COMMUNITY TREE PLANTING GUIDELINE - SPGS

Table of Contents1.0 INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................... 11.1 Why tree plantations ? ......................................................................................................................... 11.2 Which timber tree species are available for planting? ............................................................................ 12.0 PLANTATION PLANNING ...................................................................................................... 12.1 What are the activities you need to plan for? ........................................................................................ 12.2 What is the best time to carry out the different plantation activities? .................................................... 23.0 LAND DEMARCATION ............................................................................................................. 23.1 Site Survey ............................................................................................................................................ 23.1.1 Plantation Layout and Design ............................................................................................................. 33.1.2 Determining the area of the Plantation ................................................................................................. 34.0 SPECIES SELECTION ............................................................................................................... 44.1 Where can I get quality seed/seedlings for planting? .............................................................................. 54.2 What are the characteristics of a good seedling? ..................................................................................... 64.3 What are the characterisctics of a poor seedling? .................................................................................... 64.4 What is the cost for high quality seed/seedlings? .................................................................................... 65.0 LAND PREPARATION ................................................................................................................ 65.1 Land clearing ........................................................................................................................................ 75.2 At what spacing should I plant my trees? .............................................................................................. 75.3 Lining out ............................................................................................................................................ 85.4 Pitting .................................................................................................................................................. 95.5 Pre plant spray ................................................................ ..................................................................... 106.0 SEEDLING HANDLING AND TRANSPORATION ..............................................................106.1 In which ways can seedling quality be affected? .....................................................................................106.2 How to minimise loss of seedling quality ................................................................................................107.0 PLANTING ...................................................................................................................................117.1 Beating Up / Blanking ...........................................................................................................................127.2 Establishment of plantation under taungya ............................................................................................128.0 MAINTAINING YOUR TREES .......................................................................................................138.1 Weeding ............................................................................................................................................... 138.1.1 Importance of Good weeding .................................................................................................................138.1.2 Methods of weeding ...............................................................................................................................138.1.3 Controlling Invasive weeds .....................................................................................................................158.2 Pruning ..................................................................................................................................................158.2.1 Why should trees be pruned? .................................................................................................................158.2.2 How is pruning done? ............................................................................................................................158.3 Thinning ................................................................................................................................................168.3.1 Why should plantations be thinned? ......................................................................................................168.3.2 When should thining be done? ...............................................................................................................168.3.3 Steps to follow when thining a plantation ..............................................................................................178.4 Protecting your trees ..............................................................................................................................178.4.1 Protection against fire ............................................................................................................................178.4.2 Protection from pests and diseases .........................................................................................................188.4.3 Protection from animals .........................................................................................................................189.0 HARVESTING AND REPLANTING TREE PLANTATIONS ..................................................199.1 What is the best time for cutting (selling) your trees? .............................................................................199.2 Replanting of felled tree plantations .......................................................................................................1910.0 PLANTING RECORD KEEPING ................................................................................................19APPENDIX 1: SPGS PHASE II PLANTATION “CLUSTERS” (2009 - 2013) 6 FOCUS AREAS ........ 20Community Tree Planting Guideline

1.0 INTRODUCTIONThis tree planting manual is one of a series ofplantation guidelines being published by SPGS,to assist private timber growers establish fastgrowing and high yielding timber plantations. It is awell illustrated & simplified manual aimed at equippingyou with the basic skills in tree planting. It is a guidefor establishing plantations for timber, large poles,small poles and/or fuel wood. This guideline coversimportant aspects of plantation planning, establishment,maintenance, forest protection and harvesting. Moredetailed information can be found in SPGS TreePlanting Guidelines for Uganda.1.1 Why tree plantations?available. More so, their silviculture is well researchedand understood. Examples of such exotic trees arePines (Pinus caribaea and Pinus patula), Eucalypts (e.g.Eucalyptus grandis), Cypress (Cupressus lusitanica), Teak(Tectona grandis), Terminalia (Terminalia superba) andHoop Pine (Araucaria cunninghamii).Some indigenous trees such as Musizi (Maesopsis eminii),are doing well in plantations. Others like Mahoganies(Khaya anthothica and Entandophragma spp), Mvule(Melicia excelsa), Prunus africanum and Podo (Podocarpusspp.) are also planted, but mainly for environmentalconservation. They are not recommended forcommercial forestry because of their long maturityperiod.2.0 PLANTATION PLANNINGTree plantations are a major source of wood for generalconstruction, especially houses and furniture. Besidesincreasing the value of your land and protecting it fromencroachers, the main objective of growing trees is toproduce timber and poles. Others are for fuelwood,charcoal, food for man andlivestock, fertilizing andprotecting soil, medicinalproducts and provisionof shade for livestockand food crops. Treesare also often planted toprovide shade, beautifythe landscape and restoredegraded areas.1.2 Whichtimber treespecies areavailableforplanting?Many indigenous (local) and exotic (introduced) treespecies are grown in various parts of the country.However, not all of them can be grown commerciallyfor timber production. The species recommendablefor commercial forestry should have the followingcharacteristics:• Fast growing and high yielding• Should have reliable source of high quality seed.• Ability to grow well in a plantation situation andwhose silviculture is well known.• Desirable wood properties.Many exotic tree species grow relatively faster thanlocal ones and improved seed sources are oftenIt is important that you carefully plan for yourresources, both human (Labour) and financial ayear before embarking on your business. It is alsoimportant to plan plantation activities to fall in the righttiming, for example doing all the land preparation earlybefore therains come,so thatplanting canbe done assoon as therains start.The successof anyplantationlargelydepends onhow well youplan for yourresources andtime youractivities. Asan example,let us assume that it is now January: you have land andyou need to start planting Pine (Pinus caribaea) trees inthe September rains.2.1 What are the activities thatyou need to plan for?The common activities that you need to plan for include:Site survey, species selection, seed purchase, nurserypreparation, seed sowing, clearing land, lining out,pitting, pre-plant weed control, planting, weeding andtree protection. The plantation calendar (below) helpsto relate these activities with the best time at whichthey should be carried out. The shaded boxes show themonth in which you should carry out a particular activityin order to plant your trees in September/October rainyseason.A well thinned Eucalyptus grandis plantation in South Africa (15 years old).Community Tree Planting Guideline

