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What trees should I get?

sep0667

Land of the Whitetail
I'm doing a cost-share program this winter/spring to do removal of multi flora and honeysuckle and then this spring will plant trees (bareroot seedlings) on about 4.5 acres along a creek bottom.

The area is really thick in some spots with mfr and sporadic honeysuckle. There were a lot of ash trees, but the emrald ash borrer killed them and they've been dead a few years. For trees in there right now growing are osage orange, mulberry, cedar, elm, walnut, and a few random shingle oaks, and cottonwood. These living trees are sapling to big/waist size. Its pretty good cover right now. Part of the plan says I have to kill the osage orange and white mulberry with double girdle and herbicide the lower girdle. I'm a little said to kill the osage as I really like them gnarly things and the hedge balls.

Obviously deer & turkey food/habitat is my goal. What trees should I get?

The plan calls for 221 trees to be planted and I will be getting some shrubs as well. For trees I need to plant at least four different species and not all from the same family, such as oak, from this list below (picture of the list from the plan).

I think I'll get some pin oaks, they seem to grow fairly fast and are thick with lots of branches. Last spring I planted 75 swamp white oak on my own in an area I've already killed the invasives and my farm already some sporadic shingle oaks. Maples grow pretty quick too, but no food from them. I think river birch are sort of ugly. Sycamores are sort of cool.

Anyways, my options for this program are only what is in the photo below. If you were me what would you get? Any of those below you would not get? I need atleast four different species.

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I'm fighting cherry big time! Almost invasive with the birds pooping them everywhere. So I wouldn't touch that.

I thought cottonwood was almost in the weed category in Iowa. Do they have a sterile one they offer? Turkey roost trees eventually?

Mulberry I kind of like.

Sycamores can grow into very large stately trees with white bark, cool from that perspective but not much for a food source from what I know. Might turn into turkey roost trees.

Buckeye might be nice.

Not a fan of hickories.

River birch I'm not too familiar with but maybe that's good. I haven't heard bad or good things about them.
 
Red Osier and Silky dogwood, Norway spruce, American Plum are some of my favorites. I'd protect them with tubes (minus the spruce). Dwarf Chinkapin are spendy but seem like they will be awesome as well.

Also, I'm experimenting with Arrowwood and Ninebark from the IA DNR seedling supply. So far, so good.
 
Red Osier and Silky dogwood, Norway spruce, American Plum are some of my favorites. I'd protect them with tubes (minus the spruce). Dwarf Chinkapin are spendy but seem like they will be awesome as well.

Also, I'm experimenting with Arrowwood and Ninebark from the IA DNR seedling supply. So far, so good.
For this planting I can only use what is listed in the photo above, you have any experience with any of those?
 
For this planting I can only use what is listed in the photo above, you have any experience with any of those?
I have had good luck with 12 swamp white oaks I planted in a wetter area. I've planted lots of silver maple as I love how fast they grow and they are a beuatiful tree if you ask me....you might even be able to hunt out of one in the future they grow so fast.

I would do some pin oaks I think as well.
 
I like all of em u guys said and totally agree on diversity.
I’d add some pin oak as don’t think that mentioned. Burr oak does pretty well if not super wet.
If u wanted to do a handful of “out of the box stuff” …. Pawpaw do well in bottom & shade. Persimmon pry do well.
If u added up all listed by folks above - that’s a ton of diversity!!!
**DOR did mention the pin oaks. Geesh- I’m simply not needed anymore! ;)
 
Part of the plan says I have to kill the osage orange and white mulberry with double girdle and herbicide the lower girdle. I'm a little said to kill the osage as I really like them gnarly things and the hedge balls.
Was reading that the new growth from Osage Orange is like crack to deer. Might want to cut them flush with the ground and let the deer browse them. Pass on the herbicide for now? Maybe do it to a few?

I skipped on suggesting oaks since you said you had a limit on species, looking for diversity. I like Swamp White. I've also got a couple of red oaks I planted from acorns on a creek bottom and boy do they like the rich soil!!!
 
If you plant a few Red Oaks they will never know the difference in 10 years … I’m not trying to get you in trouble . I’ve added a few hybrids to my CRP plans, they look like oaks in 5-10 years . They will probably visit the site one more time my guess ?m

Otherwise just ask him if you can add ……. tree and I’m sure they will, as long as it’s not invasive !
 
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