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Cedar caging and tree herbicide program

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dreambig@84

Active Member
I've planted a bunch of norway spruce trees here over the last 5 years in central iowa anything from bareroots to plugs.
Not very impressed with how norways survive around here so I'm switching completely to planting and transplanting cedars on property borders and to add screening for access.
Any idea on why norways do do well around here?
Whats the best conifer tree maintenance program for herbicide application from now through fall?
I'm mowing around trees then spraying simazine in March and mowing throughout summer and spraying roundup around trees. Mulching ect.

Also do cedars need to be caged ? Will deer eat them or mess them up if you want them for a really thick wall?
 
I've transplanted a few thousand cedars for boundary and screening in the last 5 years. Works great. I place a ring of mulch around each tree each year and spray roundup 1x per year. No cages needed.

The 1st year after transplanting is slow growing but then I get about 1.5-2' of growth each year. Grass, especially brome, seems to be the biggest issues that slows the growth.

95+% survival rate on cedar transplants.

Not an expert on why Norway spruce struggle but assume they don't like the summer heat, don't like clay/poor draining soil.
 
Cedars seem to be a weed/invasive species in eastern IA. Deer browse pressure and rubbing is minimal, such that I wouldn't bother caging them. If you mulch/mow/spray, they should take off.

Don't have much experience with Norway's.
 
Im also from central IA , just south of Indianola. I'm supposed to have 5 Norway spruce coming this spring , going to use them as screening along the north edge of a small food plot. Hoping they'd do better than what your experiencing.
I Recieved a packet in the mail from Arbor Day Foundation this last winter and they're "supposed to be coming" if they have enough they say lol but for a $12 donation I figured what the hell I'd give it a try. Curious also on how they'll do. Figured I'd just mow and mulch around them and water if needed when I out watering my apples/pears during the dry spells this summer.
 
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