Table 1: ACTIVITY CALENDAR FOR PLANTING IN SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER RAINY SEASONACTIVITY JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC1 Site survey2 Species selection3 Seed purchase4 Nursery preparation5 Seed sowing6 Clearing land7 Lining out8 Pitting9 Pre-plant weed control10 Planting11 Timely weeding12 Fire protection13 Animal protection14 Pest/Disease control2.2 Timing plantation activitiesPlantation activities are generally timed according tomajor rainy seasons in the country. In most parts ofthe country there are two seasons March/April andSeptember/October. These seasons differ in durationof rains depending on location. In some areas likeWestern Uganda, September/October is the longerrainy season, while in most other parts of the countryit in March/April. It is advisable that you plan for yourmain planting to fall in the long rainy season and toplant as soon as sufficient rains start.Following the activity calendar, if the plan is to plantin September, site survey and tree species selectionshould be done in January. Buy the seed not later thanFebruary and if you have your own nursery start nurserypreparation in March. If you are buying seedlings froma nursery, it must be one recommended by the SPGS.With Pine seed sowing should be done in May, to giveseedlings 4 months to mature. If raising Eucalyptusgrandis, 3 months is sufficient, so sowing should bedone in June. For details refer to SPGS Tree PlantingGuidelines for Uganda Chapter 8.Land clearing starts around June and last till July. Thisis followed by lining out and pitting in mid August. Theweeds must be controlled before planting by slashingor spot weeding, otherwise they will compete for water& nutrients with the young newly planted seedlings. Itis also recommended to use Glyphosate herbicide tokill the weeds, but this is cost effective for large scale(commercial) plantations. NB: If using chemicals,the staff must be properly trained and have safetyequipment. Refer to SPGS Tree Planting Guidelines forUganda Chapter 12.seedlings can be planted. Thereafter, the newly plantedtrees should be frequently weeded and also protectedfrom fires and grazing animals. Always remember thatthe skill of your work force is a very important aspectof the success of your business, so always make sureyou use trained staff.3.0 LAND DEMARCATIONOnce you are through with planning, thenyou should put your plans to work. Gettingyour land ready for planting is an importantactivity. This involves; site survey, site species matching(Selection of species to plant), land clearing , lining out,pitting and planting.3.1 Site SurveyIn site survey, you are interested in the following”i. Identifying the site where to plant the trees ensuringthat the boundaries are clearly defined.ii. Establishing the shape (lay out) of your plantation bydividing the area into smaller units (compartments)if necessary, as you decide where the access roadsor fire breaks will pass.iii. Measuring the total area (in hectares) available fortree planting.Note: Never clear intact natural forest to planttrees. This is because the environmental andbiodiversity values of a natural forest can not bereplaced by tree plantations. Trees should onlybe planted in degraded forests and grasslands.Where land is limited, trees can be planted alongthe boundaries. Also note that timber trees donot grow in water logged areas such as swamps.In September, when the rains have stabilised, the treeCommunity Tree Planting Guideline

3.1.1 Plantation layout and designEstablishing the shape of plantation requires one towalk through, and around the area where trees are to beplanted. The objective is to note the special features likeswamps, rivers, hills, public roads, that may be locatedwithin or neighbouring your area. A plantation layoutcan be established as follows:-i. Mark the boundaries of your plantation, withcorners clearly seen. Existing big trees or toughgrowing plants like sisal and Dracaena fragrans(Oluwanyi) can be used to mark corners.ii. Establish a firebreak (5 - 15m) along the boundaryto surround your plantation. If your plantationis surrounded by food gardens, make sure thatafter they are harvested, the drying vegetation isremoved and placed at least 5m away from yourcrops.iii. Where a clear public road, any permanent waterbody or a natural forest borders your plantation,these should form the firebreak.iv. Decide on the spacing of your trees - which amongothers depends on tree species and the expectedfinal product.3.1.2 Determining the area of yourplantationIt is important to know the area of your plantation andthis will guide you in planning for your resources suchas the number of seedlings required and the labourrequirements. Below are the steps followed in estimatingthe area of your plantation:-i. For small community woodlots that are normally1 - 2 acres, the area can be estimated by countingwalking steps along two main directions. Thenumber of steps taken along one corner of theplot is taken as length and the other as width. Awalking step is approximated to be one metre.Area=length(m) x width(m).ii. If the area is approximately in the form of a squareor rectangle, a long measuring tape can be used tomeasure the two sides of the area.One side is taken as length and other as width.Multiplying the two sides gives an approximate sizeof the area in square meters (m 2 ). This can then beconverted into hectares by dividing by 10,000m 2 .iii. Using Global Positioning System (GPS) whichautomatically finds the area in hectares aftermoving around the boundary of your plantation.GPS machines are however a little expensive andrequire skill to use.iv.There is no timber tree that can grow well in water even eucalyptus!These young pines have already started dying off.The district survey departments or private surveyorsnext to you can be contracted to demarcate yourland.4.0 SPECIES SELECTIONThe main factors determining the choice ofspecies are; site suitability i.e. climatic andsoil conditions of the area and the objectiveof planting; poles or timber. Incidence of pests anddisease will also determine the tree species to plant. Forexample sites infested with termites are not suitable foreucalyptus. You can decide which tree species to plantby looking at the following climatic and soil conditionsand comparing them with the various tree speciesgrowth requirements in table 2 (next page).t Climatic conditions:a) Rainfall amount and distribution. Basicallyareas that receive two long rainy seasons (at least3 months) per year are suited for most tree specieslike Eucalyptus grandis, Pinus patula, Pinus caribaea,Maesopsis eminii, Cupressus lusitanica and Araucariacunninghamii. Areas that have only one long rainseason per year, like in northern Uganda, are mostsuited for growing Pinus caribaea (and perhapsteak). Generally, areas along the cattle corridor likeMbarara, Mubende, Kiboga, Nakasongola, Tesoand Karamoja regions, which are dry, are currentlyadvised to plant Pinus caribaea which is reasonablymore drought resistant, until other appropriatespecies are available.b) Temperature. Pinus patula is strictly restricted tocooler temperatures especially those in Kabale.Cool areas like Kabale, Fort Portal, Paidha, Mbaleand Kapchorwa are preferred by Eucalyptus grandisand Cupressus lusitanica.Community Tree Planting Guideline

