establishment of trees

Before planting trees on a commercial scale it is often necessary to cultivate the ground. Here a scarifier breaks up the ground where a previous crop has been harvested. It produces a ridge and furrow not dissimilar to ploughed ground. The young trees will be planted on the side of the ridge. If they are planted in the bottom of the furrow they may become waterlogged. Conversely if they are planted on the ridge they are prone to desiccation. Click on the picture to see and hear the scarifier in action.