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Home → Publications → Tree Planters' Notes → Tree Planters' Notes Volume 59, Number 1 (2016) → Mulching and Shade Effects on Emergence and Survival of Direct-Seeded Western Redcedar (Thuja plicata)

Mulching and Shade Effects on Emergence and Survival of Direct-Seeded Western Redcedar (Thuja plicata)

Western redcedar (Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don) is an important forest species valued by foresters for its timber value and by the public for its beauty. Regeneration of this tree species, however, is threatened by difficulties in plantation establishment and by predicted climate change. Western redcedar trees are one of the most shade-tolerant species in northwestern forests, but regeneration requires sufficient light and moisture. Previous attempts at direct seeding the species have been mostly unsuccessful. We modified environmental conditions of direct-seeded western redcedar in two ways: we altered (1) light with wire hardware cloth and (2) soil moisture with two types of mulch or no mulch. The treatment without mulch had significantly higher emergence, but seedlings in all treatments did not survive through the first season. Additional environmental factors and establishment strategies need to be considered for successful direct seeding of western redcedar.


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Author(s): Rebecca A. Sheridan, Anthony S. Davis, Diane L. Haase

Publication: Tree Planters' Notes - Volume 59, Number 1 (2016)

Volume: 59

Number: 1