Not sure is this post is the write category, if not please move.
I have a small 100 acre high fence operation that has about 50-60% wooded terrain. We were hoping to find some government or agricultural support programs that would assist us in planting 10-20 acres of new tree sapling's in an effort to gain more ground cover an hopefully upgrade our habitat.
Is anyone on the forum aware of any such state or federal programs available in Texas that we could contact?
We would greatly appreciate any leads you could offer.
Thank you from the H3 Ranch.
Gary

What wildlife will benefit by planting trees?

So you buy 100 acres. Fence it to keep in the wildlife and want my tax dollars to improve the game that you fenced in. Seems legit

In KS and MO the State Forest Service sells several varieties of bare root seedlings at a very reasonable px. I've bot a bunch of those for different projects.

They've never offered any help in getting them in the ground.

I'd rather support him with my tax dollars than the 4th generation food stamp recipient who is teaching the 5th generation how to not work and live off my money.

best time of year to plant trees..late fall....

Yeah I don't know of any service that will plant them for you, but nearly every states forestry dept will sell bareroot seedlings in bulk, some even sell seedlings in containers with a small root structure already present.

Go to youtube, look up "planting bulk seedlings" and watch, it is really simple process and you just need a small amount of equipment. It will just be your time.

i'd start with the county agent and let him earn his check helping you

Anything you plant will have to be protected on that size place. If I were going to plant I would build enclosure cages out of 5' tall 4"x4"x20'cattle panels. I would plant browse species, forbs and trees that I could collect seeds off of to start new enclosure cages in the future from. I would do several cages to start them after 1 to 2 move the cage to start a new spot. Budget yourself a set dollar amount for the first year to start and then every year after that. Keep track of the plants that do the best and offer the best production from the browsing pressure. Another thing you could do is plant CRP type grasses that grow tall to cover that whole area in or just portions of it. Not going to be as productive for a food source but will give that area cover. NRCS is a good place to start for info and possible advice/help.

I found the gov site in abt 5 clicks. Looks like you are in the monarch butterfly area if Lipan. Doubt you will get any help with trees in that area anyway. What wildlife are you helping by wanting more trees? Exotics you bought or native wildlife?

reality is that habitat development for deer species is best suited by allowing the natural successional process to just happen. You could disc up some dirt this psring in about 2-10 acres and then just let it grow what it grows. As the weeds and grasses and trees take over, just let it grow. That's the best habitat for deer you could "make" although it won't offer much in the way of sun protection....

As mentioned, what is the purpose of the trees and why do you need more than you already have?

I'll check choice c. Neither

Theirs a bunch of forestry companys that will mail you bare root saplings they cater to logging companys re-planting, you should really do this between nov.1-and mar.15 or youll have to water them several times a week to get them started

Check with your local NRCS office

Where is the acreage? The types of trees that will grow vary widely with location. The types of trees that make deer habitat vary widely also. If you’re in east Texas you can get pine saplings for relatively cheap....look up Arborgen. Pine will do ok for cover but is not a food crop. Oaks that make good acorns are better but harder to grow and take longer to grow. If you just want cover, let it grow back naturally and it’ll get thick with understory trees. Other parts of Texas will only grow other types of trees. Have you considered taking seedlings from you’re existing forest land and moving them?

The Gov. is not handing out a lot of money to individuals now a days. Like what was posted on here earlier. Just let nature grow it back. Planting trees or what ever on your own is going to be expensive and labor intensive and may not turn out to your expectations.

It's in Erath cty. High alkalinity. Probably need to stick with what grows naturally around here. Liveoak, Spanish oak, sumac. We have to thin these out around here. Push cedar and you might be surprised at all the new browse you create.

With a place that size and animals on it already...just letting it go back to natural is not going to work to well. Anything that is good or excellent browse plants will get eaten as fast as it grows unless it can be protected. The only plants that will survive are those of low quality or not worth anything for wildlife other than cover. Anything of value to wildlife needs some protection to get establish if wildlife numbers are higher than normal for that habitat.

Very true. It is a little late unless you are willing to thin out what ever is in there to do much now. And like around here very few people want to start from scratch. Me for an example don't have enough years left and you don't know what the next owners will do with the place. Even if they are your Kin.

I’ve owned property that size, and there’s a few things I never once considered doing with it.

1. Calling it a ranch.
2. High fencing it.
3. Asking for someone else to pay for improving it.

So, I just don’t get anything about this post.

Who cares what you guys think, if you can’t answer his question; shut the ____ up.

If it hasn't been suggested already, contact your local extension office. Have someone come out it look at your property. We had the local agriculture specialest visit and look at our forest area when we were thinning out for no charge. You will learn a lot from that visit.

I have like a 1000 oak saplings. White Oak, Burr Oak, Live Oak, Saw tooth, and others. Habitat and food folks. Just keep the hog trash out.

I would like to thank all those who offered intelligent suggestions or ideas. Not being a native Texan I was only looking for practical advice on how to improve our habitat while also providing a little more cover for our animals. I thought that was the whole idea of the THF, to share ideas and experiences.
But for all the other cynical dick heads, I can now understand why so many people turn off the THF.

Hopefully I am not considered one of the dick heads. I gave my best advice in my opinion. My Son works for the USDA and I have heard moneys for individual projects are not given out as freely as they were in years past. I have tried to plant fruit trees in areas where I thought they would thrive. Between the deer and cattle my protective devices failed me. Another time the drought or lack of rain did them in. Letting nature do its work is always the best solution.The vegetation that is native to the area will take over unless there are too many animals wanting the food source. Here where I am cedar will take over in a short time if not controlled. It will provide cover for game but little else. But I am not overstocked and if I take care of the cedar I get Live Oak, Spanish Oak, Persimmon and numerous brush and trees that will come up naturally.