t Soil conditions:-Generally, most soil conditions in the country cansupport tree growth. However, on particular sites oneneeds to check for soil type, depth, and fertility. Thisrequires you to move across your area and use yourpersonal experience to judge the above conditions asfollows:-Starting from one end of your area, dig a pit 1m deep(or until rock) and wide with a hoe (or pick mattock ifrocky) and note the dark layer of top soil, the brownlayer of sub soil, the ease of digging through andstoniness. Repeat this in other parts of your area to getthe general soil characteristics. While walking acrossyour area, observe the existing vegetation to help youjudge soil fertility. Poorly growing vegetation may implyin fertile soils. The nature of land of the last influencesthe soil type. Flat and or gently sloping land usually havefertile soils which can support most tree species whilesteep slopes have shallow soils suitable for only pinest Objective of planting (Final product)The choice of tree species is also influenced by theobjective of planting and from a business viewpoint, bywhat is demanded in the market. For example, wherethe end use is poles, Eucalyptus grandis the best choice;whereas pine timber attracts wide market for generalconstruction purposes.Group A tree species like pines that are able to groweven on thin soils can always be allocated on hill topsand sides. EXCEPT where it is bare stony. Group Btree species are those that prefer deeper soils like theHOW TO ALLOCATE THE VARIOUSTREE SPECIES ON THE RIGHT SITEEucalypts, Teak, Terminalia, Musizi and Hoop pineamong others. All trees must be planted at least 20maway from any wetland.Table 2: THE MAIN TIMBER SPECIES, THEIRGROWTH REQUIREMENTS ANDCOMMON CHARACTERISTICSTree species Required climate Soil Conditions Other notesKalitunsi(Eucalyptusgrandis)Pine (Pinuscaribaea)Pine (Pinuspatula)Musizi(Maesopsiseminii)Teak (Tectonagrandis)Cypress (C.lusitanica)Hoop pine(Araucariacunninghamii)Terminalia(Terminaliasuperba)*MAR =MAR(mm)*>1000/yr600-1,5001200/y>1500/yr3-5monthof dryseason>600/yr>750/yrMAT( o C)*Coolerareas

t Pests and diseasesThe commonest pests are termites and blue gum chalcidwhich attack eucalypts, the Cypress aphid is common inCypress plantations, and Armillaria root rot disease forpines. For details refer to SPGS Tree Planting Guidelinesfor Uganda Chapter 17.4.1 Where can I get quality seed/seedlings for planting?Quality here mainly refers to whether the seed is animproved variety (i.e. has superior growth and timbercharacteristics and good health). Currently UgandaTimber Grower’s Association (UTGA) and NationalTree Seed Centre (Namanve) are importing improvedseed from Australia, Brazil, Fiji and South Africa forsale to private planters in Uganda. These are thecurrent approved sources for seed orchard seed ofPinus caribaea var hondurensis (PCH) and Eucalyptusgrandis. Trees from these improved seed sources arefast growing and high yielding if compared to locallycollected seed.Tree nurseries require much skill in establishment andmanagement. You need properly trained and experiencednursery workers and constant supervision. Often manypeople have wasted money buying expensive improvedseed and they fail to raise seedlings. Therefore, unlessoperating on a large scale (say planting 100ha/year) youare advised not to start your own tree nursery, but ratherbuy from any of our recommended nurseries. Refer totable 3.The impressive 3 - year old demonstration planting of Pinus caribaea(Australian seed) at Kasagala Forest Reserve, Nakasongola. This isthe result of careful planning, using only high quality seed, good landpreparation and intensive weeding.Local P. oocarpa: You get trees with poor stem form, non uniformity and of lowgrowth rates which may catch lower market value.Table 3: RECOMMENDED NURSERIES WHEREYOU CAN BUY SOME SEEDLINGS1. PRIVATE TREE NURSERIESNo. Name of nursery District Contact person Phone123Uganda GatsbyTrust clonalnurseries.Uganda ForestrySuppliesKamusiimeMemorial Assoc.MbaleFort portalMukonoKampalaBushenyiMosesSimonSimonEric WaiswaKatabazi JudiusJonathanMwebaze0772-5955450782-1536590752-6449950772-4871980702-4387450772-5896594 Core Woods Hoima Fred Babweteera 0772-4663365 UMOJA FarmersKakiri-WakisoTweheyoManasonOchom Paul0772- 4641550782-5291336 USUFOPS Ltd. Kampala Paul Ochom 0782-529133789E and PInvestments Ltd.BESEPO TreeNurseriesM & S ForestryServicesKampalaMubendeMukonoTororoElvis FredMulimbaJean Vianney A.Besesa0772-412 9490772-9051530772-501974Apolot Mary 0774-13908410 Abel Nkoreki Gulu Abel Nkoreki 0772-40214011 Philip Nyeko Gulu Philip Nyeko 0392-96772912 JC Forestry Gulu C. D. Langoya 0772-6054321314Save TheEnvironment (U)Ltd.AJ GeneralAgencies Ltd.LiraApacTororoObua RonaldJimmyWandera Frank0772-3740810772-3833400771-4533202. NATIONAL FORESTRY AUTHORITY TREENURSERIESNo.1Name ofnurseryNamanveNSTCDistrict Contact person PhoneKampala David Mununuzi 0772-4664982 Mbarara Mbarara Denis Oyiro 0772- 3161703 Katugo Nakasongola Joseph Sentongo 0772- 4686914 Gulu Gulu Obed Mot 0772- 6562345 Jinja Jinja Reuben Arinaitwe 0772- 480205Community Tree Planting Guideline

