New Zealand Treecrops Association

Information Exchange Mailroom

Information Request:

I would like to establish a shelter belt along a strip that runs east/west with the land in front maybe being planted in citrus in the future. Would the Poplar cultivar Crows nest be a appropriate choise and if so where would I obtain cuttings/stakes? Wednesday, 14 May 2003

Replies Received:

Pretty trees, tall and straight. But thinking below the ground, pretty awful. Poplars are shallow-rooting nutrient and moisture plunderers. Perhaps OK to dry out a wet area in over-fertilised pasture, but not near crops - according to my observations. Why do people still promote them? Diehard British ancestry, maybe - or they have shares in some heavy root-pruning machinery you will need periodically to tame the monsters.

How about some deep-rooting species instead, such as alders (alnus spp.)? Their roots fix Nitrogen from the air into the soil too, and fetch up valuable nutrients as leafy mulch which have leached deep into the soil. Alders are mostly deciduous (as usually desirable for east-west shelter to let the sun shine through in winter) and some prettier varieties are now available - as always, depending upon your climate, land topology, exposure, and soil type/moisture etc..

Their are many other species to consider. Consider too our shelterbelt fact sheet, from the Publications web page - cheaper if you are a member of NZTCA.

What does anyone else think about trees for east-west shelter?

Les - May 2003

No! No! No! Sure crows nest will grow quickly - and rob the ground of nutrients. Grow Liquidambar, alders, upright English Oak, Pohutukawa - Rata hybrids anything but willows and poplars! There are heaps of good trees out there; use any one of them. Contact me if you wish to know more or want to get your shelter for you locality right.

John Dean - 2003 July 11

http://www.treecrops.org.nz/knowl/infothr/shelterew.html
Created: 14 May 2003 - Updated: 2003 July 11 - Updated: 2007 August 11