tree planting for whitetails/timber

[Hardwood11]

Hey guys, I asked for advice on QDMA.com and got plenty of good responses. I know there are a lot of tree experts on this site. Can you give me some advice on what trees to plant on bottomland soil (part of a CRP contract). Looking for both whitetail habitat with long term timber production in mind as well. I will be planting mostly hardwoods on this site, with some rows of shrubs as well.

Also, I will be planting 5 acres on a bench of a ridge that sits just a above the bottom. Trees for this site, can be a mix of shrubs, conifers and hardwoods. I live in MN, so I don't know what works best in southern Iowa.

This farm is near Osceola, IA. Thanks.

 

[letemgrow]

You already know my responses.

For the ridge I gotta add American Chestnuts to that mix for timber and a great food source for you and wildlife. Problem is only some seem to be blight resistant, but they are worth a shot. They like mildly acidic, well drained soils and north or east facing coves are the best. Deer browse them as hard as apple trees on my property.

The place to donate for further research for 100% American Chestnuts is:

http://www.accf-online.org/index.html

Here is one of my young american chestnuts last year.

 

[dbltree]

White swamp oak and burr oaks are my favorites for bottom land and those are naturally found in Iowa on that type of habitat.

Most shrubs do well on bottom land but the dogwoods, ninebark and highbush cranberries love moist rich soils.

Check the Tree Planting thread in dbltree's corner for pics and more detailed information...:way:

 

[Hardwood11]

trees

Letemgrow: Your advice is always a big help, yes, I want to try some American Chestnuts---for sure! I'll keep in touch with you via PM as to where to order them.

dbltree: Ditto as well, looking forward to planting swamp white oak in large numbers. Everything I have read on this tree is positive. I have never planted ninebark...half the fun is just watching the results of your labor!

Anyone else have experiences to share, or pictures? Thanks.

 

[letemgrow]

If you donate 20 bucks to the ACCF, they will send you 10 chestnut seeds usually in October. I have good luck planting them out in the fall and guarding them from the critters. Just make sure you have a good site that they like to grow on first