Windbreak & Black Locust Hedgerow

​One of our first main projects to tackle was to install a windbreak to block the west and northwest winds from the fruit trees. We mostly followed a simplified version of Mark Krawczyk's hedgerow method and used a sod cutter to create a berm. I ideally would have liked to sheet mulch the area for a year and then plant, but since the pines and spruces are slow growing, we wanted to get them in as soon as possible. The species we chose are pine, spruce, poplars and willows. We chose the pine and spruce to continue the original windbreaks that were partially cut down by the previous owners, and the willows and poplars because they are extremely fast growing and will form some protection while the pine and spruce are growing. As the evergreens fill in eventually, we will cut down the poplars and use them for other things. Below are the steps we took.

Sod cutting

Flipping over the sod

Lots of big earthworms!

Seeding with cover crop

Tree planting tools

Protecting with tree shelters

Finished windbreak!

The microclover cover crop is coming in, and doing better in some spots than others. I would like to have more of a diversity, possibly white and red clover as well as austrian pea, but the cost is an issue. This project took a couple of weekends, so I'm glad that it's finally complete!

We were also able to plant our black locust hedge along the road and meadow. This was a task I had planned to do in the fall, so it's nice to check something off the list early for once! We did not have high hopes for them since we planted them pretty much in puddles and only used a planting bar as opposed to digging holes. But like our friend JoAnna said, "They're the honey badgers of the plant world." and 99 out of the 100 we planted are leafing out! In about three years they should be ready for hedge laying. We have 50 left over and are thinking of planting them somewhere within the windbreak to be able to chop down in a few years to use as posts for arbors and pergolas. Some see black locusts as invasive trees, but they are amazing for firewood having very high BTU's and for building since they are rot resistant. They also are nitrogen fixing and grow extremely fast!

Planting bar

Black locust leafing out in less than 3 weeks

On to the next project!