10 Acres of Brush

[SLOBuds]

Please excuse this first post. I have lurked for a few months, getting somewhat closer to making a few decisions with GREAT help from info on this board. Thanks alot.

We bought 10 beautiful acres in the central coast of California, and know (next to) nothing about various aspects of land management. City slickers.

My question has to do with brush that covers most of the 10 acres.

When we purchased the land in November, the whole property had what looked like close-cropped, almost mowed, 'grass'. It was dead and brown in most places. Now there are weeds about 3' or 4' high on most of the property. We don't know if it needs to be mowed, turned under, left alone, or some other alternative.

If we leave it alone, it seems like the tall weeds would eventually break down when they die and create some sort of havoc - but we don't know that to be the case. And we don't otherwise think the weeds have to be cut down if it isn't necessary.

So now the questions: do we need to tend to this brush in any way from the perspective of land management, and if so, how is it done and what tools should we use? A tractor is in the horizon relatively soon.

The land is hilly with flat areas too. I'd say that 25% is pretty flat, and the rest is hilly. Not too steep. I'm sure that a tractor would be able to navigate safely on the slopes. There are some trees on the property. But again, it is mostly field and many different types of tractors can probably get around/under the trees.

One other thing is that I have some houses on the property that also need mowing. In these areas there are more trees and the brush is more lawn-like. I'm thinking that these areas will need to be 'mowed' using different tools than what might be needed for the rest of the property - but of course it would be nice if I could use the same equipment.

Thanks for your help.

Martin Petersen

 

[SLOBuds]

And a sample picture of the hills ...

 

[tc35dforme]

Martin...First off, that land looks pretty nice !!!

Now simple progression....grasses become woody weeds...woody weeds become small brush....small brush becomes trees or a wildfire !!

Looks like you'd have your hands full trying to mow that area and keep it tame. Any animals on the horizon ??? They can do a nice job of hill-mowin'.

 

[dourobob]

Looks like a very fine place to call home.

Welcome to the TBN forums. Lots of great experience here - but you already know that.

Bob

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Hello Martin--Welcome to TBN--Really nice property--How about hiring a custom operator to come in and Brush Hog the larger grasses before they get out of control or rent a similar outfit for a weekend--You should be able to maintain the yards with conventional lawn mowing equip. until the tractor comes into play, later on??--Ken Sweet
Sweet Farm Equipment Co.

 

[Bird]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( A tractor is in the horizon relatively soon. )</font>

In view of the fact that you expect to buy a tractor, I think I'd go ahead and get one. It's hard to say just what to get without knowing just what you intend to do on that property, but I'd be looking for a tractor in the 30hp (+/-), 4WD, hydrostatic transmission, front end loader, and a rotary cutter (brush hog) just a little wider than the outside of the rear tractor wheels And it sounds like you're also going to want a finish mower in the near future, too. Looks like a pretty place.

 

[SLOBuds]

Thanks for the notes.

Well, right now we have 8-10 projects that call for a tractor. But some of those projects are clean-up of the site, which will be 1 time purposes only. We are pulling down old structures, fixing some serious drainage problems, pulling out poles and posts that are long abandoned, moving dirt here and there, filling in an old lap pool, etc. So far, without anything but hand tools at all, we have removed 12 tons of debris off the property.

These are obvious 1-time projects that I can probably rent a tractor for as needed.

I'm still trying to learn what ONGOING maintenance-type of projects will be. Brush control seems to be one of them. We have a gravel driveway which seems to be another. We plan for an orchard - tilling or whatever that takes, as another. Ongoing chipping and schredding. Probably more dirt-moving now and then. Nothing obvious now relative to ditch-digging. Maybe a few projects for installing poles/posts. Etc.

I'd like to watch this board a little longer, make a list of what I think the ongoing projects will be, and then post again at that time. The community here just seems fantastic - when others have done similar to me, the recommendations appear to be right on.

One question though - is it bad for the land to simply leave those bushes uncut? Is there some natural process we would miss by leaving them uncut - excluding the appearance factors, that is?

Thanks again.

Martin Petersen

 

[tc35dforme]

Martin, your not considering the most important factor in tractor ownership...the FUN. You know...boys and their toys !!

I don't see any negative impact on the land by letting it grow short of the increased difficulty dealing with the space in the future. Grass is easy to mow...trees and scrub become a different matter.

Are you far enough north to be out of the regular wildfire area ??

 

[BB_TX]

That is a beautiful place. Is that a whitetail under the tree?

<font color="blue"> One question though - is it bad for the land to simply leave those bushes uncut? </font>
You can tell what the land will look like uncut by looking at other land in the area that is never cut or grazed. Then you can determine if that is the look you want.
You can maintain the pastures by mowing only 3 or 4 times a year or less if all you want to do is keep it from growing up in brush. Tall weeds (even 3' - 4') are not difficult to mow with a decent size tractor (~25-35hp) and rotary cutter.

 

[n6ckv]

SLOBuds

Nice looking property! I am in the Gilroy area with 5 acres, looked in the area you are in. Make sure you stay on top fo the weed control because of the fire danger (in most of Calif). Were you living in the area during the Hwy41 fire? Find your local Fire Prevention Officer and talk to them.