iv.If you lift and over turn to see the bottom of theseedling you find its roots are protruding out sideand the side roots grow while coiling around thepot.v. The seedling roots are loosely attached to its soilblock that is meant to keep its roots intact.An example of a good seedling ready for planting. A good seedling shouldbe 20cm shoot height.4.2 What are the characteristicsof a good seedling?A seedling of good quality should have the followingcharacteristics:-i. Healthy (of normal green colour without signs ofpests and disease attack).ii. Best height is from 15cm to 25cm tall measuredfrom root collar.iii. Not those that have stayed in the nursery from theprevious season.Note: always be careful of the nursery you buyseedlings from. Look critically at the set up andmanagement of that nursery and judge whetherit is of the right standard to buy seedlings from.Ask for the source of the seed used to raiseseedlings to be sure that you get exactly theseedlings you want. E.g. I want Pinus caribaea(PCH) from Australia or Brazil. Always makesure you specify the species and seed source.4.4 What is the cost for highquality seed/seedlings?Prices keep varying but as a guide, I kg of Pinus caribaeavar. Hondurensis (Australia) is at 2.8m and a seedling300 - 500 UShs., 1 Kg Eucalyptus grandis (South Africa)at 13m and a seedling at 100 - 150 Ushs. each. Seedlingsshould be booked six months in advance. Find up todate prices from SPGS Newsletters.4.3 What are the characteristicsof a poor seedling?A poor seedling unfit for planting has the followingcharacteristics:-i. Generally not healthy; leaves are not dark greenbut yellowish or brown or dry spots on leaves orniddles.ii. Abnormally taller shoot (stem) compared with itsroot length (2:1 i.e Shoot:Root ratio acceptable).iii. Its main stem is branched into two equal branchesin form of letter ‘Y’.Where you get your seedlings matters: A good example of a nursery likethis at NTSC should be clean, have qualified staff and all records ofnursery operations kept well.5.0 PREPARING LAND FORTREE PLANTINGLand preparation involves activities that arecarried out to ensure that the land onto whichthe trees are to be planted is clear of any growingvegetation and to provide a well cultivated pit for theyoung seedling to grow well.Importance of good land preparationAn example of a poor seedling.It is necessary to first carry out land preparation beforeCommunity Tree Planting Guideline

planting tree seedlings so as to increase the chance ofsurvival and have rapid growth of the planted trees. Bycarrying out good land preparation, your trees will notbe out competed by weeds and also, the cultivation ofthe soil softens it to enable faster root penetration andfaster seedling growth. Generally, well prepared landmakes the subsequent activities much easier.5.1 Land clearingThis is the removal of existing vegetation on the sitein preparation for planting. Land clearing is often donemanually using simple tools like axes, pangas slasherssimple power saws. When the vegetation has been cutdown, it’s then left to dry & later burnt. For large scaleplanters, heavy machinery such as bulldozer can be usedto clear the land. However, this is very costly and maycause compaction of the soil. The choice of method touse for land clearing will depend on the type of existingvegetation and scale of planting.A well cleared site ready for lining out should not hinder visibility andmovement.It is important to note the following:i. Natural forests should never be cleared forplantations.ii.All the vegetation including grass and any standingtrees at the site must be cut down and left to dry.Trees should be cut as close to the ground aspossible and the big tree branches be chopped intosmaller pieces, heaped, preferably on stamps andthen burnt.5.2 At what spacing should Iplant my trees?depending on type of tree species, quality of seed,expected growth rate, planned weeding technique andthe availability of market for thinning or small diameterpoles. It may be beneficial to plant trees at a widerspacing such that;• There is less competition between trees for a longertime.• Cost savings (less pits and seedlings per hectare)• Trees grow larger• Where it may be required (like in communityplanting) it allows for some food crops to beplanted in the inter-rows.However, wider spacing between trees can have negativeeffects like;• It will take a longer time before trees close canopy- so you spend more money on weeding your treesfor longer.• Trees tend to develop thicker or bigger branches atthe expense of the main stem• Trees will be fewer and so you will have less trees tochoose from during thinning• Increased weed growth (as weeds are exposed tolight) will most likely increase the fire risk on yourplantation• Reduced benefits from thinnings where market isavailable.The standard spacing for most timber trees includingpines and Eucalypts of improved seed is 3m x 3m (10ftx 10ft). Also 2.7m x 2.7m (9ft x 9ft) is frequently used.But if planting next to where there is high demand forsmall construction poles, the spacing for Eucalypts canbe reduced to 2m x 2m (6.6ft x 6.6ft). However, closerspacing like 2m x 2m brings in an early competitionbetween trees and so a farmer must be aware and beprepared to do an early and heavy first thinning toallow for better growth of the remaining trees. All treeplantations being grown for sawlogs/timber productionhave to be thinned (refer to section 8.3).Note: Number of seedlings in one hectare = area of ahectare ÷ spacing chosen.Area of 1 hectare = 10,000m 2 .Espacement is the uniform distance at which you makeyour planting pits and how far apart you plant your tree.It s important that you know the right spacing to useso that you order for the right number of seedlings.We strongly recommend planting your trees in lines,which makes subsequent operations much easier. Theactual spacing (distance between the trees) may changeCommunity Tree Planting Guideline

Table 4: TREE ESPACEMENTSpeciesspacing(m)No. ofseedlings(sph)15% forBeatingupTotalrequiredSeedlingsEucalyptus 2 x 2 2,500 37 2,8752 x 3 2,000 30 2,3002.5 x 2.5 1,600 24 1,8403 x 3 1,111 16 1,278Pine 3 x 3 1,111 167 1,278Teak 3 x 3 1,111 157 1,278Araucaria 3 x 3 1,111 167 1,278Musizi 4 x 4 625 94 716Terminalia 4 x 4 625 94 716Number of seedlings in one hectare:-= 10,000m 2 ÷ 3 x 3 = 1,111 sph or= 10,000m 2 ÷ 2.7 x 2.7 = 1,372 sph.Remember that when planting at 1,111 stems per hectare(sph) instead of the more 1,372 sph, your costs ofbuying seedlings and labour for pitting and spot hoeingcan be reduced by almost 20%.5.3 Lining outThis activity is done to ensure that trees are plantedin straight lines and at the required spacing. The mainreason for lining out is to ensure that the trees haveenough space to grow at the same time have somecompetition between themselves. This competition isimportant as trees grow to ensure that they producestraight stems with reduced branches. Other benefits ofplanting trees in lines are:• For easy accessibility through the plantation.• Maintenance activities like weeding, pruning,thinning and harvesting can be contracted out toworkers based on the number of trees or linesdone.• For quickly estimating the number of trees orvolume existing on your plantation.Procedure for lining out1. Have a long rope of about 50m marked at intervalsof the required spacing (say 3m) throughout itslength. Stretch the rope along one side of theplantation site where planting is going to start.Now take that stretched line AC as your baseline{see diagram (a)}.2. At point C of the baseline, mark off cross line(CE) at right angles (90 o ) with the baseline (AC)as in diagram (a). This you do by measuring offfirst 3m starting from point C up to point B withyour measuring tape. Next, measure off 4m againstarting from point C up to point D. Finally, if youDiagram (a) showing 3,4,5 rule for marking cross line CE at right anglewith the base line CA. Pegs are fixed into the ground at points BCD tohold tight the measuring tape before extending.measured distances CB and CD correctly, thendistance BD is automatically 5m and angle BCDis 90 o (3,4,5 rule of the triangle) as shown on thediagram (a).3. Repeat this to mark off another cross line (AE) atright angle with the base line from point A. Crossline AE should now be parallel to cross line CE asshown on diagram (b) bellow.Diagram (b) showing how to mark holes on the ground between cross linesCE and AE along direction ‘d’.4. These two cross lines on both ends of the baselineshould then be marked with the chosen spacing sayof 3m intervals.5. After marking these two cross lines, the ropeforming the baseline can now be kept moving upCommunity Tree Planting Guideline

