Remedy or Pasturgard will both work and leave your grass unaffected.Hello all, Me and my wife bought our place about six years ago. There was about five acres that had been clear cut by the previous owner. He let it grow up and by the time we got it, it had grown up a lot. We hired a forestry mulcher to come in and clean it up. In the process of harrowing it and getting it ready to seed. My question is there are so many maple and gum saplings that just keep on coming back. I brushhog them as low as I can and just keep cutting them but they always come back and then some. What is the best way to take care of them?
I've looked at those type of devices but they are pricey. Honestly it's surprised me how small of a trunk I've been able to get my chain to pull out. Wrap the chain around the trunk twice, and lap over itself, so that it grabs better. My wife is usually on the tractor while I'm manning the chain, so that definitely makes it easier.Ever tried one of these for small brush/trees?
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I took a Woodland Owners Short Course through University of KY after buying my 98 acres in central/eastern KY a couple years ago. I highly recommend finding something similar in your state. It was cheap and taught us a lot! UK actually has a weekly webinar that's free on Wednesdays at 11 am. They cover all kinds of information for your land and wildlife, not just forests.
From the Woods Today | Forestry and Natural Resources
forestry.ca.uky.edu
Their recommendation for undesired sapling trees and brush is to cut it low to the ground first. Then, within 20 minutes of cutting it, lightly spray the cut stump with a 50/50 mixture of roundup concentrate and water (they recommended a simple spray bottle like a windex bottle). This allows the plant to take it down into the roots and kill it totally. The plants will seal over quickly, so if it's been more than about 20 minutes you'll need to cut it again before spraying.
I've been cleaning up fields that were neglected for 6+ years on this farm. I use a chain wrapped around the tree trunk and try to pull the larger ones out, root and all, with my tractor loader bucket. The rest of them I just mow over. That kills alot of them off, but some do come back. I try to go back over the field once things green back up and cut them off close to the ground with loppers and spray them. It is time consuming, but this has worked wonderfully for me overall.
One thing to keep in mind is if the plant oozes out sap/water when you cut it then it won't absorb the herbicide. Just wait a few weeks or so and lop off the new growth and spray then.
"I use a chain wrapped around the tree trunk and try to pull the larger ones out, root and all, with my tractor loader bucket." That is exactly what I have been doing this past week. Try to pull two trees at a time, saves getting on and off the tractor. Easier with a helper. And if the trees are too small, it can be frustrating when the chain slides up the young tree without pulling it out. I do not like the thought of using chemicals on my property and do not mind the work. But in certain areas I do not want to risk hurting myself, or the tractor, if the land is the least bit questionable. So the lop and stump paint will be to go-to.