The Rural Voice, 1993-04, Page 64We all drink the water
A symposium on local water
issues in Grey County
Sat., April 3, 1993
9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Recreation Complex,
Markdale, Ont.
$10 registration includes lunch
Grey Association for Better Planning
Box 312, Flesherton, Ont. NOC 1 EO
923-6341 986-2302
TNT EMUS
FLIGHTLESS
BIRO FARMr
14,E
DON G. TRIEBNER
Ratite Association
Member
502 Main Street
Exeter, Ontario
Canada NOM 1S1
(519) 235-2364
Fax: (519) 235-1203
Farm: (519) 237-3641
Mobile: (519) 748-8413
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Norway Spruce 30' - 36' $ 4.95
Austrian Pine 18' - 24' $ 4.25
White Cedar 30' - 36' $ 6.00
Birch 6' $10.00
Crimson King Maple 6' - 7' $21.00
Green Ash 8' $18.00
Red Oak 5 $13.00
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Bluevale, Ont.
519-335-3240
60 THE RURAL VOICE
Water Matters
The benefit of windbreaks
The following article, which has
been written by Jim Penner,
Conservation Services Coordinator
of the Saugeen Valley Conservation
Authority, is the last half in a two-
part series on windbreaks. Last
month's article focussed on how to
establish a windbreak and the
benefits of doing so, such as
filtering pollutants that might
otherwise enter local water
resources.
This article will review
suggested tree species, planting and
maintenance of windbreaks.
Common trees used for windbreaks
include White and Norway Spruce
and White Cedar. The nursery
stock is available as seedlings
normally 12 inches to 18 inches in
height. The stock is best planted in
the spring, although, if you are
purchasing larger private stock, fall
planting can be accomplished.
For spring planting, the available
"window" is usually from mid-
April to mid-May depending on
your location, soil type and, of
course, the weather. If you have
opted to work the strip up
previously, then the planting is
easy. On areas not worked up, the
ground will be much harder,
especially with a heavy root mass
from old grasses. For short
windbreaks with small quantities of
trees, hand planting would suffice.
With larger windbreaks, it is more
practical to rent a tree planter or
hire someone with a planter. Of
course, at this time it is essential to
put in a word for agencies such as
Conservation Authorities or the
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and
Food, who offer programs that
provide financial, planting and
technical assistance in establishing
windbreaks and plantations.
Once the trees are planted, the
work does not stop. The next step
is to keep the competing vegetation
from crowding the trees. There are
a number of ways of doing this. If
you had the area worked up,
continue doing so, being careful not
to disturb the trees. You could also
opt to apply a mulch around the
trees in order to keep vegetation
down around that area. This also
provides the benefit of keeping
moisture in the ground around the
tree. You may also choose to apply
a herbicide around the trees to
chemically control the grasses. A
common ingredient in a herbicide
for this purpose is "Simazine"
which will give adequate control
when applied properly for up to
three years.
In areas where you have just
killed off the existing vegetation
with "Glyphosate", you can also
apply the "Simazine" or you can
choose to apply the "Glyphosate"
again as required. It is essential
when applying "Glyphosate" after
planting that the spray not contact
the foliage of the tree. This is best
accomplished by very careful hand
spraying or by covering the tree
with a pail or cone-shaped cover
while spraying. In contrast, the
Simazine can be applied right over
the trees.
Once your windbreak is up and
growing, the main consideration is
to replace dead trees in the row as
they leave a gap. If you were
ambitious at the time of the original
planting, you would have planted a
few extra trees in a garden or small
nursery. These can then be
transplanted into the windbreak and
should be about the same size.
Other than keeping livestock out
of the windbreak and watching out
for the occasional insect problem,
your windbreak should be
maintenance free. It will take a few
years of growth to show the
benefits but the wait will be well
worthwhile.
For more information on this
topic contact Jim Penner at the
Saugeen Valley Conservation
Authority at 354-1255.0
This is another in a series of
articles highlighting information
on water quality in the rural
environment.