etween the two cross-lines while stopping at eachmark 2, 3 - 7 on the two cross-lines as directedby arrow ‘d’ in diagram (b). As this rope is beingshifted on the two cross lines, a person then keepson marking planting holes on the ground by diggingshallow holes corresponding to the spacing markson the rope.6. When the baseline has moved up to the end of thetwo cross lines, then steps 1-5 are repeated untilthe whole site is covered.7. When lining out on steep slopes or hills (more than20 o slope), it is important to do slope correctionotherwise the distance between the trees will beless than expected. The same procedure of liningout as described above is followed. However nowthe baseline or cross line needs to be lifted up fromthe lower end of the slope such that its top endat point A is at the same height as its lower endat point B as shown by rope AC on diagram (c)below.5.4 PittingPitting is the process of digging holes into which theseedlings are to be planted. These are dug at the pointsmarked during the lining out.How is pitting done?• Use a hoe to remove the vegetation or any debris ateach marked planting hole to make a clean circleof 1 metre wide around it.• Then dig a pit at the centre of the cleared area byenlarging the marked hole. This pit should be 25cm- 30cm (1ft) wide and 25cm - 30cm (1ft) deep. Ifthe soil is hard, like on rocky areas, you must stilldig 30cm deep and 30cm wide. In cases wheresoils are hard, use a pick mattock (Ensululu) topenetrate the hard soil. Dig the pit from differentsides to ensure that the hole is as flat and as wide atthe bottom as it is at the top.Diagram (c). Lining out on a slope needs you to keep the cross line ropenot on the ground level but be raised up at the same height as the upper end(A). A pole then can be used to locate the point (B) where the next pit downthe hill should be dug.Now your cross line or base line should appear asshown by rope AC (3m) whose 3m mark on the groundis determined by a vertical pole CB. Next, with yourpole still at the same mark B, lower the rope AC to lieon the ground and hold it tight at both ends. You nowfind that the rope AC of 3m long when placed on thesteep ground does not cover the full length of AB butends somewhere at D.Therefore, measure length DB and add this to thespacing being used in order to get the true distanceAB on the steep ground. If DB is 30cm or 0.3m, thenadd it to our spacing of 3m, that is, 3 + 0.3 = 3.3m.This means all the trees on this particular slope shouldbe spaced at 3.3m. In this case, the 0.3m is our slopecorrection factor. You can then mark your rope at 3.3mspacing.After successful lining out, the next step is to proceedto pitting.Margaret clearing a 1m diameter circle prior to digging a pit.• Having dug the soil out of the pit, break down thelarge soil clods and put the soil back to fill the pit.An example of a well dug pit 30cm deep and 30cm wide with a markingstick put at the centre of pit.Community Tree Planting Guideline

• You can then push in a small stick (about 1m long)into the centre of the pit so that during planting,one can easily identify the pits and also be able toplant the seedling at the centre of the pit.• When pitting is complete, the farmer is advisedto wait until the area has received enough rainfall.Unfortunately the little rain received during thisperiod is enough to trigger germination of weeds.The best practice for larger growers is to carry outa pre-plant spray. Alternatively, do manual weedingjust before planting. Never plant into a weedy pit:always keep the 1m diameter circle around the treefree of weeds.5.5 Pre-plant weed sprayWhen the area is wet enough for planting, it isrecommended to carry out a full cover herbicide weedspray of glyphosate to kill all newly germinated andgrowing weeds before seedlings are planted (pre-plantweed spray). Note that when using chemicals, peoplemust be properly trained, well supervised and haveappropriate protective clothing (refer to SPGS TreePlanting Guidelines for Uganda, Chapter 12). Afterthis spray is done, planting can start the next day toallow seedlings to take an early advantage of growingfree of weeds; for some time before the next generationof weeds comes up.6.0 SEEDLING HANDLING ANDTRANSPORTATIONWhen conditions are favourable for planting,seedlings are transported to the plantationsite. Depending on the care taken whileloading, transporting and off loading of seedlings,their quality may be affected making them stressed orotherwise unfit for planting.6.1 In which ways can seedlingquality be affected?Seedling quality is usually affected as a result of severalhandlings that occur when seedlings are picked from thenursery bed ground, while loading them in containers,then when being transported to the planting site. Afterreaching the site, again in the process of off-loadingfrom the transportation containers to the ground someseedlings may damaged. Generally, the seedlings areaffected in two ways:-• Seedlings losing a lot of soil from their pots,exposing the roots leading to drying up.• Physical damage by breaking seedling roots, leavesand stems.A young man off loading pine seedlings: Some seedlings have already lost soil andtheir roots are at a high risk of dying or being bent.6.2 How to minimize loss ofseedling qualitySeedlings should be packed in small containers designedlike crates that are later packed onto a car. If you haveno containers yet, load the seedlings upright on the car,but not lying down.Well packed seedlings on small designed containers like crates ready fortransportation.Seedlings badly placed on the ground and also kept too long unplanted.10 Community Tree Planting Guideline

