Shelterbelt Program
2016 Subsidized Trees Shelterbelt Program Launch
I am pleased to announce the launching of the 2016 Shelterbelt Program from HELP’s new 160 acre tree farm a few miles outside of Weyburn. HELP has produced and harvested an unprecedented 600,000 container root tree seedlings for the 2016 program. This program builds on our 2015 program that marketed close to 300,000 subsidized $1.50 trees to landowners across all three prairie provinces.
Type of Trees
I am pleased to inform that 100% of the trees provided for the 2016 program are container root trees produced at HELP nurseries at Weyburn. Container root seedlings are considered by many to be far more superior to bare root varieties for the reason that container root seedlings can be transported and planted while dormant or while in full leaf during the growing season. However, spring or fall planting are still considered the best options.
Program Roll-Out Saturday, November 8, 2015
Beginning Saturday, November 8, HELP will be taking application for trees. As per promise, the HELP subsidized rate of $1.50 per seedling for shelterbelt quantities of 300 trees or more combining all varieties ordered continues. Price is $2.50 per seedling for global orders less than 300 seedlings. HELP will not consider orders less than 50 trees global order. This helps to protect private greenhouse interests.
Any order of 50 trees or more is considered a shelterbelt program. So this is the simple method HELP is using to allow farms, schools, towns, and environmental organizations to qualify. That is, if someone is ordering 50 trees or more HELP assumes the trees are not being used for strictly ornamental reasons.
November Early Bird Discount
HELP is offering an unprecedented 6% discount for November tree orders.
Methods of Ordering
There are several ways of ordering trees. To order trees the public can:
- i) Purchase on line at help-shelterbelts.comand click on ‘Store’
- ii) Download an application form which can be manually filled out and faxed, emailed or mailed to HELP with a cheque payment or credit card information for payment.
iii) Make a telephone order by calling HELP at 306-842-2433 or to 306-897-5411
Varieties of Trees
In this first year of utilizing 100% HELP produced trees, HELP focused on 600,000 tree production of the fastest growing hybrid poplar and willow varieties only. These included
Hybrid Poplars: Walker, Okanese and Assiniboine
Willow Varieties: Golden, Silver leaf and Pussy Willow
Simple Shelterbelt Design
These varieties, properly planned can create the quickest possible shelterbelt. A simple effective four row shelterbelt for a 500 meter long shelterbelt might be:
Outside Row: Mixed Willow (100 Golden and 100 Silver leaf) planted at 2.5 meter spacing
2nd Row: 200 Walker Poplar with trees planted at 2.5 meter (8 foot) spacing
Inside Row: 200 Okanese of Assiniboine Poplar planted at 2.5 meter spacing
Total Trees Required for Above 500 meter Shelterbelt Program: 800 Tree Seedlings
Total Cost for Tree Seedlings for this 500 meter x Four Row Program:
800 regular size seedlings @ $1.50 = $1,200
6% discount for November Purchase: ($ 76)
Sub-Total: $ 1,128
Packaging and Shipping: 800 Seedlings @$0.14 = $ 112
New Sub-Total: $1,240
GST: $ 62
Total for Manitoba and Alberta Customers: $1,302
PST for Sask Residents Only: $ 62
Total for Sask Residents: $1,364 (for 800 trees on four rows of 500 meters each)
For the above four row shelterbelt program at four meter spacing between rows, the landowner would have fine till to six inch depth like a garden, 50 foot width x 500 meters long around the property.
New tree Varieties in the works at HELP:
The following is the roll out for additional trees in the near future:
Fall 2016: Lilac, Manitoba Maple
Fall 2017: Tristis Poplar, North West Poplar, American Elm, Laurel Willow
Lowest Maintenance Tree Planting Suggestion
The lowest maintenance tree planting involves planting the trees, then installing plastic mulch film by machine that HELP can loan out (HELP also sells the plastic mulch film) and lastly broadcast and harrow 30 lb per acre or more of common creeping red fescue. Costs for the 50 lb of fescue for this is about $109. Plastic mulch for this 2,000 meter (500 meter x four rows) planting woudl be 4.33 rolls of mulch …meaning 5 rolls of mulch at $192.50 per roll including taxes = $962.50. Alberta and Manitoba customers can purchase mulch from vendors in their provinces to save on freight.
Rodney Sidloski, CEO
HELP International
Tel: 306-842-2433
Cell:306-861-0814