Step 3. Develop your tree layout

Once you have decided why you are planting trees on your property, it is time to decide where they should be planted.

Some places to think about where to place trees or manage vegetation:

• Shelterbelts around the farm perimeter and on the windward side of future paddocks. Shelterbelts can be wide or narrow. Wider belts might be used around the boundary for privacy or biosecurity, narrower belts for internal paddocks, and when reducing paddock size (e.g., a smaller mob size of ewes will improve lamb survival, most probably due to lower incidence of mismothering.)
• Around farm dams and wetlands, and along waterways. It is important to consider where trees are planted around dams to ensure dam banks and drainage ways are not impacted by root growth.
• Beside farm roads and laneways in poorly drained areas to absorb excess water and improve all-weather access.
• Poorly drained, rocky and steep areas, and areas susceptible to erosion, not suitable for farm production.
• Timber trees should be accessible for harvesting and transporting timber. Timber blocks can also provide grazing and shelter for stock in extreme conditions.
• Wildlife corridors (at least 5 rows wide) and habitat plantings to improve the connectivity of vegetation on the farm, with neighboring properties or connecting remnants on public land
• Around existing paddock trees to provide for replacement. Plant a new tree or trees where there is a dead tree and leave the dead tree for habitat.
• Protecting remnant vegetation and seeding and /or planting to improve condition and habitat values.
• Ensure you avoid planting near residences, buildings and other infrastructure to reduce fire or other risks.

When deciding on a location to plant trees, always keep in mind the goal, or goals, you have set for your trees on farm. It is important to ensure plantings will help achieve the on-farm objectives identified in the previous step.