• Seedlings should be watered first before transportingto avoid excessive drying and soil loss.• Transport seedlings in the morning and eveningto avoid hot day sun shine and shelter them fromwind.• Offload seedlings at the planting site carefully avoidholding the seedlings by their shoot,. Water theseedlings and temporarily put them under shade.After the seedlings have recovered from stress(which you can tell when their shoots stand upright) theyshould be immediately planted.7.0 PLANTINGThis is where seedlings are placed into theplanting pits and carefully covered with soil.The planting process should be done carefullyso that the roots are not bent and ensure that theseedling is planted at the right depth.be deep enough to accommodate the whole rootplug up to 2 cm above root collar. If the hole isdeeper than this then some soil should first be putback to reduce the depth so as to avoid plantingthe seedlings too deep.• Once the hole has been successfully dug, theseedling is carefully stripped off its polythene bag.The polythene bag should not be thrown aboutbut collected and later burnt.• Next, hold the seedling in one hand and place itvertically into the planting pit.• Gently cover the seedling with soil up to the 2cmlevel above the root collar. The seedling should thenbe properly firmed using the tips of your fingers(See drawing above). Ensure that the soil around theThe following procedure should be followed whenplanting:-A seedling (15 - 25cm tall) is carefully placed into the pit deep enough to becovered up to 2cm above root collar.A well planted pine seedling deep enough into the soil will be firm on theground.• Remove the stick once used to mark the holeduring the pitting process and dig a small hole intothe centre of the planting pit. The hole shouldA seedling is carefully covered with soil and then firmed at its sides withhands but not foot.This pine seedling is not planted deep enough and can easily be bent by strong wind/rain. It is also poor quality seedling as it lacks a leading stem.Community Tree Planting Guideline11

seedling is level with the ground. Do not heap thesoil around the seedling.7.1 Beating up/ blankingThis is the process of replacing trees that have diedor are not growing properly shortly after planting.This operation must be done within the same rainyseason for uniform growth of all trees. For E. grandisbeating up should be done within the second week afterplanting, whilst for pines it should be no more than amonth after planting. Beating up can be minimised orprevented by properly timing the planting to coincidewith the rains and protecting trees against animals sincedeaths will be minimised and survival will be high (above90%). It is necessary to first determine how many treeshave survived before rushing to beat up. If only a fewseedlings have died there is no need to beat up - afterall some of the trees will still be removed during thethinning operation later on. To determine the survivalpercentage, one should inspect the plantation and makesome counts as follows:• Randomly walk along every 3 rd row and count the1 st 10 planting pits you come across.• Record the number of both the dead and survivingplants on these 10 planting pits.• Repeat the same procedure on the next 3 rd row forat least 5 rows to cover a total of 50 planting pits(5 x 10).• Add up the total number of seedlings that survivedin the 50 planting pits and divide by the totalplanting pits surveyed (i.e. 50).• Multiply this by 100 to get the survival percentageas follows:Survival Percentage/ No. of surviving seedlings X 100Stocking=50If the survival percentage is 90% and above, do notworry about replacing the dead trees, as long as deathis not in one location but spread through out theplantation. However, if the survival falls within 70%-90%, replace the dead ones immediately. Survival of

practice Taungya because those who have done it havegot poor results on their plantations. It is even worsewith Eucalyptus, as this tree species does not toleratecompetition from any other type of vegetation.For small growers, like the community tree planters,with limited land and who at the same time want toplant trees, some short non-climbing food crops maybe grown with trees in a way which does not affect treeroots and shoot growth. Such crops could be beansand ground nuts but not tall crops like cassava, maize orsun flower. A half metre (0.5m) radius round each treeshould be left as free feeding space for the tree such thatthe remaining space between trees lines be for foodcrops as shown in the figure below:-8.0 MAINTANANCE OFPLANTATIONSOnce trees have been well established, theymust be properly maintained to grow well.The important management activities formaintaining plantations include weeding, pruning,thinning and protection from fires, animals, pests anddiseases, thieves etc.8.1.2 Methods of weedingThere are various ways of weeding as described below:Clean hoeingThis involves removing all the weeds between the interrows.Take care that weeds within 20cm radius from thetree are just uprooted by hand to avoid damaging roots.Clean weeding is a recommended method of weedingEucalyptus trees.Clean weeding of pine trees like this is the best but may be difficultfinancially on a large scale.Poor weeding regime: Weeds are already taking advantage over the trees.8.1 WeedingThis is a regular activity carried out to ensure that treesare kept free of weeds to reduce competition.Well weeded eucalypts trees: You can only get good profits from eucalyptsby maintaining them under zero weeds.Young trees will grow much more quickly if all the weedsare removed by clean hoeing. However this method isnot cost effective for some tree species like pines, whichcan tolerate some little competition from weeds.8.1.1 Importance of good weedingConsistent weeding of trees enables them to matureearlier and also to produce high quality sawlogs whichare straight and big, and can be sold at high profits.Never allow weeds to grow more than half the treeheight because weeds compete with trees for water andnutrients. Some species trees like pines can tolerate somelittle competition from weeds while others e.g especiallyEucalyptus are non- tolerant to weeds.Poorly weeded eucalyptus trees - No good results from such trees.Community Tree Planting Guideline13

It also makes hilly areas prone to soil erosion. On steepslopes, a combination of slashing with either spot orline weeding across the slope is recommended.Spot weedingIn this method weeds (including food crops) areremoved from a radius of 0.5m from the base of eachcarefully scrapped by a hoe.Line weedingA 1m wide strip along each planting line (0.5m fromeither side of each seedling) is cleared of weeds usinga hoe.SPGS’s Zainabu demonstrating to Muzira Farmers how to do spot weedingof trees.An excellent line weeding of young Pinus caribaea trees. Those weedsbetween trees should be kept shorter preferably by slashing or spraying.If Taungya is being practiced, line weeding is usuallynot suitable, but rather do spot weeding.SlashingAfter spot or line weeding, weeds in the inter rows canbe cleared by slashing. This slashing should be close tothe ground if it is to be effective. Slash weeding and lineweeding can be done in combination with spot weedingfor controlling weeds in most tree plantations like pines,Muzizi, Terminalia, Teak etc. However, Eucalypts mustbe 100 % weed free and should therefore be weeded byclean hoeing or herbicide spray until the canopy closes.All weeds within 20cm radius around the seedling must be constantlyremoved by hand to avoid destroying seedling roots. You can use a hoe toscrape off any weeds within the 30cm region. Weeds here should always bekept down as they compete directly with seedlings.seedling.Spot weeding isnormally done witha sharp hoe to scrapeoff (not dig) theweeds within 1mdiameter around thetree. Weeds within10cm radius shouldbe uprooted by handand within 40cmradius they should beGood spot hoed pine trees.A good example of combining spot hoeing with slahing in pines.Herbicide sprayingThis is the most effective method used to weedcommercial plantations. It is less labour intensive andkills weeds well if properly done by skilled people. Treesmust be protected because the chemical (Glyphosate)14 Community Tree Planting Guideline

