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Site preparation and planting

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Calculating trees per hectare

The following table is a quick reference guide to calculate the number of trees per hectare.

  Distance between rows (metres) 
2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5 6
Distance between
trees (metres)		 1 5000 4000  3333  2857 2500  2222  2000  1818  1666 
1.5 3333  2666  2222  1904 1666 1481 1333  1212  1111 
2 2500  2000  1666 1428 1250 1111  1000  909  833 
2.5 2000  1600  1333 1142 1000  888 800  727  666 
3 1666  1333  1111 952 833  747 666  606  555 
3.5 1428  1142  952  816 714  634 571   519 476 
4 1250  1000  833 714 625  555  500  454  416 
4.5 1111   888 747 634 555  493  444  404  370 
5 1000   800 666 571 500  444  400  363  333 
5.5 909  727  606 519 454  404  363  330  303 
6 833  666  555 476  416  370  333  303  277 

Information leaflets

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Tree Grower articles

  • Is sex still relevant in 21st century propagation? (Access: NZFFA membership)
    Michelle Harnett, November 2020
    Detailed genetic data, automation and robotics look to be the future of radiata pine propagation.  Does this spell the end for pollen wafting on the open breeze?  The first radiata pines…
  • What you might not know about forestry and fencing (Access: unrestricted)
    Neil Cullen and Hamish Levack, November 2016
    A quote noticed recently in the South Otago branch newsletter was by a founder and driving force of the branch, the late Vic Stephens. It stated that ‘the best fences…
  • Radiata pine for the next generation (Access: unrestricted)
    Michael Watt and Harriet Palmer, February 2018
    Finally, payday is approaching for many forest owners, as woodlots and forests planted in the 1990s reach harvest age. For growers planning to replant with radiata pine, and any new planters,…
  • Post-harvest planting (Access: unrestricted)
    Geoff Brann, November 2013
    When it comes to replanting after a forest harvesting, I can comment on our experience in the Bay of Plenty. Other areas will have different weeds and problems to deal…
  • Optimising chemical use in radiata nurseries (Access: unrestricted)
    Simeon Smaill and Katrin Walbert, November 2012
    The establishment and growth of new radiata pine stands is strongly influenced by the quality of the seedling stock. Research by Mike Menzies and others of Scion relating seedling physiology…
  • Nursery specifications for natives (Access: unrestricted)
    Miles Giller, May 2009
    Many landowners wish to promote the regeneration of native plants, for a whole variety of reasons. In an ideal world such regeneration would take place by natural processes. However there…
  • Initial spacing in radiata pine (Access: unrestricted)
    Wink Sutton, May 2007
    Recent silvicultural improvements, such as seed source – almost all seed now comes from seed orchards – nursery practice, tree handling, planting methods, weed control and the adoption of regimes…
  • Toppling – further advice and insights (Access: unrestricted)
    Author not published, November 2006
    Toppling of young trees is a perpetual problem on some properties, and has been discussed many times in Tree Grower and out at field days. The following contributions, from some…
  • Mighty mycorrhizae (Access: unrestricted)
    Murray Davis & Nick Ledgard, August 2005
    Mycorrhizae are fungi that grow in association with plant roots and assist greatly in the absorption of moisture and nutrients. In effect, they vastly increase the root surface area of…
  • Perfect partners - mycorrhizae and forestry (Access: unrestricted)
    Katrin Walbert, August 2005
    Forest establishment is a critical phase of the forestry cycle, and success at this stage sets the scene for the whole of the rotation. The survival and growth of nursery…

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Forest practice guides

The Forest Practice Guides (2018) are to assist forest owners/managers and contractors to meet legislative requirements of the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) and in particular the National Environmental Standards for Plantation Forestry (NES-PF). They do not replace or override any statutory requirement. For various forestry operations, the guides provide options and information on a range of practices and methods to manage effects of the operations on the environment.
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Vegetation to Manage Erosion
Harvest Slash

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Headlines

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Blogs

  • Spray releasing young trees with glyphosate: Dean Satchell's blog, December 23, 2022
    I'm often been questioned about spray releasing diverse species when helping landowners with the early stages of forest establishment. Spray releasing methods for radiata pine are well established and you can spray right…

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Other sources of information

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Farm Forestry - Headlines

Article archive »