What to use to keep wooded acreage "plantation cut"? Undergrowth mowing?

[Nilesw]

Hi there, a couple of years ago I bought a piece of property that was beautifully manicured under mature trees. I thought that the canopy of the trees was keeping the undergrowth from growing but have since learned that the previous owner burned the property 2 years before I bought. Fast forward 3-4 years and we have a lot of vines and woody weed type undergrowth popping up. My tractor (Kubota L4701) is not nimble enough and I feel it is too much area to do with a walk behind DR type mower. I have considered getting a little rider lawn mower but I wondered if there is not something better out there? The land is not flat but not too terribly hilly. Any ideas?

 

[pmsmechanic]

Re: What to use to keep wooded acreage "plantation cut"? Undergrowth mowing?

Fence it off and buy some goats.

 

[tcreeley]

Re: What to use to keep wooded acreage "plantation cut"? Undergrowth mowing?

A ztr is very nimble and would work well I think. I have a Sears ztl 7000 - not a high priced model and I use it in my woods to keep the roads clear of growth. I also mow what used to be a pasture where my wife rides. It is fast and rugged, much faster than a steering wheel riding mower. I rarely hesitate to run anything over in front of me!

 

[jeff9366]

Re: What to use to keep wooded acreage "plantation cut"? Undergrowth mowing?

I bought a piece of property that was beautifully manicured under mature trees. I thought that the canopy of the trees was keeping the undergrowth from growing but have since learned that the previous owner burned the property 2 years before I bought.

Fast forward 3-4 years and we have a vines and woody weed type undergrowth popping up. My tractor (Kubota L4701) is not nimble enough and I feel it is too much area to do with a walk behind DR type mower. The land is not flat but not too terribly hilly. Any ideas?

We need to know: How many acres?

Helpful: Photos of "vines and woody weed type undergrowth". With no location as part of your profile we are near clueless. Your tractor should be part of your profile too.


With the information you have posted so far I recommend a Field Cultivator.

VIDEO: How to Use a Ripper / Field Cultivator - Gardening Series - YouTube

MORE: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/339095-dirt-dog-all-purpose-plow.html?highlight=

VENDERS: Fred Cain 7 Shank Field Cultivator with 66in bar

Dirt Dog Manufacturing >> Disc Harrows Tillage - All Purpose Plow

 

[smstonypoint]

Re: What to use to keep wooded acreage "plantation cut"? Undergrowth mowing?

We need to know: How many acres?

Helpful: Photos of "vines and woody weed type undergrowth". With no location as part of your profile we are near clueless. Your tractor should be part of your profile too.


With the information you have posted so far I recommend a Field Cultivator.

.........

Depending on the acreage, type of "vines and woody weeds," etc., spraying a herbicide/herbicides could be effective.

Steve

 

[oosik]

Re: What to use to keep wooded acreage "plantation cut"? Undergrowth mowing?

You have us in the dark. No idea of how much land you are talking about - what type of vines & undergrowth( pictures help here).

You know - a shot in the dark is usually of little use.

And BTW - what in the world do you consider "plantation cut" to be. Its certainly not defined in any dictionary I can find.

 

[Nilesw]

Re: What to use to keep wooded acreage "plantation cut"? Undergrowth mowing?

The area is about 3-5 acres or so. I would do more if I can find an efficient way to do it. The brush is mostly 8-15 inch tall new growth of briars, some tiny pines trying to pop up and some Virginia creeper, maybe some little sweet gum trees trying to pop up too. To me plantation cut is no small trees/scrub less than say 8 inch in diameter, easy woods to walk through. I think the term came from pine plantations down here in southeast.

 

[teejk]

Re: What to use to keep wooded acreage "plantation cut"? Undergrowth mowing?

The area is about 3-5 acres or so. I would do more if I can find an efficient way to do it. The brush is mostly 8-15 inch tall new growth of briars, some tiny pines trying to pop up and some Virginia creeper, maybe some little sweet gum trees trying to pop up too. To me plantation cut is no small trees/scrub less than say 8 inch in diameter, easy woods to walk through. I think the term came from pine plantations down here in southeast.

So you are not interested in creating an environment for all the critters (rabbits, grouse, deer, etc.) that want that undergrowth. We currently have a problem in Wisconsin where lack of proper forest management (and we have a lot of forest) has had some effects on the critters that depend on it. The argument can be made that "passive" management is natural but that fails in that any natural fire is now immediately dealt with.

 

[bcp]

Re: What to use to keep wooded acreage "plantation cut"? Undergrowth mowing?

Maybe mow about half every 3-5 years, alternating, so cover remains. Mowing sort of simulates a fire for brush control.

Bruce

 

[4570Man]

Re: What to use to keep wooded acreage "plantation cut"? Undergrowth mowing?

We need to know: How many acres?

Helpful: Photos of "vines and woody weed type undergrowth". With no location as part of your profile we are near clueless. Your tractor should be part of your profile too.


With the information you have posted so far I recommend a Field Cultivator.

VIDEO: How to Use a Ripper / Field Cultivator - Gardening Series - YouTube

MORE: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/339095-dirt-dog-all-purpose-plow.html?highlight=

VENDERS: Fred Cain 7 Shank Field Cultivator with 66in bar

Dirt Dog Manufacturing >> Disc Harrows Tillage - All Purpose Plow

The location is practically useless for this question. We do need pictures and approximate acreage. His post included the tractor model.