I'm creating a habitat management reference document for the members of this forum. I need your help first.

[Hoytvectrix]

I started working on a document that I think will be a helpful reference for those looking to improve their habitat. The document is and will always be free once I publish the sharing link here. Currently, I have a reference chart for protecting trees by tree species and method, a habitat calendar template, and a hunting chores calendar. I need some help though. Please look over this list of tree species and comment below with others that need to be added. If you think they could be grouped in better way, share that as well.

Obviously, much of this will be a matter of opinion. This document will still serve as a template for people to create their own if they want.

Here is what the tree protection chart looks like currently:


Here is a list of the tree species and how they are broken down. Please look this over and let me know what is missing or if you think there might be a better way of organizing things:

Fruit species
Crabapple
Commercial apple
Pear
Persimmon - American
Persimmon - ornamental
Plum - American
Plum - Sandhill
Elderberry
Pawpaw
Nannyberry
Mulberry
Serviceberry

Oak species
White oak
Red oak
Swamp white oak
Concordia oak
Shingle oak
Sawtooth oak
Black oak
Bur oak
Chinkapin oak
Swamp chestnut oak

Nut species
Hazelnut - American
Hazelnut - beaked
Hazelnut - hybrid
Chinese/hyrbid chestnut
American chestnut
Ozark Chinquapin chestnut
Alleghany Chinquapin chestnut
Black walnut
Shagbark hickory
Pecan

Evergreen species
E. red cedar
White cedar
White pine
Norway spruce

Flowering tree species
Flowering dogwood
Red osier dogwood
Smooth / rough dogwood
Gray dogwood
E. redbud
Smooth sumac
Buttonbush
Carolina buckthorn

Other/Cover tree species
Hybrid poplar
Sandbar willow
Ninebark
Osage orange

 

[Hoytvectrix]

Here is a screenshot for the habitat calendar tasks broken down by month and task:


Here is a list of tasks and their respective category. I know there are a bunch of things missing, which is why I have been recruiting some extra eyes for it:
Summer food plots
Terminate winter annual weeds
Drill beans
Drill summer mix


Fall food plots
Terminate warm season plot/summer annual weeds
Overseed brassicas
Drill brassicas
Overseed cereal rye/small grain
Overseed crimson clover


Fruit/nut trees
Apple pruning
Collect scion wood
Apple bench grafting
Apple T-bud grafting
Spray fungicide
Fertilize
Correct branch angle

Acorn / nut trees
Direct seed nut trees
Competition release

Bare root trees
Planting
Tubed/caged pruning
Tubed/caged spraying/weed control


Timer Stand Improvement
Hack and squirt
Hinge cutting
Foliar spray for invasives
Prescribed fire (promote forbs)
Prescribed fire (promote woody)

Prairie management
NWSG frost seeding
Prescribed fire to restart early succession
NWSG + Forbs drilling

 

[Brian662]

Great idea! I look forward to seeing what you come up with! I'll be happy to help with anything I can.

Tree species I've planted that aren't on your list, at least I didn't see them.

Highbush cranberry
Black chokeberry
Chokecherry

Bebb's willow

Black hills spruce
White spruce
Red pine
Norway pine


Might also consider a section on switchgrass and miscanthus, always lots of questions about that stuff.

 

[Native Hunter]

Arrowwood Viburnum
Strawberry Bush
Witch Hazel

 

[buckdeer1]

Great idea and can't wait. Did misspell timber.

 

[SwampCat]

I think another big concern for fruit production is protection from the larger critters like coons squirrels and bears. The folks I know in the south will usually not ever have a fruit produced to maturity because of pest creatures.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Other evergreens -
Canadian hemlock
Balsam fir
Norway & white spruce were already mentioned - and are our biggies for evergreen cover.

Washington hawthorn - flowering smaller tree w/ red berries grouse and other birds love.

 

[rocksnstumps]

Great idea! I look forward to seeing what you come up with! I'll be happy to help with anything I can.

Tree species I've planted that aren't on your list, at least I didn't see them.

Highbush cranberry
Black chokeberry
Chokecherry

Bebb's willow

Black hills spruce
White spruce
Red pine
Norway pine


Might also consider a section on switchgrass and miscanthus, always lots of questions about that stuff.

Nit picky maybe but red and Norway pine are the same thing - pinus resinosa

There are so many oak hybrids maybe to limit extensive listing have red oak hybrids, white oak hybrids, and maybe have a few of the standouts called out. Agree Concordia oak is a special one