The Beginning of Fall Chores

 Perhaps the final step in the tree clearing up front that we started back in 2021.  When you start cutting trees out of a woodlot it can be difficult to stop because you disturb the growing environment of the remaining trees.  There is sun shock and damage from falling trees.  Newly exposed trees have more wind directed at them which can cause stress. The soil around their roots becomes compacted and the water flow patterns changes.  This can be a lot for a mature tree to deal with all at once.  You end up losing more trees along the edges over the next few years.  Studies have shown that it may take as long as twenty years for a wood line to stabilize.

Red Oak Tree

I was disappointed to lose the Hickory tree as it had been nicely shaped to begin with.  It was close to a large Oak tree that we ended up taking out in our second round of cutting.  We had wanted to leave the Oak but it was a little too top heavy.  When it came down, the top was intertwined with the Hickory and the Hickory whipped down to almost a 45 degree angle.  Hickory is amazingly flexible wood and instead of snapping at the trunk as many trees would have, it just popped right back up.  Over the past three years it has declined instead of recovering.

Hickory Tree

It didn't take long to get the two trees on the ground, sectioned out and hauled back to the burn pile area for processing.  

The stumps were far enough away from remaining trees to be dug instead of being cut to ground level.

The Oak did not have much of a base, but this Hickory had a deep root ball and some amazingly strong side roots.  I've never seen side roots pull out quite like this.  Usually they break

We have been building a burn pile throughout the summer as we limb up lawn trees and cut the occasional Ash sapling.  We will wait for a rainy stretch before we burn it.

And we have some campfire wood for next year.  We will get this split and stacked later.

Below is a view of the natural area down our west property line where we removed trees this spring.  It always looks quite pretty this time of year with the fall color.

A view down the center with the "wild flowers"

My favorite ornamental grass "Fox Trot"

The remaining Seychelles pole bean vines are putting out a late growth.  I have plenty in the freezer so these will be turned into dilly beans.