4-H Forestry Project No. 1 - Tree Planting

Tree planting is very important to forestry in Mississippi and the South. Millions of trees are planted in Mississippi each year, and nurseries in the state produce millions of seedlings each year. However, the demand for seedlings is sometimes still more than the supply.

Tree Planting Week is observed every year along with Arbor Day, which is the second Friday in February. Arbor Day is a day set aside for observing the importance of trees by planting memorial trees around schools and homes, along streets and highways, and on farms. You may be able to get some free seedlings during this week. Check with local officials about a Tree Planting Week celebration. If there is an observance in your county, get involved. If there is no observance planned, try to get one started.

It is important to have a purpose in mind before you plant your trees. You may want to plant trees to serve as windbreaks, for erosion control, for timber or wood products production, as shelterbelts, or for wildlife habitat improvement. These are just some of the many reasons or purposes for planting trees. Your reason for planting will affect the kind of trees you plant, where you plant them, and how you plant them.

Seedlings are taken from the nurseries and planted during the winter months while they are dormant. During the winter, the seedlings are not actively growing and can better withstand the "shock" of being transplanted from the ideal soil at the nursery to a less favorable site that you choose.

Project References

1. Mississippi State University Extension Service Publication No. 160 -- Tree Planting Can Be Easy
2. Mississippi State University Extension Service Publication No. 146 -- Know Your Trees
3. Mississippi State University Extension Service Forestry Department, Management Technical Note 4E Seedlings Available from State Nurseries

Project Materials

1. At least 50 (preferably 100) tree seedlings (pine or hardwood). Pine seedlings will probably be easier to get.
2. A planting bar (also called "dibble" bar) to use in planting your seedlings.
3. A 2-gallon bucket or canvas bag to hold your seedlings and prevent the roots from drying out.

Sources of Help and Information

1. County Agent or 4-H Youth Agent, Mississippi State University Extension Service
2. Area Forester, Mississippi Forestry Commission
3. District Conservationist, Soil Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture
4. Project Forester or District Ranger, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture
5. Industry foresters with any one of several forest industry companies
6. Consulting foresters, self-employed

Planting Techniques

With Mattock or Grub Hoe

Keep roots covered with mud or moss when handling in the field.

With Planting Bar or Dibble

Instructions

1. Contact a local forester for help in obtaining tree seedlings and a planting bar. Seedlings should be available in January, February, or March.
2. Just to make sure that you will have seedlings during planting season, you may get several other 4-H'ers together and get a local sponsor to help you purchase a bundle of 1,000 seedlings from the Mississippi Forestry Commission. Contact your local county forester with the Mississippi Forestry Commission in June or July and find out more about this.
3. In some counties in Mississippi, the U. S. Forest Service will have free seedlings. If the Forest Service has an office in your area, contact them to find out when they will have seedlings available.
4. Locate a suitable planting site. The site may be on your family's land. If you have trouble locating a planting site, get help from a local forester or Extension agent to help you find a site that is in need of planting. Be sure you have permission from the landowner if the land does not belong to your family.
5. Plant your trees as soon after you receive them as possible.
6. If you borrowed a planting bar, clean it and return it to the owner immediately after you finish planting.
7. If possible, get a forester to check your tree planting project. Ask the forester to sign your record sheet when your project has been satisfactorily completed.
8. Have your adult 4-H leader check your project and sign your record sheet. Clip the record sheet and submit it to your 4-H leader. Save all of the introductory material as a future reference as you continue in other 4-H forestry projects.

Grade in school __________ No. years in 4-H __________ Date of birth __________

Your parent's name _____________________________________________________

Your address ________________________________ County ________________________________

Name of club ______________________________ Adult leader's name ________________________________

1. What species of tree did you plant?

Examples: loblolly pine, slash pine, cottonwood, yellow poplar, bald-cypress, etc.

_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________

Example: abandoned farmland, abandoned pasture, cutover timberland, eroded gullies, road or stream banks, old log landing, etc.

_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________
______________ (No. miles) ______________ (Direction) of
____________________________________ (Town or City), MS
in _______________________________________ (County)

Example: On Mr. John Smith's farm near the Pineville Community, 4 miles west of Smithville, Mississippi in Smith County

5. How many seedlings did you plant? _____________________________________________________

6. What tool did you use to plant your trees? _____________________________________________________

7. Where did you get the tool you used to plant the trees? _____________________________________________________

8. When did you plant the trees? day(s) __________ month __________ year __________

9. What spacing did you use between trees and between rows? __________ ft. X __________ ft.

10. What purposes do you expect these trees to serve as they grow and develop?

_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________

1. ________________________ 5. ________________________
2. ________________________ 6. ________________________
3. ________________________ 7. ________________________
4. ________________________ 8. ________________________

_____________ planting trees
_____________ helped local officials distribute seedlings to the public
_____________ made and displayed poster promoting Tree Planting Week
_____________ gave visual presentation about trees or Tree Planting Week
_____________ other activities. Explain ____________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________

____________________________________
Signature

____________________________________
Title and/or Organization

As an adult 4-H leader, I have checked this tree planting project and found it to be satisfactorily completed.

____________________________________
Signature

By Thomas A. Monaghan, Leader, Extension Forestry

Mississippi State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or veteran status.

Publication 1203
Extension Service of Mississippi State University, cooperating with U.S. Department of Agriculture. Published in furtherance of Acts of Congress, May 8 and June 30, 1914. Ronald A. Brown, Director