In tax season, investors pay particular attention to how their portfolios perform in a volatile marketplace. Their stocks are not the only assets subject to annual and seasonal fluctuations. A sound investment in plant stocks can significantly increase the wildlife habitat value of a parcel of land over the short and long term, but only if properly managed.
Plan
Like financial assets, landowners must determine their long-term goals and choose the best assets to achieve them. Fortunately, outcomes are more predictable when it comes to plants.
Preparing a plant portfolio begins with selecting stock best suited to the local climate, and the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone map is a valuable guide. Furthermore, the “advisors” at Chestnut Hill Outdoors check every order to ensure it is adequately suited to its destination. Next comes putting assets in the right place – selecting locations on the property where the plants will be most productive. That might include avoiding low-lying areas, especially where cold air can be trapped or too much moisture collects, and opting for open areas with sufficient sunlight and proper soil conditions.
Diversify
Dirt wisdom tells us that putting all our eggs in one basket is not a good idea. Just as diverse portfolios safeguard against unexpected changes in the marketplace, a diversity of plants ensures productivity despite seasonal fluctuations. For example, a blend of clover and chicory may be better than a monoculture of either. The clover will thrive in average to wetter conditions, while the chicory’s deeper roots will ensure some production should soil moisture be scarce.
Similarly, planting several varieties of red and white oaks will increase the chance there is always some hard mast available for wildlife. Red oaks take two years to mature, and a late frost could delay production for several years. White oaks take only one year to mature, and different species drop their acorns at different times in the fall. Adding soft mast species like plums, persimmons, and mulberries expands the seasonal availability of nutrition and provides more cover.
Plant
Investing is always a gamble; putting assets into an unfavorable market could prove wasteful and costly. Fortunately, land managers can hedge their bets by creating more favorable conditions. That means soil testing, applying proper mineral supplements, choosing proper treatment (tilling or discing), and applying herbicides. It all begins with the soil and proper pre-planting conditions to improve production. Proper spacing, watering, and pruning are required for mast orchards.
Maximize
It is also essential to understand the interactions between individual “assets.” This step
also involves planning and diversity. Having a variety of plants ensures at least some productivity in poorer conditions in the short term, but some stocks will ultimately out-produce others over the long term. Even in their younger years, Dunstan Chestnuts produce more nutritious nuts. They also flower later in spring and lack the cyclical nature of oaks, so production is more stable and reliable. Chestnut trees grow faster and bigger than oaks and may begin bearing nuts within 2-5 years, whereas a white oak might not bear for 20 years. At maturity, Dunstan Chestnut trees can produce up to 2,000 pounds of nuts per acre. How is that for a return on investment?
Protect
Even the soundest investment needs some safeguarding. For food plots, that means regularly testing the soil and applying prescribed minerals and fertilizer. For mast orchards, it is essential in the first few years when young stock needs sufficient moisture, protection from pests, disease, competition, and pruning to promote better growth. As the investments mature and pay bigger dividends, they still need monitoring and maybe an occasional helping hand in reducing competition and removing damaged or infested limbs. However, if landowners follow the proper steps above, the benefits would far outweigh the cost of the initial investment and continue to pay dividends for future generations.
