THE WACD Program
The Wyoming
Association of Conservation Districts Tree Program enables
farmers, ranchers and other landowners to obtain trees at
nominal cost. The purpose of the program is to encourage the
owners to plant effective wind barriers to protect buildings,
cropland and feedlots and for erosion control, other
conservation practices, reforestation, and Christmas tree
plantings.
These trees
cannot be resold as living trees (the roots must be severed).
It is mandatory that the order form be completed in full and
that all information be legible.
Plan Before You Plant
A planting
plan should be prepared before trees are ordered or planted.
The planting plan will show the proper location for the
planting, the best species for your site, spacing between rows,
spacing between trees in the row and the correct number of trees
and shrubs needed. The plan will also point out requirements
for proper planting to gain initial survival and how to keep
trees in a vigorous growing condition.
For planting
plan assistance contact the Conservation District, Natural
Resources Conservation Service District Conservationist, or the
publication entitled The Farmstead Windbreak which provides
helpful information on tree planting and maintenance care.
Seedling Trees
1. Farmstead
protection requires 3 or more rows of shrubs and trees. Field
protection can be obtained with 1-3 rows of shrubs and trees
with proper design and protection.
2. Spacing
between rows should be at least 4 feet wider than the
cultivation equipment to be used, usually 12 to 16 for
irrigated land and 20 for dry land.
3. Spacing in
the rows varies with the species. For small to medium shrubs -
2 to 4, tall shrubs - 4 to 6, small to medium trees - 8 to
10, medium to tall trees - 10 to 14, pines and spruce - 12
to 14, and junipers - 6 to 8. A tight row of deciduous
shrubs on the windward side is desirable to trap snow in the
windbreak.
4. The land
should be cultivated and fallowed in the fall prior to planting
the windbreak. Weed control of the planting is a must operation
to maintain survival.
5. For lasting
performance, better protection and greater aesthetic value, two
or more rows should be evergreen species.
Tree Description
Although the
species listed have proven adaptable to Wyoming conditions, each
species may have limited adaptability to local soil types and
conditions.
Shrubs
CARAGANA: Medium to tall shrub;
drought resistant and tolerant of alkaline soils; good wildlife
species.
COTONEASTER: Medium, grows
well on most soils up to 8,000 feet.
BUFFALOBERRY: Medium to tall
shrub; drought resistant and tolerant of alkaline soils; good
wildlife species.
CHOKECHERRY: Medium shrub,
plant up to 8,000 feet. Preferred by a variety of wildlife
species.
EUROPEAN SAGE: Medium shrub,
good alkaline tolerance, plant up to 6,000 feet.
GOLDEN CURRANT: Small to
medium shrub, fairly drought and alkali tolerant. Good cover
for small wildlife. Plant up to 8,000 feet.
LILAC: Tall, one of the
better shrubs for windbreak purposes, to 8,500 feet.
NANKING CHERRY: Medium and
hardy, does well on most soils statewide. Edible fruit relished
by wildlife; to 7,500 feet.
PLUMS: Tall shrub or short
tree. Does well on moist soils (excluding alkali) up to 8,000
feet.
RED OSIER DOGWOOD:
Small to medium sized;
tolerant of flooding; tolerant of cold; plant up to 8,000 feet.
SAND CHERRY:
Small shrub; best on sandy
to loamy soils; plant up to 7,500 feet.
SERVICEBERRY:
Tall shrub. Does well on
moist soil up to 9,000 feet. Excellent wildlife species.
SUMAC: Medium, excellent
alkaline tolerance; does best at elevation ups to 8,000 feet.
WAX CURRANT: Small Shrub;
high wildlife value; grows 5,000 to 11,500 feet.
Trees
ASPEN: Tall tree, poor
drought resistance, hardy in cold temperatures, plant up to
11,000 feet.
COYOTE WILLOW: Medium
height, requires moist soil, good wildlife value.
BUR OAK: Medium to tall
tree; hardy and drought resistant; tolerant of a wide range of
soils; good food value for wildlife, to 7,000 feet.
COTTONWOOD HYBRID (COTTONLESS):
Tall, fast growing plant in moist soils or in areas with
supplemental water below 6,000 feet.
COTTONWOOD NARROWLEAF: Tall,
requires moist soils or in areas with supplemental water, above
6,000 feet.
GOLDEN WILLOW:
Medium to tall, plant same as cottonless cottonwood but up to
7,500 feet.
GREEN ASH: Medium to tall,
on most soils, up to 8,000 feet.
PEACHLEAF WILLOW: Small to
medium tree or large shrub, shade tolerant, tolerates alkaline
soils.
HACKBERRY: Tall tree, grows
well in most soils; to 7,500 feet.
HONEYLOCUST: Medium to tall,
on most soils in the plains.
LOMBARDY POPLAR: Medium to
tall columnar tree, need permanent sub-irrigation, not
recommended as a component row species in windbreak, up to 8,000
feet.
SIBERIAN ELM: Tall and
drought resistant, on most soils stateside below 6,500 feet.
Conifer Trees
AUSTRIAN PINE: Tall, on most
soils of low pH up to 7,000 feet, a good windbreak tree.
COLORADO BLUE SPRUCE: Tall,
on moist soils but will grow on drier sites if watered for
establishment, to 9,500 feet.
DOUGLAS FIR: Tall, on east
and north slopes above 6,000 feet.
EASTERN RED CEDAR: Medium,
on most soils in the plains below 6,000 feet; drought resistant
when established, good windbreak species.
LODGEPOLE PINE: Tall, on
most soils above 6,000 feet.
PEACHLEAF WILLOW:
Medium-sized tree, shade tolerant, tolerates alkaline soils.
Plant up to 7,500 feet.
PINION PINE: Medium tree,
grows well and arid, droughty sites when established, to 7,500
feet.
PONDEROSA PINE: Tall, on
most soils of low pH except heavy clay, up to 8,500 feet.
Tolerates alkaline soil, high wildlife value. One of the better
windbreak trees.
ROCKY MT. JUNIPER: Medium
tree, does well on most soils; 8,000 feet; drought resistant
when established; excellent windbreak species.
SCOTCH PINE: Tall, on most
soils of low pH and below 7,000 feet; not advisable for
windbreaks because of brittleness and not winter hardy at
maturity; good Christmas tree.
ENGELMANN SPRUCE: Tall tree;
requires shade; plant only above 8,000 feet.
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Sheridan County Conservation District