Transplanting Osage seedlings

[Jim Davis]

I have a couple dozen Osage seedlings that are 8 to 10 inches tall. They are close together and need to be given some growing room. When should I replant them?

I'm in far western Kentucky

[Pat B]

Jim, I'd say as soon as you can get them in the ground in the spring. I guess you could do it now and mulch them well to protect them from any freeze/thaw situations. Be sure to water them in good, not just for the moisture but to eliminate any air pockets that can host disease and fungi.

[Eric Krewson]

One thing about osage saplings is the roots go to China, they have a huge taproot. Be careful digging them up so you don't break the tap root off and harm the sapling.

I had a bunch in gallon pots, some of them grew a taproot out the bottom of the pot and into the ground. I didn't know this when I picked up the pots and broke a few of the taproots off, these saplings died.

[bownarra]

Get some mycorrhizal fungi to add to the soil you transplant into. The fungi and microbes present in soil around healthy osage trees will give them a huge head start compaired to any old potting mix.

[Jim Davis]

I'll plan on the end of Feb. I intend to be planting black walnut about the same time.

[PlanB]

Black walnut will poison nearby seedlings of other types.

[Pat B]

What PlanB said. Black Walnut(Juglans nigra) has a chemical(juglone) which inhibits plant growth under or near it. There are some plants that can survive it but most are inhibited. Even the fruit, leaves, roots or saw dust contains this chemical so be careful where you spread the leaves, fruit or saw dust.

[Jim Davis]

Didn't say the walnuts would be near the Osage. I've got 40 acres.

[Selfbowman]

Jim aren’t we to old? 😬😬😬

[Jim Davis]

Not to old to leave something for another generation. I have more self bows than I need and enough billets to make what friends and family might want. Praying for the rapture. :-)

[BowEd]

To some growing osage is like seeing a bank account grow.Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

[Selfbowman]

Well said Jim.