Pine Forest-What to Do?

[scodemike]

I am looking for suggestions on what to do, if anything. We live on 5 acres that are heavy pine forest and I am wondering if I should bother cleaning up the pine cones and needles?

In some areas I have a carpet of pine needles several inches thick. I have been told by different people to leave it alone and others to rake it all up and dispose of it. None of my neighbors bother cleaning their property, except one elderly gentleman who hand rakes his twice a year, he is bored.

My next question is what would be the proper rake behind to my JD3320 if I were to clear the property?

Any and all opinions would be appreciated. Mike

 

[Egon]

What happens to the pine needles in a natural Forrest??

 

[scodemike]

That was kind of my thought. I guess I was wondering if it was something to even think about doing, not that I really want to.

 

[GT2]

This is of interest to me as well.
I Know very little about the subject, but I just read an article by the Idaho natural resources / or something Dept.
They say their leaning toward " dry conifer forests" , which would seem to mean clean up the mess.
There was some talk about how in the past small wild fires would clean up the forest floor, but with the intervention of man that wasn't happening any more so the floors are getting too much debris and when there is a fire it gets out of control.
I'm definitely not an expert, but up to this point I was told to let it lie.

 

[ToadHill]

Pine needles will acidify the soil and a lot of plants won't grow in acid soil so when you let the needles decompose on the forest floor it tends to keep unwanted vegitation down.

 

[scodemike]

I definitely don't have a weed problem. The flip side of that is I probably can't have a small area with sod, because the trees are also close too the house. I hate to take out trees just for a small lawn I can live without. Did I say I hate to mow?

Since we moved in 5 years ago we have removed some 50 trees, half were to make room for the shop and drive. The remainder were due to beetle kill and heavy wet snow downing a dozen of them.

I guess I was trying to come up with more seat time!

 

[dangerdoc]

Pine needles will acidify the soil and a lot of plants won't grow in acid soil so when you let the needles decompose on the forest floor it tends to keep unwanted vegitation down.

That's what I was thinking. I have mixed hardwoods on my property, I don't even think about going into them during the warm months, brush up to my armpits and critters waiting to suck my blood.

I would love to have pines with needle mulch thick enough to keep the brush at bay. Unfortunately, pine is not native here and a blight comes through ever so often and kills the pines that are planted.

To the OP, enjoy the pines and the mulch they make. If I raked any, it would be to collect pine mulch to use somewhere else.

 

[Egon]

As a side thought there may be a market for pine needles? There is equipment for baling Pine needles.

 

[Wheatland KB]

As a side thought there may be a market for pine needles? There is equipment for baling Pine needles.

Good thinking.

index

 

[newbury]

If you can safely do some small SAFE CONTROLLED burns you would probably improve everything.

 

[scodemike]

If you can safely do some small SAFE CONTROLLED burns you would probably improve everything.

I thought about that, but I am surrounded by neighbors with property like mine and it has been dry here. So I think it is best I not take that approach.

 

[escavader]

Pine cones work great to start fires in a wood stove.The neighbors and I box them up and save them for that .They burn hot.Alot easier than splitting kindlin
ALAN

 

[Redbug]

Mike...I presume you are concerned more about fire and how to manage the threat. If it were me, I think I would take a disk and make a fire break around your property perimeter. Maybe two or three disk widths wide and going around the trees that are along the way. Probably do the disking a couple times a year.

What would most of you do?

 

[kebo]

If the trees are as thick as he stated, I doubt that a firebreak will offer much protection. In thick forestation, fires spread mostly above ground level. Heat rises so the hotter elements are at the top, plus the winds are typically a little stronger above ground level which helps the fire spread as well. Firebreaks do help though, for slower moving brush fires that aren't jumping tree to tree. If it were me, I think I would just let it be and take my chances but I probably would take out enough trees to give me a decent buffer around the house. You can fight mother nature but you will lose almost everytime!

 

[jsborn]

Here in South Ga we make a good living selling pine straw to landscapers and home owner for mulch. Depending on the type of trees you can get up to $1 per bale and never have to touch it.

We sell it in the woods and the buyer rakes and bales and we just count the bales and multiply by set price.

 

[scodemike]

Some good ideas, I never knew there was a market for pine needles. I believe you could only market the fresh ones, rather than the ones under the top layer that are decomposing already.

The buffer around the house is OK, but probably should be spaced farther from the structure. It's just that we have a log home and the trees add that certain charm. Of course I understand that there is some added risk with the forest as it currently exist.

 

[copefarms]

you could always plant blueberry bushes between the pines as they love the acid soil of the pine needles.

 

[Treemonkey1000]

From what I understand for fire protection they like dead brush and needles removed in area's to slow down the fuel for fires. Now if the fire has crowned and blowing across the tree tops it won't make a difference. If you go in amongst the tree's with a tractor or something to clear the ground try not to tear up the roots too much. The needles are composting down as nutrients for your tree's and other acidic friendly plants as mentioned.
Myself personally if it is close to my house I like the ground cleaned up. You don't want to create more work by planting shade tolerant grass that needs to be mowed.
http://csfs.colostate.edu/pages/checklist.html

 

[redneckford]

pine needle fires burn hot and high-----better rake them up and plant some green plants under the pines----when the wind gets ahold to it a fire break does not stop it in the top of 100 ft trees---we have a few pine trees in southwest louisiana----

 

[Sniggle]

you could always plant blueberry bushes between the pines as they love the acid soil of the pine needles.

That would be my suggestion...clear a few trees and plant some blueberries.

I have 30 blueberry plants and spent a fortune getting enough pine mulch to retain moisture/acidify the soil....you on the other hand have more than you need free