My apples had 2' of bare earth around them when I burned. Apples don't have thick bark and will be damaged by fire!
The Brushpile
- Thread starter Brushpile
- Start date
My apples had 2' of bare earth around them when I burned. Apples don't have thick bark and will be damaged by fire!
weekender21
Well-Known Member
Yeah, I noticed that detail. All my trees have weed mats which would certainly be removed first. I'll likely terminate the grass within 20' of each tree and burn it slowly to remove all the fuel prior to torching the rest of the plot.
This is a branch of a Chinese Chestnut that has grown into a 2X4 inch welded wire; used to protect from rabbits and deer. My solution in this case is to leave the cage on the tree until he tree sheds it's lower limbs. I see no reason to remove the cage until the tree is large.
This Swamp White Oak was planted in 2008. Notice the dead limbs from trees formerly competing. As trees mature, decisions must be made about what trees remain and what must go.
The competing trees were two nice Pin Oaks, killed by hack and squirt, using Tordon RTU.
The competing trees were two nice Pin Oaks, killed by hack and squirt, using Tordon RTU.
So the Brushpile has reached a stage where there is very little planting and the focus is on killing junk trees. Mowing is effective, while larger trees are hacked and squirted. Box Elder is very invasive, and seen in this pic where Chinese Chestnuts are establishing.
Chestnut Valley Farms
Active Member
Thanks Brush! Will keep in touch.
Have you noticed any deer preference between chestnuts and pears?
Chestnuts are a big draw, but my trees are still not big enough to produce enough, while pears that are the same age drop lots of pears. This year there will be no pears or acorns because of late snow, but Chestnuts and Chinkapins are flowering now, and are no fail, unless there is drought.
I spent the Summer fishing, rather than watch "The Brushpile" bake without rain. Nothing can produce or germinate! The good news is that fishing was fabulous! I fished with proud Americans!
We fished in this beautiful Basswood strip boat.
No, this isn't the pond from Andy Griffith, but it sure looks like it!
Shore lunch provided by my combination guide, outfitter and good friend.
We fished in this beautiful Basswood strip boat.
No, this isn't the pond from Andy Griffith, but it sure looks like it!
Shore lunch provided by my combination guide, outfitter and good friend.
We also fished a secret spring hole. There are no pictures of the spring hole because it's a secret, and not fished because access is difficult and dangerous. The hole is surrounded by 3-4 feet of muddy bog that I got stuck in numerous times, but it holds monster Native Brook Trout. In fact my buddy caught the biggest Brook Trout of his life, and the biggest I've seen in WI. Pictured is a 13 inch, 14.5 inch and 15 .5 incher!!!
I also had good fishing on the Upper Mississippi River in MN.
Sunset on the Mississippi.
There was a 12-20 inch slot where fish had to be released, and we caught lots of big16-19 inch Smallmouth.
You never know what you might catch on the Mississippi.
I finally caught a keeper under 12 inches.
My buddy with his all time best, a 19 incher!
Sunset on the Mississippi.
There was a 12-20 inch slot where fish had to be released, and we caught lots of big16-19 inch Smallmouth.
You never know what you might catch on the Mississippi.
I finally caught a keeper under 12 inches.
My buddy with his all time best, a 19 incher!
