of tree and shrub species offered to landowners. Today we see more varieties of trees and shrubs and a move to more native species. Hardwood trees are planted more today than they were 20 years ago. Although they are harder to establish than conifers, hardwoods can be more valuable for both timber and wildlife habitat. As a result Conservation Districts are increasing their sales on hardwoods tree seedlings.

One of the biggest challenges planting hardwood trees is dealing with wildlife damage, particularly deer browse. MFA member and forest landowner, Fred Prince, has particularly focused his interest on refining ways to reforest with hardwood trees in Michigan deer country. Fred is interested in developing fast growing hardwoods that can outgrow deer browse. He has looked at everything from choosing fast growing seedling stock to setting out large potted seedlings. His results are mixed and too early to determine success. Once Fred figures out a promising method of reforestation, he wants to use Conservation Districts to distribute his seedlings.

Last year Fred did a small study to determine just what Conservation Districts were providing in hardwood trees around the state. His results are interesting but not totally surprising. The following is a list of some common hardwood trees offered during spring 2003 to landowners around Michigan through Conservation Districts, in order of most popular species. Districts offer several other species but were not of concern to Fred at the time of his evaluation.

The trees at the top of the list are also those that hold the highest value as timber as well as provide other values such as wildlife, syrup, and aesthetics. These 4 species are both native and grow well in Michigan, although Black Walnut prefers southern Michigan's climate. Michigan citizens connect with these hardwood species probably because they are so much an important part of our forests. Now if we could only figure out how to be more successful in establishing them as we have for establishing conifer trees.

What follows are some ways to improve your seedling survival rates........

At pick-up time:

• If using an open vehicle, consider providing shelter by covering with a reflective tarp, keeping the white side up. If placing in trunk, minimize travel time. Trunks heat up very quickly and don't provide adequate air circulation.
• Do not transport fuel or chemicals with the seedlings.
• Park in the shade when possible if seedlings aren't going from pick-up to planting site or storage site.

At property or storage site:

• Temporary storage sites should provide shade all day long, cool temperatures, adequate moisture (not stagnant), protection from drying winds, and good ventilation.
• Avoid direct sunlight, standing water, and low-lying frost pockets.
• Plan ahead to choose the best storage spot.
• Unload new seedlings immediately from the trunk.
• Water as needed.
• Handle gently - no tossing, dropping, or forcing into small spaces.
• Avoid stacking bundles more than two bundles high for extended periods of time. - Leave space around each bundle for ventilation when storing or thawing. - Minimize length of storage time. Loading pails or bags and carrying seedlings at planting site.
• Do not open storage bundles or bags until ready to plant.
• Reseal partially used storage bundles or bags as quickly as possible.
• Keep roots moist with saturated moss, shredded paper or root jell at all times.
• Cut the bundlings' elastics; don't rip them off. Separate the bundles carefully, without stripping roots.
• Tightly close the storage bundles or bags each time you remove trees.
• Load planting pails in the shade and out of the wind.
• Place seedlings quickly into the planting pail.
• Place seedlings in an upright position and pack loosely so that removal will not damage the tender roots.
• Before stopping for a break, empty the planting pail. If you must stop with trees left in the container, place it in the shade.

Planting:

• Choose the best site, do not plant seedlings where there are water-holes, stumps or rocks and do not plant more than one tree per hole.
• Make sure the hole is deep enough for the root system. Pruning the root system with a sharp knife may be necessary to aid in proper planting. Root length should equal seedling length above ground.
• Carefully remove only one tree at a time and plant immediately.
• Lay the roots straight down in the hole in a natural arrangement-do not bunch, double-over, twist or bend them.
• Plant seedlings slightly above the root collar swelling.
• Tamp soil with the toe (not the heel) to remove air pockets.
• Take pride in a job well done!

THE AMERICAN SYCAMORE

Native to the United States, Mexico and Central America, the American Sycamore tree (Planatus occidentalis) ranges from southern Maine, west to Kansas and Texas, south to northern Florida and northwest to Michigan.

American sycamores belong to the genus, Planatus and is one of seven species of this tree family, and one of three which grow in the United States.

