Snow Creek East Uncas

 Snow Creek Planting and Alder Thinning

 

 Today we are working on a recently acquired Jefferson Land Trust property located on Snow Creek  near East Uncas Road. The parcel includes both sides of the Snow Creek and abuts to Highway 101.  The project involved the crew coming out in January and thinning the Alder stand that occupies most of the outer eastern side of the site near highway 101.  This area was mostly Alders blackberry and reed canary grass.

Robbie opening up the alder stand to make room and open the canopy to plant shrubs and conifers.  At some sites there may already be trees but we are looking to diversify the shrubs and kick start coniferous forest. 

Muddy planters at lunch break.

Our plants generally come bare root in big paper bags from the nursery.  This is what we prefer, as opposed to potted stock that is cumbersome to move around and could be laden with weeds.  Here you see Elijah and Rick loading some western red cedar from the tree bags to their planting bags  When we use planting bags one person can carry 100 trees easily throughout the site. 

 

Kori planting a western red cedar.

When we have completed the planting we will put tree protector tubes over the plants in the grassy and blackberry infested areas.  These will protect the trees from voles, mice, deer, and our brush cutters.