Next, judge the point where half of the crown height is.Then cut off the tree branches starting from the bottomup to half of the tree height using a curved pruning saw(not a panga or axe please). A clean cut must be made asclose to the tree stem as possible.8.3.1 Why should plantations be thinned?As trees grow, they start competing with one another forlight, nutrients, water and space thereby slowing downgrowth. Therefore, some of the trees in the plantationshould be systematically removed (whether good or not)in order to reduce the competition between the trees.This allows the best remaining trees to grow faster andlarger, thus increasing the value of your plantation.At sawmills, fatter trees are preferred for cutting intoplanks than many smaller trees.8.3.2 When should thinning be done?When tree branches become too long to reach while standing, use a longpole to cut branches. Climbing on a tree using a ladder is dangerous.Table 5: Guides on how and when to prune pine trees.Generally, timing of thinning depends on tree species,its growth rate and extent of maintenance. Thus likepruning, there is no compulsory time for thinningplantations but it should be done before competitionbegins (Before crowns and branches start touching). Itis advisable to do first thinning only after first pruningfor clear view of trees and accessibility. The rest of thethinning operations can be done before pruning to savePruningTypeAgePrunetoPurpose1 st (Access) 3 - 4 2m Open access2 nd (Access) 6 - 7 4m3 nd (Access) 9 - 10 7m4 nd (Access) 12 - 13 10mKnot-freetimberMaximise logqualityMaximise logqualityNote: All pruned branches must be piled between treelines and must be 5m off any firebreak. *Use ofordinary ladders as is commonly done is unsafeto both the tree and a person carrying out thework. Any ladder used should be well designedto be firm on the ground as well as on the tree.An example of a well thinned stand like this will allow trees to quicklygain more volume.For details Refer to SPGS Tree Planting Guidelines forUganda, Chapter 19.NB1. Timing depends on growth rate of trees not theage.NB2. Pruning will have to be done much earlier withEucalypts grown for timber.8.3 ThinningThis is an operation carried out at different stages oftree growth by selecting and deliberately removing someof the living trees from a given plantation stand beforethe final clear cutting.This 2-year old plantation of E. grandis is for fuelwood (James FinlayLtd.) and thus has many trees per hectare (i.e. high stocking): if grown forsawlogs, it would have to be thinned to give the best trees more growing space.16 Community Tree Planting Guideline

money from pruning trees that are after all going to bethinned out.Table 6: Shows the suggested thinning type, age andnumber of stems left for a pine plantation.PruningTypeAge(Years)PrunetoPurpose1 st 4 - 6 2m 7002 nd 6 - 9 4m 5003 nd 9 - 12 7m 300This means at any tree spacing used, e.g. 3m x 3m wherethere are 1,111 trees/ha, the number of trees to beremoved per ha at first thinning would be (1,111 - 700)411. In the 2 nd thinning it would be (700-500) 200 andat 3rd thinning you remove (500 - 300) 200 to leave youwith 300 trees per ha for final clear cutting at 18 - 25years.8.3.3 Steps to follow when thinning aplantationIn order to successfully carry out thinning of your trees,the following steps (1 - 5) should be followed.1) Determine the size of the plot to bethinned.This depends on the spacing of trees. For examplethe thinning plot could be one of 5 trees by 5 or 10trees by 10 trees. For 5 trees by 5 trees area it givesa thinning plot size of 15m x 15m (225m 2 ) whenyour spacing is 3m x 3m.2) Calculate how many of these plots(225m 2 ) are in one hectareSince 1 hectare is 10,000m 2 , this gives (10,000m 2 ÷225m 2 ) 44 plots.3) How many trees do I need to leave in eachhectare after first thinning?For our example of table 6 above, it is 700 stemsper hectare.4) How many trees should I leave in eachplot after thinning?Number of trees to be left in each plot;= 700 ÷ 44 = 16 trees5) Therefore, how many trees should I thinout (remove) from each thinning plot?Since your thinning plot has a total of 25 trees (5trees x 5 trees), you should cut away 9 trees so as toremain with 16 trees per plot.NB1. When counting the 9 trees to be removed, alsoinclude gaps (where trees died). Bent trees, treewith branched tops in form of letter “Y” or anypoorly growing tree should be removed. Note thatwhether all trees are good, the thinning shouldstill be carried out to create more space betweenthe remaining trees. Selection of trees should bedone as in example on diagram below.The trees fit to be removed by thinning are (2) one – sided crown, (3) bole(trunk) deformed, (5) forked stem, (6) overtopped tree, (8) crooked stem, and(11) very small tree next to larger ones.NB2. If thinning are to be sold, the operation shouldbe closely supervised to ensure that bigger trees donot end up being cut as a priority for sale. In thiscase, the objective of thinning as recommendedin forestry will have changed.For more information refer to SPGS Tree PlantingGuidelines for Uganda, Chapter 20.8.4 Protecting your treesUsually, trees need to be protected from fires, pests,diseases and animals.8.4.1 Protection against fireFire is one of the worst enemies of your trees and youcould loose all of your investment in a matter of minutesif your plantation caught fire. To minimize fire risk thefollowing fire protection measures should be taken:Firebreaks:These can be internal or external depending on size ofyour land. For small areas of 1-5 acres, an external openarea of at least 5m wide should be kept open and free ofany vegetation. If the woodlot is bordered by gardens offood crops, then ensure that after their harvesting, thedrying remains should be removed 5m away from thetrees. This strip of area should be kept open by slashingor hoeing before each dry season. As your plantationexpands, internal firebreaks need to be included.Careful burning of crop gardens:While clearing adjacent land for food crops, make surethe rubbish is heaped and burnt in the middle of theCommunity Tree Planting Guideline17

