New Ground- how to manage a poor soil, but flat section and turn it into a food source

[DRG3]

We have just been fortunate enough to purchase a new piece of ground this week. The property is mostly wooded with a small opening here and there and some nice trails.

The largest open section on the property is a big open flat. Back in the day I don't know if was used as a log landing, or a construction area for a powerline that cuts through, but the characteristics of it are- sparse, non desirable herbaceous and "grass" very rocky, appears to be shallow. It's also ridge top. The area is rocky in general, and this is particularly rocky for whatever reason. The soil seems to either have been scraped or packed, however the historical topo's do show that it's always been a flat area, so i don't think its been majorly excavated.

The thing is, if I could get anything to grow here, it would be a fantastic destination food source. I have started working a few properties from scratch, but never with a plot like this- obviously shallow, rocky and low in nutrients. It may have even had the top soil scraped off, or at least packed.

So my question is, what is the process for- getting this section to where I can plant some kind of food source for deer and turkey, and what kind of plants are best suited here. I'm in this for the long haul, and may not get it planted this year, so I am willing to go at it as a process, but I also dont want to wait any longer than I have to.

I also have a plow, disc and tiller, but I'm a little concerned about the rocks on the disc and tiller especially.

This is in Western KY- Zone 7a.

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[rocksnstumps]

Maybe get online with the NRCS web soil survey website and identify what kind of soil characteristics you have. Some rocky areas can still have ok soil to grow stuff but yes a lot of work to get rocks removed. A disc is probably best bet for working. Going to hear a lot of clanging behind you but still way more robust than a tiller. At least it can ride over the top of the big rocks.

Not familiar enough with KY to offer more. Up here in WI we get rocky ridges in glacial moraine areas that can have ok soil if you can deal with the rocks and boulders. Good luck

 

[SD51555]

I'd do some detective work before you get to throwing dollars at it.

1. Ask around to your neighbors if they knew what went on out there.
2. Dig down 2 feet and then dig sideways to see how compacted it may be and what is down there. Is it clay, sand, rubble, etc?
3. Identify what is growing there now. You don't want to end up trying to grow on something that got some 10-15 year broadleaf residual herbicide treatment from something like a log landing or temporary laydown yard for an easement.
4. If you pass those 3, get a complete soil test.

 

[BenA]

Congrats on the new place. Good advice above. The web soil survey should be able to tell you if what's there now was what was there historically. I think a good bit of Kentucky is now on there with historical plant communities. Is it in the barrens region? That could account for it.

 

[bwoods11]

Hard for me to give advice out your way, but congrats on the purchase !

 

[DRG3]

Is it in the barrens region? That could account for it.

I don’t believe so. I’m in the Tennessee Cumberland Ohio river areas.

I'd do some detective work before you get to throwing dollars at it.

1. Ask around to your neighbors if they knew what went on out there.
2. Dig down 2 feet and then dig sideways to see how compacted it may be and what is down there. Is it clay, sand, rubble, etc?
3. Identify what is growing there now. You don't want to end up trying to grow on something that got some 10-15 year broadleaf residual herbicide treatment from something like a log landing or temporary laydown yard for an easement.
4. If you pass those 3, get a complete soil test.

Thanks for this.
The only thing I have been able to find out about the history is a power line cut with some of the great big metal towers was cut across one edge and they worked from that top. Beyond that a section of it was used as county road quarry years ago when all the local roads were gravel so afain maybe they staged on this flat.

I’ll be checking the soils survey.
Thanks all