Tree varieties for zone 4-5 eastern Washington

Looking for tree varieties for timber and forest. We have  I believe fir and lodge pole. Not much variety, there are areas of dry semi arid. All the way to heavy moist, we are looking at the dryer portions. Was going to get pinyon pine and juniper looking for 10 more varieties. Was hoping that mesquite would grow but not sure, and I have not found any one growing it this far north. I am definitely going to plant prickly pear. Any other under story, which are edible would be great.

The higher moisture areas are relatively easy but the dry portions. Create more difficulty with selection cause of the how far north we are. Aspect for the property is north west, and west. South facing here is completely dry, we have 3 springs. One runs year round so it is better to not have straight southern exposure.

Thanks
3HR

Why not ask your local park ranger. Or its chief.
Ask your local university.
Better this than introducing non-ecological species .
This is temperate rain forest region you are living?

dirk maes wrote:Why not ask your local park ranger. Or its chief.
Ask your local university.
Better this than introducing non-ecological species .
This is temperate rain forest region you are living?

Last park ranger I talked to could not even name all the plants in the forest.

Local native plant nursery have few options, other than standard timber varieties. And the information I am looking for is permaculture based.

Eastern Washington, is not Western Washington. It is a high elevation rolling timber land. Our property is at 4000+ feet. The upper portion is semi arid. Much of the high basin is almost desert.

I was looking for a discussion of tree species and how they would fit into a permiculture system. The pro and cons of the varieties, and any success or personal experiences.

Thank you
3HR

I would think about peaches, apricots, and nectarines. They will grow better in a dry area like E. Wash than western.  Most of our traditional fruit trees are hardy, so apple, pear, plum, cherry should be fine.

I don't grow timber trees so I wouldn't know on that one.  Many medicinals and berries grow better in cold areas than hot.  Rhodiola, Schisandra, hascap, hardy and arctic kiwi, cloud berrries come to mind.
John S
PDX OR

I have started seeding apricots, was hoping for almonds. But it seems they can't take the cold. I have an area set aside for tree fruit cropping, that is moister.

Was thinking of Jeffery pine, and some kinds of dwarf pine or conifers. Was also thinking of mass planting of larch. With the dropping annually of the needles to improve the soil.

Thanks
3HR

We are also up for any discussion of breeding or varieties, what can we do to move small pasture livestock forward. Please see our other discussions about our 40 acre future homestead

https://permies.com/t/59741/HR-homestead-future

Our current urban 1.5 acre homestead

https://permies.com/t/67869/Seattle-homestead

Tree varieties for eastern Washington

https://permies.com/t/88417/Tree-varieties-zone-eastern-Washington

Thank you
Brian
3HR

When I bought land in Stevens County, I had to have a forester evaluate the property and write up a management plan to maintain the timber production tax status. I'm at a lower elevation of 1900' and it's right on the edge of zone 5/6. I explained that I hoped to grow a lot of osage orange (as a hedgerow/fence around at least fruit/nut trees to hold back deer) and black locust and red maple for coppice firewood. With the lower rainfall he recommended I avoid the maple but the other 2 would be fine. Both of these can handle zone 4, as well as poor soil conditions. You can grow them from seeds very affordably, and black locust grows pretty fast, and is a nitrogen fixer.

Black and honey locust are great, I have seeds and I'm planning on planting in the fall. Been trying to find a oak to plant for mast production. But it's hard most are not toleratant of the cold. I have considered Osage orange but the placement of my proposed hedgerows seems to dry but I may give it a try. Hedgerow plants for drier climate would be great. I really want mesquite, and prickly pear.

The biggest problem seems to be the combination of cold and dry. Alot of suggested plants for drier are Mediterranean can't take the cold. I want to add more diversity to the existing varieties, with an aim to more food production. Also long term for timber to build with and craft.

Thank you for your comments were there any suggestions for the timber stand?

Thanks
Brian
3HR

See our plans for the future homestead

https://permies.com/t/40/59741/HR-homestead-future#738608

I have mostly ponderosa and lodgepole currently, he didn't see any disease issues so the plan is to plant the hardwoods I want, and in 5 years look to remove marketable trees. For my plans, that's removing trees around 14-16" DBH for the posts, beams, and girders. I figure I can get 2-3 pieces of the right length from each tree, so probably 10 trees or so in total for that.

I also have a 34" DBH tree that may add another inch or so in the next few years, if I make an Alaskan mill I could turn that trunk into tabletops, countertops, shelving, square beams, and anything else needing milled wood (assuming it doesn't kill me when I fell it, it's a monster of a tree). I doubt it has much more growing potential, and if I leave it alone it could get sickly and rot.

Found a place with prickly pear for sale still looking for more information on shrubs. I have a bunch of seeds I'm going to try. And I'm thinking of trying some varieties of cypress,and definitely the pinyon pine along with a few other varieties of pine may be the best options. On the ridge top planning on some mugo pine. Dose any one know of any other cactus which can grow in a zone 4-5? I'm also going to get a couple 100 lartch/tamarack to plant out. With the seasonal drop of needles harvested to improve the soil.

Please see our other discussions,

Our current urban 1.5 acre homestead

https://permies.com/t/67869/Seattle-homestead

Tree varieties for eastern Washington

https://permies.com/t/88417/Tree-varieties-zone-eastern-Washington

Homestead hog project

https://permies.com/t/90096/Pig-share-project-AGH-cross

Thank you
Brian
3HR

See our new topic about selling our house.

https://permies.com/t/102145/acre-urban-homestead-property-sale#842306

Thanks
Brian
3HR

Check out our new topic on the search for a new home, and discussion of building a basic home.


https://permies.com/t/103039/Eastern-Washington-house-land-garage#849925

Thank you
Brian
3HR

Well we are buying a property farther south and a zone warmer. Looking for riparian habitat shrubs and trees there are cork screw willows, and other willows will be on the list. Check out our new topic on it.

https://permies.com/t/110258/permaculture-projects/home-HR-journey-freedom#902072

Thank you
3HR