trail clearing technique and tools

[ArlyA]

Its normal, at least here in the northern hardwood for the wildlife to change to larger animals (and different small ones) when forest was cut or burned over. That's how the system works. As far as leaving dangerous tree standing, we have moved trails to allow hikers to pass a tree that could not be safely cut. You kinda need to do one or the other.

 

[airbiscuit]

When we had several small clear cuts done, we had a huge increase in songbirds, followed by an increase in hawks!

Making trails out of logging trails was a breeze. Making trails through the slash was a pain.

 

[EscapedSuburbia]

What's coming up in their place? Hopefully trees and not stilt grass!

On my property a lot of them are more ash. I have oak, walnut, maple, and sweet gum coming up too, but more ash than anything. I'm starting to think I should just cut down ash saplings to encourage the other species since as soon as the ashes start to mature the Emerald Ash Borers will get them.

 

[Milo]

Right now stiltgrass until I can get all the tree parts moved and the rest come down.
It's a mess.

I curse the stuff! I've fighting olive and rose, stilt grass out where it can be mowed is no big deal but when it takes through the forest it's impossible to stop.

On my property a lot of them are more ash. I have oak, walnut, maple, and sweet gum coming up too, but more ash than anything. I'm starting to think I should just cut down ash saplings to encourage the other species since as soon as the ashes start to mature the Emerald Ash Borers will get them.

Maybe so but I'd probably leave some to grow just in case the ash borer runs its course at some point.

 

[Zork]

“… I also may buy some of their string next time, it seemed much more durable then any other I’ve used.”

Does string have a shelf life? Does it become brittle when exposed to heat or stored in a non conditioned garage?
The reason I ask, I have a spool of weed wacker string that I’ve been working on for about thirty years and I “quess” it seems fine. I’ve been satisfied with my changeouts most of the time, but that could be due to what I’ve tried to cut with it.

 

[ArlyA]

Does string have a shelf life? Does it become brittle when exposed to heat or stored in a non conditioned garage?
The reason I ask, I have a spool of weed wacker string that I’ve been working on for about thirty years and I “quess” it seems fine. I’ve been satisfied with my changeouts most of the time, but that could be due to what I’ve tried to cut with it.

Doesn't seem to make much difference in our book. Coundion of the weeds and shoots you are cutting makes more of a difference. We store our will be used next strings in water but I'm not sure that helps or not. Are you running a bump head or cam lock style head?

 

[dodge man]

I’ve had older string that seemed more brittle, I’m talking 5 years old. It’s just seat of the pants guessing though. It’s mostly seems to be what I’m cutting or what I’m cutting against.

 

[ArlyA]

Was getting strings out of my watered string box this morning and found it had a skim of ice.

 

[Zork]

“… Are you running a bump head or cam lock style head?”

Bump Head

 

[Zork]

Does string have a shelf life? Does it become brittle when exposed to heat or stored in a non conditioned garage?
The reason I ask, I have a spool of weed wacker string that I’ve been working on for about thirty years and I “quess” it seems fine. I’ve been satisfied with my changeouts most of the time, but that could be due to what I’ve tried to cut with it.

Dr Google and Mr. Ai says,
“Yes, trimmer line can have a shelf life, as it may become brittle and less effective over time, especially if not stored properly. To extend its lifespan, it's recommended to keep it away from direct sunlight and moisture, and some users suggest storing it in water to maintain flexibility.”

I learn something every day. For those of you storing your string in water, do you make your water from melting dry ice?

 

[ArlyA]

Bump Head

If you are cutting tough weeds or tree shoots, I'd suggest going to larger, cam lock head and run 155. That's what we run here.

 

[ArlyA]

Clearing trail at camp over the weekend. Does cooler string work better? Did run the same strings for the whole day. No idea why.

 

[Milo]

Arly is that stilt grass you're cutting?

 

[ArlyA]

Arly is that stilt grass you're cutting?

I don't believe he have that up here.

 

[Milo]

Count your blessings!

 

[ArlyA]

Count your blessings!

What have you used to knock it down?

 

[kenmbz]

I used Milestone on my stiltgrass, works great on the grass in open areas.

Unfortunately the stiltgrass comes up through everything, including junipers, so we can't kill it all.
The deer etc. won't touch it.
When it gets to 2-3foot maturity, it seeds and then falls over so it suffocates anything else in the spring.
Nasty stuff, in rose bushes, veggy garden, woods, pretty much everywhere you look.
Deer will walk through and spread seeds etc.
I spend more time on SG eradication than anything else, trying to find tree trunks, branches and rocks to clear an area is tough with that stuff covering it.

 

[Milo]

What have you used to knock it down?

Pretty much as Ken described.

Not so bad where it can be mowed and mowing short in fall greatly reduces it seeding much, and it dies annually, but just one plant can make 100's of seeds. And you can't mow where it grows around rocks, through briars, and takes off through the forest. No way a nut can grow to a sapling through the stuff so the forest can't regenerate.

 

[walhondingMF]

On my property a lot of them are more ash. I have oak, walnut, maple, and sweet gum coming up too, but more ash than anything. I'm starting to think I should just cut down ash saplings to encourage the other species since as soon as the ashes start to mature the Emerald Ash Borers will get them.

I had a local forester recommend allowing as many young ash making as you can, even if the ash borer eventually gets them. This will maybe keep them around enough to potentially find a solution in the near future maybe?

 

[EscapedSuburbia]

I had a local forester recommend allowing as many young ash making as you can, even if the ash borer eventually gets them. This will maybe keep them around enough to potentially find a solution in the near future maybe?

I actually just had this conversation with a guy from my county soil and water conservation district yesterday. He said they're most likely going to be killed so just remove them and put in something hardier like oaks. What got the conversation started is that I was ordering a few hundred seedlings from the state forestry site and I could save shipping if I could pick them up at my county SWCD office so I gave them a call. The forestry service still sells green ash seedlings so somebody there agrees with your assessment that we should try to keep them around.