American Sycamore trees have the largest leaves of all American trees; some leaves measure over a foot in width. They are also one of the largest of the eastern hardwoods; with massive, straight trunks, and a huge, spreading canopy draped form crooked branches, their broad open crowns can cover 100 feet or more.

The American Sycamore grows an average of 60 to 120 feet in height, though some trees of over 160 feet in height have been recorded.

Sycamores are the senior citizens among trees - some have lived to 500 years in age; they reaching middle age at 200 to 300 years and often become hollow. But even if hollow, they are not dead and continue to live on for many more years.

Fossils of sycamores, 9 to 10 million years old have been found at that date to the Late Clarendonia Age!

Young sycamore trees have mottled brown bark. Bark will peel to expose a white under bark. Older trees will have dark brown trunks, developing deeply furrowed ridges. Young sycamores peel because the bark of the tree is unable to stretch as the tree grows and cracks, leaving white patches.

Sycamore wood is hard with a flaky appearance. Used in cabinets, furniture, boxes and barrels, and has a commercial value. Native Americans often used entire sycamore trunks to make dugout canoes, some being found up to 65 feet long.

The fruit of the sycamore is a woody ball, ripening in the fall. Sycamores have both male and female flowers, so every tree has fruits on it. In winter the ball breaks up into hundreds of small seeds; tufts of brown seed hairs help scatter the seeds in the wind.

Sycamores are common in the southern third of Lower Michigan - more rare in northern Michigan. They are one of our more interesting hardwoods and have inspired more than a few song lyrics over the years.

FOREST LAND ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM
By Bill Cook, MSU Extension Service Forester

The Forest Land Enhancement Program (FLEP) is a brand-new federal cost- share opportunity for family forest owners, authorized under the 2002 Farm Bill. It replaces the Forestry Incentives Program (FIP) and the Stewardship Incentives Program (SIP). I suppose you could say that FLEP has done a flip-flop with FIP and SIP. Now, there is a mouthful of acronyms!

The bottom-line means that there are fresh forest management incentive dollars available for forest owners in Michigan, and it has been awhile. The Forest Stewardship Advisory Committee has developed a set of criteria and a point system to evaluate applications. Highest priorities for 2004-2005 are: management plan development (FLEP 1), forest stand improvement practices (FLEP 3), and forest health and protection (FLEP 7). Other potential funding categories include: water quality improvement, watershed protection, wildfire and catastrophic event rehabilitation, afforestation and reforestation, and fish and wildlife habitat improvement. Cost-sharing for invasive species control cannot be offered until the 2005-2006 cycle. The worksheet used to score applications reflects both state and federal priorities.

How do you apply. In the Upper Peninsula, an application can be obtained from Michigan DNR offices in Baraga (906-353-6651), Escanaba (906-786-2351 x20), Marquette (906-228-6561, and Newberry (906-293-5131). You can also call Deb Huff in Lansing at 517-335-3355. Remember to also ask for the "fact sheet" which will help outline the program. FLEP is a reasonably comprehensive program. The first 2004 application deadline is 1 March, but applications are taken at any time and quarterly deadlines are planned. Lastly, you will need to have a DNR-approved forest management plan to be eligible.

If your application scores well, a one-year contract will be offered and 65 percent of the implementation costs will be paid for by the program, within limits set forth in the State Handbook. Contract holders will need to keep receipts and records. In some cases, your own labor can be billed for, at $15 per hour. Practices already done or underway will not be considered, and they must be part of the forest management plan.

What are some examples of the high priority practices?

FLEP 1 is forest management plan development. A plan must include a natural resource assessment, state goals and objectives, provide a long-term outlook, contain maps, and make management recommendations. A plan from the Forest Stewardship Program will qualify. Many other plans will qualify, too, but must be approved by the DNR.

FLEP 3 is forest stand improvement, which includes practices that enhance the growth and value of timber and non-timber forest products. Sample practices would be the release of crop trees, timber stand improvement thinning, pruning, etc. Practices in Christmas tree plantations and tree nurseries are not eligible.

FLEP 7 involves forest health practices, especially certain oak wilt controls and the eradication of problem Scotch pine. The Forest Land Enhancement Program has a number of other aspects applicants will want to be aware of. If you are interested, the best bet is to obtain an application and fact sheet, look them over, then have a conversation with one of the DNR Service Foresters.