As for the AO, do not, do not plant those. There are many more better choices for wildlife that grow just as well and form just as much as a bedding or screening area than those bastards. They allow no understory and virtually no wildlife food.. Check in with varieties of dogwoods such as RO, or silky, or grey ,or hazelnuts just to name a few. If you plant AO, Geo will probably show up to destroy them himself. LOL. Great place, and good luck.
Looks like you are working hard to make that place great. Impressive. Conifers are a huge plus especially on smaller properties. And PA has a little bit of winter.
I'm on my second year of tinkering with the limited resources I have and I'd really like to get something established that grows and spreads quickly. I got the fruit trees established last year, and the food plot this year. Now the pines and hopefully I can add a few chestnut trees this fall. Dogwoods are our state tree so they're not allowed to be dug up. They're kind of pricey for my budget as well. I would probably need to plant several of them. I have about two acres that's golden rod now I'm trying to get it established with some form of bedding cover. This patch of golden rod is currently over my head, but it will be laid flat when the snow arrives. That's why I planted the pines there, but I'll probably be dead before they reach a size that's beneficial for the deer.
Funny your comment on living long enough for results, we all think that. Pines will grow 3-6 feet a year so really good choice on them. And yep bunch of work planting trees. You might check with your state nursery as they typically have trees for just a few dollars apiece. I think my dogs were just under 2$ as were the hazelnuts. The nice thing about these trees you can plant a few and then get them to sucker along the ground to provide more trees and thickets.I've had my best luck planting and transplanting in September, but I've never done it with pines before. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. It took two days to get the 25 trees transplanted.
I'm trying but have limited resources and even less patience.
Hunting goldenrod fields can be hotter than hot during the chase phase of the rut. Those poor does are so exhausted from being harassed by bucks that they'll hide like rabbits in goldenrod in an attempt to escape the barrage of bucks that will run them to death. They will hunker down and won't move until bucks practically step on them. I've seen bucks working goldenrod fields that they know holds does, but the does will remain bedded in an attempt to get a few extra seconds of needed rest. Even the thickest of woods aren't thick enough to visually hide does from bucks. Bucks can't see them in thick fields like they can see them in the woods. And I assume that under certain weather conditions, it's harder for bucks to wind does, just like some days are less conducive for bird dogs finding birds in thick fields. Places like goldenrod, switchgrass, and standing corn to a lesser extent can be excellent bedding areas during the chase phase.
If you are talking about using a post emergence type spray like Glyphosate, then (most) weeds need to young and growing. Some weeds like yellow rocket emerges really early (March in my zone) and other weeds like ragweed (my deer eat it so I don't kill it) or hairy galensoga emerge later.
It seems obvious, but the 1st step is being able to accurately identify broadleaf weeds, grasses, etc. Take sedge for example...I'd venture to say that the majority of people would look at sedge and call it "grass". Sedge ain't grass, so a grass specific herbicide won't kill it.
