Wi central sands shrub and tree recommendations

[Atj83]

Looking for some suggestions for bare root, I’m behind and need to order soon.

Some backround, 40ac in adams county, on 3rd year of improvement work. Soil is very sandy and hilly. Mature hardwood (red oak) and white/red pine stands dominate. Oak and pine harvest are planned in future. My focus is on providing deer bedding and mast as there is plenty of ag in the area.

Started 25 apple, 25 chestnut and American plums. These are still a few years from producing. Planted a few hundred spruce in a central opening this spring that will be prime bedding in a few years.

I’m looking for suggestions for shrubs that would provide natural forage. Must grow well in dry sand. Ninebark and nannyberry are two that are available from the nursery I’m planning to use. Planning to add the into the previously mentioned bedding area along with a few plum patches.

We have a few bear in the area, I’ve seen some say they will destroy trees? Anyone in the area have experience?

Any tree recommendation to add diversity would be appreciated as well. Thanks in advance.

 

[b116757]

I’d be conservative on the red oak harvest opening the canopy around the red oak you do leave behind.

 

[bueller]

Howdy neighbor, I'm one county to the west. Honestly between the sand, deer browsing, and native competition, getting shrubs established without caging, fertilizing, etc. is quite the challenge in the area. On the plus side the natural regen after a cut is typically very strong creating bedding and buffet quickly. During the fall deer quickly transition from acorns in October to native browse by gun season.

 

[Atj83]

I’d be conservative on the red oak harvest opening the canopy around the red oak you do leave behind.

Why so? Forester prescription is clear cutting 1-2 acres patches a few years down the line.

 

[Teeder]

I’d be conservative on the red oak harvest opening the canopy around the red oak you do leave behind.

+1
If you aren't going to do it for a few years, that gives you time to identify the better producing trees so you can mark and save them.
You don't have to clearcut to get enough light to the ground to thicken it up.

 

[bueller]

Good advice being given on the oaks. I would definitely clear a couple 1/2 spots for food plots. Baiting is banned but damn near everyone up here still does it anyways. 40 acres is big enough that you can create a nice mix of mature and young growth woods. The young growth will provide all the shrubs and native browse you can imagine.

 

[rocksnstumps]

If you are super sandy are you sure those are red oaks not black oak? On a bit better sand can get more of the northern reds. Have some family land in Waushara county that the "reds" are mostly blacks. Not sure if blacks have quite the draw of the NR. Our better spots along the creek also have a mix of white oak too so maybe that draws away from the other types.

 

[Atj83]

If you are super sandy are you sure those are red oaks not black oak? On a bit better sand can get more of the northern reds. Have some family land in Waushara county that the "reds" are mostly blacks. Not sure if blacks have quite the draw of the NR. Our better spots along the creek also have a mix of white oak too so maybe that draws away from the other types.

Your correct, they are black oaks and I don't see much attraction from the deer.

+1
If you aren't going to do it for a few years, that gives you time to identify the better producing trees so you can mark and save them.
You don't have to clearcut to get enough light to the ground to thicken it up.

Yes, there are a few whites that I should mark.

Howdy neighbor, I'm one county to the west. Honestly between the sand, deer browsing, and native competition, getting shrubs established without caging, fertilizing, etc. is quite the challenge in the area. On the plus side the natural regen after a cut is typically very strong creating bedding and buffet quickly. During the fall deer quickly transition from acorns in October to native browse by gun season.

Good advice being given on the oaks. I would definitely clear a couple 1/2 spots for food plots. Baiting is banned but damn near everyone up here still does it anyways. 40 acres is big enough that you can create a nice mix of mature and young growth woods. The young growth will provide all the shrubs and native browse you can imagine.

Lots of good advice indeed. I'm trying to avoid food plots as I don't have much equipment or clear space right now, but certainly will consider after logging.

Also, I haven't fertilized any plantings so far, probably should put some spikes in.

 

[b116757]

I can about guarantee the deer do eat the black oak acorns it just maybe latter in the fall. I’d set a camera over a heavy bearing tree and try and figure out when they do start to utilize them so you have an idea when to hunt them. I’m currently doing that with a Bur oak on one of my farms that holds the caps tight on the acorns I’m trying to see if the deer use them and when.

 

[bueller]

Around here black oak is the most abundant oak and the deer definitely eat the acorns when they drop in October. Pretty cool to have deer under your stand crunching them in their mouth when it's raining acorns. Last year was an extreme bumper crop and many were left over which could cause some to believe they don't eat them much.

 

[Ben.MN/WI]

Ninebark and wild plums are great shrubs that can grow in dry areas. In the past the WI DNR had both available in large quantities for a low price per seedling. I'd also consider adding some hazelnut and grey dogwood if you see any growing naturally in your area. It may be possible those won't thrive in your sand, but I think they are worth a try.

 

[rocksnstumps]

Hazelnut does pretty well in sandy sites. Think it can compete better than some of the other wildlife shrubs in sand/drier soils.

Find that in my sandier areas that just the common native American hazelnut grows best compared to some of the hybrids being developed for nut production. Have hybrids from SW WI, New York, and Vermont and the native ones from local conservation group/state nursery have really outgrown the others. Much cheaper too. Have seen hybrids grow really well but that is on former ag land taken out of crop production, or if a sandy site drip irrigation was done all summer long.

Wild plum grows pretty slow too if upland sandy area. Do they grow, sure but damn slow unless near a ditch or creek. I have given up planting wild plum by me. A 6-7 foot high spindly shrub in 10-15 yrs....meh. Some of the seedling crabapples planted at the same time are 25 ft high.

Grey dogwood is another one that survives but does not thrive. The small clumps planted are now being engulfed in prickly ash that marched out from 10-15 ft away. Just some observations over the last 20 yrs or so.

 

[rocksnstumps]

Just reread the OP initial post and while ninebark is ok with drier spots have only observed nannyberry growing in somewhat wetter sites. Buddy has it growing somewhat close to a creek and his adjacent food plot the back 1/3 is too wet to plant until later in the summer.