The recent frosts appear to have killed about 20% of our wattle trees. High populations to start with may well be a key to success with this high value, hardwood timber. They were planted almost 12 months ago and many are now over 1 m high.
The tree in the photo shows really good root growth but frost has killed it. member’s experience shows that about 20% of the trees that look dead will sprout away again – as coppice shoots. The trial is showing the importance of planting enough trees to allow for losses due to frost and poor form, or wind damage.
The very hard frosts of 2012 -10 deg C in Darfield area killed many A. dealbata trees. However in Bangor Road, Darfield a small plantation had many good form trees that survived. Seedlings from those trees are now almost ready to plant out in the spring.
The main wattle trial has four spacings and 3 replicates. Infill planting will be completed in the spring, when we assess plots for losses and form. It is clear that frost has played a large part in the losses during winter.