planting trees in your pasture

[persimmoncf]

I want to plant trees in my pastures for shade what species would you choose. I need fast growing and non-toxic...any suggestions?

[huntr1]

Do NOT plant Bradford Pears. Very invasive and weak trees. Once they cross polinate with native trees, the offspring have NASTY thorns. You should see the ones on Pax. Ouch.

[DQ2B]

Maybe Royal Empress/Paulownia?

[Lilypad]

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[highnote]

Trees= less grass. Most trees will make the soil much more acidic, which makes it harder for grass to grow. Then you have horses that like to eat the bark. Or they congregate under the trees, and the wear/tear beats on the tree roots so much that the tree dies. You'll also have seedlings popping up all around. My recommendation (learned the hard way) is not to plant any trees in your pasture. Use the run-ins for shade, plus the natural woods line. But planting more trees inside the pastures is more trouble than it's worth. Plant them along the fenceline (on the outside) if anything.

[highnote]

http:///www.aspca.org/Pet-care/poiso...st-horses.aspx

Toxic and non toxic list of plants to horses (from ASPCA)

[persimmoncf]

Thanks guys...awesome info.

[ArkRescue (Premo)]

If you need to protect the trees from the horses while they grow, you can encircle them with electric fencing and use a portable charger. I agree with the post about the "less grass" part.

[persimmoncf]

Originally Posted by highnote

Trees= less grass. Most trees will make the soil much more acidic, which makes it harder for grass to grow. Then you have horses that like to eat the bark. Or they congregate under the trees, and the wear/tear beats on the tree roots so much that the tree dies. You'll also have seedlings popping up all around. My recommendation (learned the hard way) is not to plant any trees in your pasture. Use the run-ins for shade, plus the natural woods line. But planting more trees inside the pastures is more trouble than it's worth. Plant them along the fenceline (on the outside) if anything.

Hi H. Its funny u say that...I agree. I used the word pasture but the two fields are actually my dirt lots/sacrifice area.

[persimmoncf]

Originally Posted by Lilypad

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Love this..thanks Lily.