What to plant in forest?

[Catscratch]

I just did some cleaning and clearing of a small chunk of forest. The canopy is not open. I left the mature oaks alone.

I plan on burning the leaves/litter this winter then seeding something early spring. I understand that the trees are shading and zapping moisture in this situation, but I still want to throw something in there.

Suggestions? I'm thinking a clover of some sort but have no experience with this situation. Anything you guys know of that works well?

 

[PatinPA]

My plots are all in partially wooded areas. Nothing grows as well as it does in full sun, but I've been able to grow most standard food plot plants. Cereal grains are by far the easiest. I put in some brassicas. The plants stay smaller and don't develop much of a bulb but they grow. I've been planting them in early August. I think next year I'll plant them earlier to see if I can get some bigger plants.

 

[Derek Reese 29]

I'm with Pat, put in some oats and alsike, medium red or mammoth red clover (I get mine from Merit, not affiliated with them at all though) in the spring along with some lime (a soil test would not be a bad idea at all). I also overseed by at least a factor of 2 if not 3. It makes your plot super lush right away and helps with the weeds. This year I experimented with fall planting vs spring planting and found the fall to be far better. If you can wait till then, uou can spray to kill any weeds then plant the same day if you want. Also, if you wait till fall you can use winter rye and add some clover to the mix which will only make the plot that much better the following year. Also, by waiting you allow the lime to work better as well.

 

[S.T.Fanatic]

Not sure how open it is after the clearing but If it was me (and I have plans for doing it) is planting NWSG in the thinned out wooded areas

 

[SD51555]

White clover. Go with the invasive stuff (i.e. the dutch). I had a section of trail that I was almost 100% shade all day, and it came like gang busters. It also got an annual dose of gypsum, and a bucket of rye each year didn't hurt either.

 

[PatinPA]

White clover. Go with the invasive stuff (i.e. the dutch). I had a section of trail that I was almost 100% shade all day, and it came like gang busters. It also got an annual dose of gypsum, and a bucket of rye each year didn't hurt either.

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That's a nice looking clover trail. The first year I ever put in a plot, my dad and I raked about 5 (10 ft circles) along a trail and I planted clover. Can't remember what kind but I think it was some sort of BOB from TSC. It came in beautifully and looked like yours. I had no idea what I was doing. Now that I know slightly more than that, I can't get clover to grow to save my life. The best I can do is plant a little bit in with my regular mixes.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Alsike clover is reported to be a good choice for less-than-ideal soil pH conditions. A mix of Rye grain, Alsike, and medium red clover ought to do well for you. SD51555's idea of white Dutch clover would be a good addition too.

We've planted rye grain on exposed soil after logging with NO preparation ........ and it grew pretty well. Deer like it too !!

 

[yoderjac]

I just did some cleaning and clearing of a small chunk of forest. The canopy is not open. I left the mature oaks alone.

I plan on burning the leaves/litter this winter then seeding something early spring. I understand that the trees are shading and zapping moisture in this situation, but I still want to throw something in there.

Suggestions? I'm thinking a clover of some sort but have no experience with this situation. Anything you guys know of that works well?

Clover is a good candidate for that situation, but pH may be a problem in most forest situations unless you apply lime. If it were me, I'd consider just seeing what the seed bank produces first after the burn.

 

[SD51555]

Oak leaves make a fantastic pre-emerge herbicide on grasses (except the cereals). My best clover grows in a bed of oak leaves and partial shade. There's something about bur oak leaves that keeps the sedge and annual grasses at bay. But the cereals roll on unaffected.

 

[Catscratch]

Clover is a good candidate for that situation, but pH may be a problem in most forest situations unless you apply lime. If it were me, I'd consider just seeing what the seed bank produces first after the burn.

I'm definitely leaving the seed bank to see what it puts out. I used zero chemical so everything I cut should stump sprout (I'm big on mineral stumps), plus I expect the disturbance of running the skid steer around in there (plus some burning) will produce a flush of native stuff. I'm also big into diversity so throwing some seed down with what's already there is appealing to me.

