planting trees

I am hoping to build a house next year, and we have been told that we will need to plant 12ft trees around the site in this years planting season.

When is planting season? The kinds of trees we have to plant are oak, beech, ash, torn, hazel, and sycamore.

And they are going to cost a fair penny to buy, depending on which part of the country you live in.

Planting season for trees would normally be November, during the dormant season AFAIA.

Secman

Thanks secman.

How much would they cost on average? I live in county Monaghan.

You may get some further advice on [broken link removed]

the best time to plant trees is from november to march - basically their dormant season - when you can plant them as bare root trees. These are cheaper to buy, easier to transport and handle. You can buy your trees from a specialist tree nursery. I used Niesen's in Cloughduv, Co. Cork and found them v. good (no connection to them).

Remember to dig a big enough hole (use a mini-digger if you've lots to do), planting no deeper than the previous soil mark on the trunk, stake them well with proper tree ties, put in a 2" plus piece of pipe at an angle towards the roots (for watering in the first and possibly second year growing). I also like to use a good bit of bone meal in the bottom of the hole.

Water them well and regularly in the first spring and summer to get them going and you'll be rewarded handsomely.

Bragan...check out the coillte website. They sell trees direct (2 year seedlings) at what look like fairly competitive prices. For example, I priced 25 Silver Birch & they came in at around €80.

apple1 said:

Bragan...check out the coillte website. They sell trees direct (2 year seedlings) at what look like fairly competitive prices. For example, I priced 25 Silver Birch & they came in at around €80.

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The OP stated that they need 12ft trees - although the post is unclear as to whether they should be 12ft i.e. semi-mature when planted, or will just grow to/be kept at 12ft when grown.

As mentioned above, buying 12ft trees would be ruinously expensive, not to mention probably quite difficult to find. Check out Future Forests - for 7.5ft bare root beeches you're looking at €20-€30 per tree. BTW, I have no connection, just a frequent and satisfied customer.

A very rough rule of thumb for planting is any month with an 'R' in it.

Thanks everyone.
We were told that that the trees would need to be 12ft when planted. Although I think I might confirm that!

bragan said:

Thanks everyone.
We were told that that the trees would need to be 12ft when planted. Although I think I might confirm that!

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I think you should definitely confirm that - it sounds strange - depending on how big your site is you could end up paying thousands for mature trees. FYI, smaller, younger trees e.g. 1-2 years old are far cheaper (e.g. often around €0.80c each, and will establish far quicker and better as their root system will not be disturbed as much by being dug up and replanted, with less need for regular watering, than older, taller, more expensive trees. So much so that a 2 year old beech sapling will often catch up with and overtake a 6 year old beech tree in a couple of years. Also, smaller trees e.g. 1-2ft high don't need staking, whereas 12ft trees definitely would need staking - this in itself can cost a significant amount extra.