garden. Burning should be done during cool non windyconditions and should be closely supervised until youare sure the fire is completely dead before leaving thearea.Recently, Eucalyptus plantations are being attacked bythe Chalcid wasp( Blue Gum Chalcid) but it is seen tobe more severe in stressed plantations such as poorlyweeded plantations, and those planted of-site. It can becontrolled by planting eucalypts on the right sites and byintensively weeding them to reduce tree stress.A plantation with a good fire break between blocksTimely weeding:Make sure that all your trees are well weeded during therainy season such that in the dry season, there are no talldry weeds that easily catch fire to burn your trees.Eucalyptus tree attacked by Blue gum Chalcid wasp.Eucalypts are also susceptible to termite attack andshould therefore not be planted in areas infested withtermites. Chemicals like Dursban and Furadan are usedto control termites but for their proper use, please seekprofessional advice. Report any strange occurrence ofa disease or pest on your plantation to an appropriateauthority. These could be District Forest Officers,National Forest Authority, SPGS and National ForestResearch Institute.8.4.3 Protection against animalsTree left to grow with a drying weeds like these do have a higher chance ofbeing burnt down during the dry season.Because plantation investments are worth of millionsof shillings, the farmer must protect the trees frombrowsing cattle, goats and other wild animals likeantelopes, monkeys and bushbucks. These prefer shootsof young seedlings. They can also damage seedlings byGood relationships:Ensure you have good relations with your neighboursto avoid malicious fires. They can also be of assistancewhen called upon to help put off fire.Note: For more information refer to SPGS TreePlanting Guidelines for Uganda Chapter 16.8.4.2 Protection against pests anddiseases?For the trees being planted, it is important to be vigilantabout the health of our the trees. This can be doneby periodic inspections to note any signs of diseses e.g.drying up, changes in colour etc.The unwanted visitors! Cattle like goats and other animals should be kept outof tree plantations because they eat the young trees.18 Community Tree Planting Guideline

stepping on them. Wild animals need to be constantlyscared away, and clear any hiding places for them. Makesure you regularly inspect your plantation to check for anydamages on trees Talk to your neighbour about his/herwondering cattle or goats and if the problem continues,report to LCs and get a lasting solution. Otherwise acharge per tree destroyed may be calculated based on itsestablishment value plus compound interest dependingon the number of years the tree has been standing.9.0 HARVESTING ANDREPLANTING TREEPLANTATIONSHarvesting is the cutting down of only maturetrees when the best market for their saleexists. It is advisable to cut trees block byblock as they mature depending on when they wereplanted. Remember that the rotation for trees is whenthey reach market size and not necessarily maturity.An appropriate harvesting system has to be designedaccording to the nature of the area of your plantation.9.1 What is the best time forcutting (selling) your trees?For Pinus caribaea, the recommended time is from 18-25 years. For other tree species, please refer to table 2section 3.2. Trees are like money put in bank to gaininterest so that at some time in future you get more thanthe amount you put in. Likewise, as trees grow eachpassing year, they keep on gaining more size (volume)until the recommended time of cutting them. You getmore money from a bigger tree than from small sizedpoles.It is not advisable to harvest trees before therecommended time, because they are still small in size(volume) yet are still actively putting on volume. Moreso, the wood itself is not mature enough to attract abetter price. On the other hand, allowing trees to remaintoo long beyond the recommended time of harvesting(over maturity) is not advisable because trees by thistime are no longer growing actively and some may startdying of old age. However, the most important point tonote is that, you can sell your trees at any stage of theirgrowth provided there is the best market offer for them.But you have to be careful of the fact that the best valueof your trees is from big saw logs!musizi, or Terminalia are commonly propagated byseed. For most Eucalypts and teak that develop shootsstems from cut stumps after harvesting, this regrowth(coppices) can only be used for fuelwood and smallpoles plantations. Eucalypt plantations that have beengrown for timber or large poles must be replanted afterharvesting and the coppice regrowth be frequently cutor sprayed until they die off. The replanting is necessarybecause many of the trees will have been cut down atvarious stages of thinning and any regrowth from suchstumps will have been suppressed by shade from theremaining trees leading to less stocking - refer to SPGSTree Palnting Guidelines for Uganda Chapter 10.10.0 PLANTATION RECORDKEEPINGThere are some records that are particularlyimportant for a tree farmer to safely keep foraccountability and for future reference. Suchrecords include:1) Nursery recordsInformation on tree species, seed origin, date sown,amount sown etc2) Plantation compartments records like;t Compartment identity (Name or number etc.)ttttttCompartment sizePlanting details (tree species, date planted,spacing, survival etc.)Weeding statusPruning planThinning planharvesting plan3) Pest, disease and fire outbreaks4) Tools and equipment stores5) Expenditure and revenue6) Weather records (Only for commercialplanters)7) Map(s) of the area.Note: For a community farmer, the list of activitiescarried out and date when they were done canbe enough.9.2 Replanting of felled treeplantationsAfter a given block is harvested, it should be immediatelyprepared for replanting in the forth coming rain seasonwhen still free of weeds. Many of the trees like pines,Community Tree Planting Guideline19

SPGS PHASE II PLANTATION “CLUSTERS” (2009 - 2013)6 FOCUS AREAS.Contact details:THE SAWLOG PRODUCTION GRANT SCHEME (SPGS)The Project Manager,P. O. Box 5244, Kampala - Uganda.Plot 92 Luthuli Avenue, Bugolobi, Kampala.Tel: +256 (0)312 265 332/3. Fax: +256 (0)312-265 334Email: info@sawlog.ugWebsite: www.sawlog.ugThe Sawlog Production Grant Scheme (SPGS) is a partnership between theGovernment of Uganda, the European Union (EU) and the Government ofNorway (GoN). In Phase 1 (2004-09) 10,300ha of timber plantations weresupported along with over 400ha by community growers. Phase II (starting Oct.2009) aims at increasing support to private growers throughout Uganda.20 Community Tree Planting Guideline

A valuable, mature pine plantation in South Africa: The result of using good seed, establishing well and then thinning and pruning on time.A valuable, mature pine plantation in South Africa: The result of using good seed, establishing well and then thinning and pruning on time.SPGS Contact details:Plot 92 Luthuli Avenue Bugolobi, Kampala,Tel. 0312 265332/3 Email: info@sawlog.ug Website: www.sawlog.ug