Why is it that you always see old oak trees planted in straight rows on farms and estates?
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Answers:
Wind breaks. Helps to slow the wind and prevent soil erosion. Followed property lines. Left as much property as possible to farm. This was pushed after the dust bowl years as a way to prevent soil erosion. Still recommended today by the Soil & Water Conservation folks in Illinois.
Sometimes plants where used as a cheaper alternative to fenses. This was especially true where wood was in limited supply.
In Europe they were used to indicate property borders. I should imagine they must be planted that way for the same reason.
because it is easier to mow stright lines, long time ago mowers were not user friendly.
We plant the tree for windbreak not only for protection of the fields but also to give wind protection around the house. We try to keep as much of the top soil as possible. We plant them in rows to use up the least amount of space as possible. It is not just oak trees though, some are nut bearing trees that can be used as another source of income or home use. Some farmers plant evergreens around the houses for more resistance of the wind.
Hope this helps
They were originally for wind breaks so the wind wouldn't blow the young crops away. Also, here in Illinois, there are a lot of Hedgeapple trees out in the middle of fields. They were used as property lines. The lines of trees you see next to old farm houses, were used to provide shade in the summer, and stop the cold wind blasts of winter. No AC back then. Boy them old farmers were smart!
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