Seedlings transplant very well and are commonly used for establishment in small areas, on steep slopes or where stones prevent the use of machinery. Animal-proof fences are essential for the first two to three years to protect young seedlings from grazing animals. Rabbits and hares are particularly fond of the seedlings and must be excluded. Mature plants recover remarkably well, even from severe overgrazing, if early regrowth is protected. Most plantations consist of shrubs planted in parallel rows about 5 m apart, although distance between rows can be varied.
Interplanted crops grow well because the shrubs provide protection from cold and drying winds.
Experience shows that shrubs in plantations must be kept short and bushy. When seedlings are about 10 months old, they should be cut with a mower or grazed. This encourages the formation of bushes with multiple stems. The time and frequency of further harvests or grazing will be determined by the rate of growth. Until recently, the common practice was to graze or cut the shrubs once a year.