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Post by Catscratch on Dec 24, 2018 11:25:44 GMT -6
I only have so much time and money for purchased habitat (apple trees and cages) so I've shifted quite a bit of my focus towards native stuff. I think most of you know from previous threads that I lack woody cover more than anything so I've been experimenting and here is what's working for me with minimaleffert and cost.
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Post by Catscratch on Dec 24, 2018 11:26:42 GMT -6
Brushpiles! Brushpiles become instant bird perches, seed collectors, and protection from browsers (deer and cattle). Way cheaper and easier than fence but a lot less controlled also.  This is mostly redbud, plum and hedge growing out of 3yr old brushpile. A lot of it is 10-12ft tall... cheap and easy!  |
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Post by Catscratch on Dec 24, 2018 11:27:10 GMT -6
Oaks come up readily on the place. They are usually on the fringe of forest so they currently aren't wide spread but they do provide a means for expansion. I've found a little pruning to encourage vertical growth gives a tree an advantage pretty quickly. I'm trying to make sure that I keep a variety and not just focusing on one species. Burr, Chinkapin, Pin, and DCO grow native and I'm trying to help them all expand their range on the place.   |
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Post by Catscratch on Dec 24, 2018 11:28:00 GMT -6
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Post by Catscratch on Dec 24, 2018 11:28:40 GMT -6
This hillside is something I would like to have a forest on. There are hedge trees scattered around on it, a little pruning and they will form nice trees in just a few years.  This is the other side of the hill, I want the first pic to like the far side of this hillside.  |
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Post by Catscratch on Dec 24, 2018 11:31:41 GMT -6
Finally. This is a sawtooth that I direct seeded a couple of years ago and then walked away. My first efforts to direct seed acorns just fed rats so I took some pvc and pounded it into the ground around the acorn that I had stomped into the ground. I then placed a cone of window screen into the pvc. Once the acorn sprouted I pulled the cone off and left it be. No watering or anything. Today I pruned it, hopefully it shoots up in the next year or two.   |
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Post by Freeborn on Dec 24, 2018 11:55:58 GMT -6
Brushpiles! Brushpiles become instant bird perches, seed collectors, and protection from browsers (deer and cattle). Way cheaper and easier than fence but a lot less controlled also. This is mostly redbud, plum and hedge growing out of 3yr old brushpile. A lot of it is 10-12ft tall... cheap and easy! What does this represent? Did you cut the shrubs down to make the pile? Is the pile for rabbits? I have two areas of shrubs on my place, one with willow and the other with ROD, I plan on cutting them into cuttings and replanting in other areas. I'll also fertilize the areas I cut the shrubs to improve their growth . |
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Post by Catscratch on Dec 24, 2018 12:05:26 GMT -6
Brushpiles! Brushpiles become instant bird perches, seed collectors, and protection from browsers (deer and cattle). Way cheaper and easier than fence but a lot less controlled also. This is mostly redbud, plum and hedge growing out of 3yr old brushpile. A lot of it is 10-12ft tall... cheap and easy! What does this represent? Did you cut the shrubs down to make the pile? Is the pile for rabbits? I have two areas of shrubs on my place, one with willow and the other with ROD, I plan on cutting them into cuttings and replanting in other areas. I'll also fertilize the areas I cut the shrubs to improve their growth . The brushpiles where placed in pure grass, no shrubs there at all to start with. It's an easy way to thickets started in open spots where there are no woody plants to begin with. The piles are for both small game and deer. I've found in the wide open pastures that deer tend to adjust their travel paths to go next to the piles, even if there is nothing there for them except a little security. |
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Post by Freeborn on Dec 24, 2018 12:24:13 GMT -6
What does this represent? Did you cut the shrubs down to make the pile? Is the pile for rabbits? I have two areas of shrubs on my place, one with willow and the other with ROD, I plan on cutting them into cuttings and replanting in other areas. I'll also fertilize the areas I cut the shrubs to improve their growth . The brushpiles where placed in pure grass, no shrubs there at all to start with. It's an easy way to thickets started in open spots where there are no woody plants to begin with. The piles are for both small game and deer. I've found in the wide open pastures that deer tend to adjust their travel paths to go next to the piles, even if there is nothing there for them except a little security. That's a good idea, so if I wanted to make a line of movement where I want deer to pass I could use brush piles? Do the shrubs that grow up through the brush pile come from the birds spreading seeds? Great idea. |
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Post by Catscratch on Dec 24, 2018 12:47:45 GMT -6
The brushpiles where placed in pure grass, no shrubs there at all to start with. It's an easy way to thickets started in open spots where there are no woody plants to begin with. The piles are for both small game and deer. I've found in the wide open pastures that deer tend to adjust their travel paths to go next to the piles, even if there is nothing there for them except a little security. That's a good idea, so if I wanted to make a line of movement where I want deer to pass I could use brush piles? Do the shrubs that grow up through the brush pile come from the birds spreading seeds? Great idea. I don't even use a line, just a pile between patches of cover and they will key off of it. I'm assuming it's mostly from birds but there is probably plenty in the seed bank also. Thanks. |
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Post by Sandbur on Dec 24, 2018 15:20:56 GMT -6
Oaks come up readily on the place. They are usually on the fringe of forest so they currently aren't wide spread but they do provide a means for expansion. I've found a little pruning to encourage vertical growth gives a tree an advantage pretty quickly. I'm trying to make sure that I keep a variety and not just focusing on one species. Burr, Chinkapin, Pin, and DCO grow native and I'm trying to help them all expand their range on the place. Good cover in that background! |
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Post by Catscratch on Dec 24, 2018 15:46:16 GMT -6
Oaks come up readily on the place. They are usually on the fringe of forest so they currently aren't wide spread but they do provide a means for expansion. I've found a little pruning to encourage vertical growth gives a tree an advantage pretty quickly. I'm trying to make sure that I keep a variety and not just focusing on one species. Burr, Chinkapin, Pin, and DCO grow native and I'm trying to help them all expand their range on the place. Good cover in that background! Great cover! It covers a very small percentage of the place though. |
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Post by Sandbur on Dec 25, 2018 8:02:00 GMT -6
Cat, have you checked soil pH in various locations? Could you be too basic for apples?
I have assumed most crabs will tolerate a pH of .5 units lower than regular apples. I don’t know if crabs tolerate higher pH than apples or not.
You might find some locations with differing pH.
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Post by sd51555 on Dec 25, 2018 8:46:23 GMT -6
I really like that brushpile idea.
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Post by Bwoods11 on Dec 25, 2018 8:49:14 GMT -6
This is overgrown pasture? Some of the best cover! Looks nice
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