Sustaining plantations to reap rewards
The payment of the second instalment of the Afforestation Scheme (maintenance grant) and forestry premium is subject to the forest successfully achieving certain standards. If a plantation is not well maintained, future timber revenue is likely to be compromised.
Teagasc has published a new leaflet guide for forest owners to take an active role in the management of their forests, in order to maximise future timber revenue.
It includes a forest owner check list of seasonal work.
The main spring time tasks are vegetation control, applying fertiliser if necessary, and checking for browsing damage.
Summer time tasks are checking for frost damage, taking broadleaf foliage samples, and carrying out broadleaf shaping.
Autumn time tasks are checking stocking density and replanting requirements, checking the drainage system, checking fire breaks and fence lines (to prevent browsing animals such as sheep, cattle, deer, goats, hares or rabbits from entering the forest).
Winter time tasks are replacing any dead trees, taking conifer foliar samples, carrying out oak shaping, and reviewing insurance requirements (damage caused by fire is now excluded).
Lack of weed control in the early years is the most common cause of poor performance and plantation failure.
There are manual and chemical control options.
Recommended timing of herbicide application varies throughout the year — depending on the vegetation targeted.
Severe winter cold rarely damages trees in Irish forests. However, late spring and early summer frost can be detrimental when the buds start to burst. Frost damaged buds will appear brown in colour and can die off. The best prevention is to plant frost resistant tree species.
It is important to replace any failed plants as early as possible, to ensure the forest develops evenly and to avoid unnecessary maintenance later on.
To receive the Forest Service second instalment grant, at least 90% of the trees should be in free growth. If the stocking density is too low, the Forest Service may delay or refuse the second instalment grant, and premium payments could also be affected.
The number of trees per hectare can be assessed, using circular plots. Count the number of trees within an eight metre radius circle — depending on species, between 50 and 66 trees are required.
Common symptoms of nutrient problems are changes in tree colour, reduction in shoot growth, reduction in needle length/leaf size, die-back of top or side shoots, or general reduction in vigour.
Always identify the cause of a growth problem before trying to rectify it! Be aware of forestry and water quality guidelines regarding fertiliser application and storage. Shaping is the process of removing forks and very large competing side branches in order to produce long straight lengths of timber for a high value market. Shaping is a requirement for the payment of the second instalment grant at year four for broadleaf plantations.
The management of young forests leaflet can be downloaded on www.teagasc.ie
