Tree and Shrub Planting

Tree and shrub planting in revegetate, but planting the area can riparian areas reestablishes native accelerate recovery. By planting riparian forests by hand planting or trees and shrubs, the landowner machine planting nursery-grown can regain lost benefits and control seedlings (Figure 1.) The practice the species and location of the applies to all riparian areas on individual plants. This may result intermittent and perennial stream in a high economic return in the channels where natural forest future. The economic returns may vegetation is lacking. This usually be direct, by producing harvestable consists of planting a mix of species timber, or indirect, by reducing soil to obtain a variety of benefits, erosion, improving water quality, or including bank stabilization, increasing wildlife habitat. improved water quality, wildlife The cost of this practice includes habitat, and timber production. Tree seedlings and planting materials, and shrub planting also can be used use of equipment, and labor. The to supplement natural revegetation, cost is normally quite low per acre. to obtain a better mix of species, The largest cost of planting trees or to concentrate plants in a critical and shrubs is in removing the area area. This practice is often one Figure 1. Machine planting nursery grown from the crop production base or component of an overall riparian seedlings. the loss of grazing area. This cost management plan to control bank is offset by the benefits that the erosion or address other concerns. fishery habitat and support high- planting will return. These may not value timber species. all be immediate cash-flow benefits, Kansas has been losing these but they still provide valuable Benefits and Value valuable riparian forests at an Riparian forests are critical to returns to the landowner. alarming rate. This loss has come the protection and enhancement about as a result of land clearing of the water resources of Kansas. and overgrazing that has left many Implementation Forests located directly adjacent to areas vulnerable to flooding. These of Practice streams, rivers, and other bodies productive and useful forests are Before trees and shrubs are of water improve water quality by not being replaced, and many acres planted, several important factors filtering sediment and pollutants of valuable bottomland soil have must be considered. The size of from overland flow. They also hold been lost as a result. the planting will depend on the erosive soils in place and decrease However, riparian vegetation can objectives of the landowner. The streambank erosion by slowing recover quickly from disturbance. minimum recommended width of a damaging flood waters. Riparian In many cases “backing off” from planting that is intended to protect forests are diverse ecosystems the bank of the stream will be water quality is 66 feet on each side that provide valuable wildlife and enough to let the area naturally

Kansas Forest Service Table 1. Flood tolerance listing of Kansas tree species. be used as an example, assuming a deep, well-drained soil with Flood-Tolerant Species (can withstand flooding for most of one growing infrequent flooding. The objectives season) of this planting are decreased soil Black willow Peach-leaved willow Silver maple erosion, improved wildlife habitat, Green ash Sandbar willow Sycamore and long-term timber production. Remember, individual plans should Intermediate Flood-Tolerant Species (can withstand flooding for 1 to 3 be tailored to the site conditions and months during growing season) the objectives of the planting. American elm Hackberry Pin Oak Before installing a riparian Basswood (linden) Honeylocust River birch planting, prepare the site. This Bitternut hickory Mulberry Shumard’s oak would include removing existing Bur oak Osage-orange Sugar maple weeds and grasses that compete Catalpa Pecan Sweetgum with seedlings. Thoroughly till (to bare mineral soil) 6- to 10-foot wide Eastern Cottonwood Persimmon strips where the tree rows will be Flood-Intolerant Species (cannot withstand flooding for a period of a located, or kill all vegetation in a month or more during the growing season) 6-foot wide strip using an approved Black cherry Eastern red cedar Shagbark hickory herbicide. Existing vegetation or Black oak Mockernut hickory Shingle oak crop residue between the strips can be left to reduce soil erosion. An Black walnut Northern red oak Slippery elm alternative technique to strip site Blackjack oak Post oak White oak preparation is to spot-treat four-foot Chinkapin oak diameter planting circles with a post emergent herbicide. Site prepa- of the stream. This can be reduced The final planting plan will ration is best done the year prior to or expanded based on other benefits usually contain a variety of species planting. that are desired from the planting. planted in rows or blocks. The Seedlings can be planted by Other important considerations are species will change as you move hand or by using a mechanical tree soil type and available moisture in from the wetter soils near the planter. It is important to follow the area to be planted. channel up the slope to the drier proper handling and planting Many tree species are site- soils. Figure 2 shows a typical directions. Your District Forester specific, so it is important to choose planting plan. This diagram is to or District Conservationist can help species that are suited to the area. you locate a tree planting contractor Many riparian areas contain deep, highly productive soils. In these cases, the list of suitable species will be expanded, but it is important to consider available moisture and flooding patterns. Trees and shrubs vary in their ability to survive flooding (Table 1). It is important to remember that the ability of a tree to survive flooding also will depend on soil type, soil structure, time of flooding, and the condition of the trees before flooding. Final species and planting design decisions should be based on the objectives of the landowner and the recommendations of a natural resource professional. Figure 2. Example of a riparian tree and shrub planting. or can arrange to loan you a tree the weed barrier fabric for good References planting machine or planting bars. contact with the soil surface, or it Kansas Field Office Technical After the seedlings are planted, may require future herbicide appli- Guide, Section IV. Kansas apply a weed barrier fabric or cation or mowing and disking. standards and specifications pre-emergent herbicide according For additional information on for tree planting. USDA., to the recommendation of a natural riparian tree and shrub planting, Natural Resources Conservation resource specialist. Only use weed cost-share opportunities, or technical Service. barrier fabric in areas where flood assistance, contact the Kansas Forest Kansas Field Office Technical waters will not tear the barrier and Service, your local Conservation Guide, Section IV. Forestland carry the material downstream or District office, K-State Research and Interpretations. USDA., Natural result in silt over the top of them. Extension office, Natural Resources Resources Conservation Control weeds for at least 3 years Conservation Service office, or the Service. after the seedlings are planted. Weed Kansas Department of Wildlife and Tree planting Guide, Kansas Forest control can simply involve checking Parks. Service. June 2004. L-596 Deborah Goard Kansas Forest Service The Kansas Department of Health and 2610 Claflin Road Environment has provided financial Manhattan, KS 66502-2798 assistance to this project through EPA (785) 532-3300 Section 319 Nonpoint Source Pollution www.kansasforests.org Control Grant #C9007405 11.

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Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service MF-2748 August 2006 K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension Work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, as amended. Kansas State University, County Extension Councils, Extension Districts, and United States Department of Agriculture Cooperating, Fred A. Cholick, Director.