CULTIVATE

Cultural Practices

1. In year of planting, plow (or cross plow depending on spacing) adjacent to each cutting and seedling and make selective herbicide application over tops of trees.
2. Interplant hardwood seedlings with cottonwoods (simultaneously or a year later) with spacing of either 12 x 12 or 12 x 24.
3. Apply (as needed) mechanical and/or chemical weed control in year 1.
4. After year 2 cottonwood trees should be 15-20 feet tall and can be left to grow without further cultural treatments.
5. Thinning of one third of cottonwoods in year 10 and 17 with final removal harvest of cottonwoods in year 25. Each thinning releases hardwood seedlings for optimum growth.