Glades and meadows

[cmhyland]

I have some overgrown area at the back of our lower field that has filled in with White Birches, White Pines and some Hemlock.

I would like to clear this in a way as to have a "glade". I want to leave some trees with filtered light and grass growing below.... Open enough to support wildflowers and grass.

How would you do this? Just start cutting, or inventory what is there and determine what to keep.

It's about 1/2 to 3/4 of an acre so not too big a job but we have about 4 more acres of woods that we can spread this process into.

It would seem having a plan before firing up the saw and chipper would
be best...

Anyone done this and have pics?

Thanks,
Chris

 

[woodlandfarms]

I have some overgrown area at the back of our lower field that has filled in with White Birches, White Pines and some Hemlock.

I would like to clear this in a was as to have a glade. I want to leave some trees with filtered light and grass growing below.... Open enough to support wildflowers and grass.

How would you do this? Just start cutting or inventory what is there and determine what to keep.


Anyone done this and have pics?

Thanks,
Chris

I just did something like this for my forestry management requirements... I have a number of "groves" of Alders... Right now is good time to do this cause spring time you won't be able to see the forest through the trees..

I went through and picked out healthy specimens and tagged them with marking tape... I did leave a few rougher trees for forest personality. I then went and got the chain saw and started cutting... For me I went low to the ground, and the thickest I cut was 4" and 30' hiigh... I did this because it will be too dense to run a tractor through to get the stumps out....

BUT!!! I went into the house after 4 hours of work (and about 1/100th done) and sat down for lunch... and could not get back up. For the first time in my life I threw my back out. It has been 2 weeks and I am still struggling with it....

 

[cmhyland]

I like the idea of marking the keepers with a surveyers tape or something.

You can always go back an thin a few extra out.

The pines are rough looking because they were crowded in there so the shape of them is not good.

I may be able to keep a few and trim up the branches from the ground to about 6 feet.

I'd actually have to do some thinning to ba able to walk through it....

It's very dense. Lots and lots of saplings.... They chip up fast though....

Regards,
Chris

 

[weldingisfun]

By all means have a plan. You should do as woodlandfarms said. Identify the weak or sickly trees and mark (paint, tape, etc) them for removal. Then the work begins. You will have to visualize what you want it to look like when you are done. Without leaves, you will be able to see up into the branches and you should be able to identify problem areas such as interlocking branches that could cause problems when felling. Lokkt at your future glade from as many angles as possible and again, id and mark the tress to remove. If possible, avoid the problem that woodlandfarms had by using a winch, draft animal, or long chains and your tractor to drag the fallen trees out to where you can hook on and drag to your burn pile or chipping area.
Good luck and let us see before, during and after pics of your project.

 

[weldingisfun]

I like the idea of marking the keepers with a surveyers tape or something.

You can always go back an thin a few extra out.

The pines are rough looking because they were crowded in there so the shape of them is not good.

I may be able to keep a few and trim up the branches from the ground to about 6 feet.

I'd actually have to do some thinning to ba able to walk through it....

It's very dense. Lots and lots of saplings.... They chip up fast though....

Regards,
Chris

Why mark the keepers? Mark those you will remove and save having to go back in to retrieve the tape. If you mark the ones to be cut, you can also use paint. Much easier and faster.

 

[cmhyland]

I'd mark the keepers because there are thousands of saplings and small trees and I'll keep 30 or 40 in this small area...

Regards,
Chris

 

[scott_vt]

Afternoon Chris,
Seems ashame to cut down the white birches, but if they gotta go for a project I understand. The only time I cut them down is when they are dead or dying !

 

[cmhyland]

Scott,

There are alot of them in this space.... An old timer told me that when you see a stand of white birches that there was most likely a fire there...

I guess they like the ash in the soil?

Regards,
Chris

 

[MarkV]

Chris, sounds like a fun project. Not sure how it is in your state but we have had the state forester out to our place several times for advice on forest management. He has been helpful, knowledgeable and it was free. May be worth looking into what is available in your area.

I sure do wish that white birch grew in our area.

MarkV

 

[andrewj]

Why mark the keepers? Mark those you will remove and save having to go back in to retrieve the tape. If you mark the ones to be cut, you can also use paint. Much easier and faster.

hehe, whether you mark keepers or cutters depends on which you have fewer of....sometimes highlighting the whole page defeats the purpose of highlighting...