Growing Trees in Upper South East

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Steps in Growing Trees

Growing trees successfully in plantations involves several steps:

  • planning
  • establishment
  • management 
  • harvesting and marketing of the timber  

Planning

Planning should begin at least 12 months before planting. This includes:

  • seeking approval from local council (commercial forestry is a change of land use);
  • determining firebreaks and setbacks from powerlines and fences;
  • ensuring accessibility for machinery, fire suppression and log trucks;
  • and determining roading requirements.

Establishment

Site and species selection

Species selection for the proposed site is important to ensure the best survival and growth rate for the trees. See Table 1 on the previous page.

Productivity will vary with soil type, soil depth, rainfall and the management practices used (pruning and thinning regimes). Species selection should also reflect the objectives of the grower.

Weed Control

The most important factor in successful plantation establishment is good weed control. Weed control maximises the soil moisture available for the trees. Weeds that need particular attention include sorrel, bracken, phalaris, veldt grass and flatweed. For more information refer to the Farm Forestry Spraying Guidelines Fact Sheet.

Cultivation

Recommendations for cultivation vary depending on the site and the species grown. Ripping is required if a rocky or hardpan layer occurs within a metre of the surface. Mounding is recommended for wet sites.

Planting

Planting takes place in winter (June or July). Eucalypt seedlings are planted using a Pottiputki planting tool (can plant about 3000 trees per day). Pine seedlings can be planted with a tractor-mounted planting machine or by hand. Stocking rates of between 1000 - 1600 trees/ha are recommended, depending on the species and the growers objectives.

Management

Management includes:

  • survival counts and refilling to maintain initital stocking
  • second-year weed control
  • fertiliser application if the site has a poor history and the trees show signs of deficiencies 
  • regular monitoring for insect and browsing damage;
  • annual maintenance of firebreaks;
  • pruning of trees grown for sawlog and other specialty products;

  • a thinning program to maintain growth of final crop trees.

Harvesting and Marketing of Timber

The age that the trees are harvested will depend on the species grown and the intended product. For example, pines in the Upper South East can be grown for pulp, posts and sawlog, with several thinnings followed by clearfelling at age 35-50. The first thinning will usually occur at 12-15 years followed by further thinnings at 8-10 year intervals.

As the time for harvesting approaches it will usually be necessary to construct access roads to allow harvesting equipment and log trucks to access the plantation. Marketing of the timber is the responsibility of the grower. 

For further information contact PIRSA Forestry.

Disclaimer: While this publication may be of assistance to you, the Government of South Australia and its officers do not guarantee that it is without flaws of any kind or is wholly appropriate for your particular purpose.  The Government therefore disclaims all liability for any error, loss or other consequence that may arise from you relying on any information in this publication.

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