I appreciate everyone's input. I'll research some of the clovers suggested and go from there. Wheat goes into every plot I do so that's a given.

 

[bjseiler]

I’d probably get a soil test. My trails need like 3 tons per acre of lime so it has been tough. Most of what I’ve tried has been a waste of money. $20 soil test maybe before spending $200 on a bag of Dutch white. Now if deer would just start enjoying ferns…..

 

[PatinPA]

I’d probably get a soil test. My trails need like 3 tons per acre of lime so it has been tough. Most of what I’ve tried has been a waste of money. $20 soil test maybe before spending $200 on a bag of Dutch white. Now if deer would just start enjoying ferns…..

Whoo if we could get them to love ferns and black birch, I'd be sitting pretty.

 

[S.T.Fanatic]

I'm definitely leaving the seed bank to see what it puts out. I used zero chemical so everything I cut should stump sprout (I'm big on mineral stumps), plus I expect the disturbance of running the skid steer around in there (plus some burning) will produce a flush of native stuff. I'm also big into diversity so throwing some seed down with what's already there is appealing to me.

I appreciate everyone's input. I'll research some of the clovers suggested and go from there. Wheat goes into every plot I do so that's a given.

Be prepared for a flush of buck thorn or other non natives.

 

[Derek Reese 29]

Be prepared for a flush of buck thorn or other non natives.

I think it would be ok to wait and then plant in the fall, so you get the native flush and then can plant what you want closer to the season for next fall....unfortunately you will have to spray if you go that route...I tried so many times to just wish the "bad weeds" away, but they are just better at taking over plots than the clover/grains

 

[Catscratch]

Be prepared for a flush of buck thorn or other non natives.

My most troublesome weeds in a forest setting are seem to be locust and redbud. Locust doesn't do real well in shade like redbud does so maybe I can get an easy pass (knock on wood).

I've had real good luck with getting rid of invasive with diversity and planting to encourage soil health. So far the Palmer pigweed, marestail, sericea and other bad stuff that I couldn't control with herbicides were relatively easy to get rid of when I quit using herbicides. I don't know the forest though, completely different animal. Hopefully it isn't a problem.

 

[35-acre]

Alsike clover is reported to be a good choice for less-than-ideal soil pH conditions. A mix of Rye grain, Alsike, and medium red clover ought to do well for you. SD51555's idea of white Dutch clover would be a good addition too.

We've planted rye grain on exposed soil after logging with NO preparation ........ and it grew pretty well. Deer like it too !!

Do you find it does better in wetter areas (Aliske)?

 

[b116757]

I also use white clover in partial shade areas with decent luck

 

[SD51555]

My most troublesome weeds in a forest setting are seem to be locust and redbud. Locust doesn't do real well in shade like redbud does so maybe I can get an easy pass (knock on wood).

I've had real good luck with getting rid of invasive with diversity and planting to encourage soil health. So far the Palmer pigweed, marestail, sericea and other bad stuff that I couldn't control with herbicides were relatively easy to get rid of when I quit using herbicides. I don't know the forest though, completely different animal. Hopefully it isn't a problem.

Wait, what?

 

[Catscratch]

Wait, what?

I fought Palmer and marestail in my plots like crazy for a while. Gave up on Liberty Link and gly and went to an approach of out competing them with plants that enjoyed the same conditions as them, but made sure to mix seed varieties in that would take over after the initial crop wore out. My seed bank is full of those weeds from the couple of years that I lost those battles, but I never see them anymore.

 

[SD51555]

I fought Palmer and marestail in my plots like crazy for a while. Gave up on Liberty Link and gly and went to an approach of out competing them with plants that enjoyed the same conditions as them, but made sure to mix seed varieties in that would take over after the initial crop wore out. My seed bank is full of those weeds from the couple of years that I lost those battles, but I never see them anymore.

That's a cool discovery. I've had similar luck against thistle with those tactics. I've even gone as far as starting to use dirty feed oats when I need something quick and I can't get certified seed. I just don't fear those super weeds any longer.