Firebreaks

[nchunter1989]

What do y'all normally do with your firebreaks??

We already have some trails established, widening them out in a few weeks for a burn later in winter. Thought about planting a grass or just disc before the burn?


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[Bill]

I used to plant clover fire breaks around my native grasses. But I was always to afraid to burn so I kinda let them go.

 

[MickT]

I don't put any perennial grasses in them. They will accumulate thatch at ground level that the fire can creep across the break on.


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[yoderjac]

It depends on location. Clover will attract deer. If it is a fire break that you are using as an access trail you may not want deer attracted there. Clover is fine as a firebreak but you need to keep it mowed. If it doubles as a road for us, I'll generally use a rear blade or box blade to clean it before a fire. This also helps keep the road shaped so water runs properly. If it is just a fire break, I will disc it before a burn instead. Lightly disking (strip discing) can be a great management technique for many birds (and deer). You can think of discing a firebreak as just one big strip.

Thanks,

Jack

 

[nchunter1989]

It depends on location. Clover will attract deer. If it is a fire break that you are using as an access trail you may not want deer attracted there. Clover is fine as a firebreak but you need to keep it mowed. If it doubles as a road for us, I'll generally use a rear blade or box blade to clean it before a fire. This also helps keep the road shaped so water runs properly. If it is just a fire break, I will disc it before a burn instead. Lightly disking (strip discing) can be a great management technique for many birds (and deer). You can think of discing a firebreak as just one big strip.

Thanks,

Jack

Yeah I had also considered a ground sterilizer like Ortho Groundclear or RM43, at least in the flat areas. It will be used as access as well, but only for very light atv & foot traffic.So clover or whatever grass may already be there but watch for thatch.Looks like dragging a spike harrow through it would also accomplish the same as discing to a point.Just thinking long term, what we will need before burning.Guess renting a tractor & disc once every year or so isn't too bad in the grand scheme of management.

 

[JFK52]

Are you asking about firebreaks in pine plantations or firebreaks around a prairie? I just mow my firebreaks in the pines but I do not burn in my pines either. On my prairie, I normally disc them every year or let them stay green and mow once or twice. This year I hit them with gly and had RR ag soy beans no till planted around the entire prairie. I have lost the ability to travel on them for now, but the beans are doing great and I know they will draw deer and turkeys. They are a real hot item when all the other farmers beans and corn in the area are harvested.

 

[buckdeer1]

This isn't for fall burns but for regular spring burns of NWSG I mow in Jan or Feb and it will be the first thing to green up and make for a good firebreak

 

[nchunter1989]

Are you asking about firebreaks in pine plantations or firebreaks around a prairie? I just mow my firebreaks in the pines but I do not burns in my pines either. On my prairie, I normally disc them every year or let them stay green and mow once or twice. This year I hit them with gly and had RR ag soy beans no till planted around the entire prairie. I have lost the ability to travel on them for now, but the beans are doing great and I know they will draw deer and turkeys. They are a real hot item when all the other farmers beans and corn in the area are harvested.

6yr old Clearcut. Pine regen mixed with hardwoods.


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[Boll Weevil]

Most of my firebreaks are also used as roads so they're kept in a grassy state.

 

[j-bird]

I shoot for bare dirt if I can. I do this to the point of running a 2 bottom plow or disc is I have the chance. Most of the areas I burn will lead either into the woods or crop fields and trust mean corn stalks may not flare up, but man do they burn hot! I like to burn with a fair amount of moisture in the ground and as such I tend to not have issues of it going into the woods as it tends to be even damper there. Most of mine are used for vehicle access as well.

 

[S.T.Fanatic]

We just keep ours mowed on a monthly basis during the growing season. Never have a problem with fire creeping through them. (WSNG situation)

 

[nchunter1989]

Yeah I'm looking at possibly a mix of bare dirt on some areas & a grass for erosion control in the others.A large section of the breaks cut around 3ac of woods on a plateau, already have erosion issues from the timber harvest.

Upgrading to a 500cc 4wd atv soon, so may pickup a groundhog max & see how it works for the breaks.

 

[nchunter1989]

Thoughts on ryegrass (not cereal) for the firebreaks ?? It's low ph sandy soil, so doubt I can get a clover to grow there in significant amounts.


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[MickT]

Thoughts on ryegrass (not cereal) for the firebreaks ?? It's low ph sandy soil, so doubt I can get a clover to grow there in significant amounts.


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Grass=thatch, or what burn managers refer to as fine fuels. You will have to freshen them up before you burn to break up the fuels that will grow there.


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[S.T.Fanatic]

Thoughts on ryegrass (not cereal) for the firebreaks ?? It's low ph sandy soil, so doubt I can get a clover to grow there in significant amounts.


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If you are able to keep them mowed on a regular basis is wont be a problem