Don't Be Afraid of Doing Something Wrong
Posted: Tue Jul 29, 2014 11:14 am
This spring I checked a patch of large sumac. I decided to cut it, not knowing if it would regenerate, but also knowing it wasn't doing any good at that size. I just came in from checking and I have excellent regeneration. I also cut a patch of aspen and it too is sprouting nicely. My point is, Ma Nature is pretty forgiving, so take a chance.
In my experience, any cutting along a wood lot encourages an abundance of berry canes and other forbs--any plant that is not woody or a grass. That's a pretty large group. Nearly all forbs are used by rabbits and deer at some point. In my management I try to expand dogwood, aspen, sumac, blackberry and raspberry thickets, and eliminate maples, walnut, unless they are perfectly straight with few limbs, and box elder. I treat the stumps with Tordon RU so they don't sprout. Get out and do something good for rabbits and don't be afraid.
Larry
In my experience, any cutting along a wood lot encourages an abundance of berry canes and other forbs--any plant that is not woody or a grass. That's a pretty large group. Nearly all forbs are used by rabbits and deer at some point. In my management I try to expand dogwood, aspen, sumac, blackberry and raspberry thickets, and eliminate maples, walnut, unless they are perfectly straight with few limbs, and box elder. I treat the stumps with Tordon RU so they don't sprout. Get out and do something good for rabbits and don't be afraid.
Larry