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Post by swilk on Jun 3, 2009 14:25:34 GMT -5
Well, I just took the first step to fulfilling a lifelong dream held by most sportsmen and bought some land.
I have big dreams but am going to have to start small simply because I am broker than broke right now ....
The land was enrolled in the WRP program a few years ago and is a mix of mature timber, young trees and grasses.
I have been looking at the arbor day website and they have terrific prices on trees ...... I have a list of the trees that were planted during the wrp process .... I am looking to purchase and plant 100 apple trees and 50 pear trees this fall/winter.
I have also thought of transplanting honeysuckle into several locations ..... not sure what is the best way to go about this though. I refuse to buy honeysuckle when the stuff seems to be growing everywhere I look .... what is the best way to transplant it?
The property already has several areas that are thicker than thick and I plan to designate a couple of 5 acre spots as "off limits no matter what ... never, ever go in there".
The property is already flat covered in turkey and deer so attracting wildlife isnt an issue .... but I would like to make all animals healthier and safer on my property than anywhere else around there.
Foodplots will be kind of a mute point although i might plant some small areas in turnips or oats or something. I figure that considering the fact I am surrounded by acre after acre of the fine corn/soybean fields of southern indiana I will rely on low maintenance fruit trees instead of trying to convince deer that my clover (or whatever food I plant) is better than that 500 acre soybean field.
What other suggestions for improving the land?
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Post by dadfsr on Jun 3, 2009 14:34:24 GMT -5
First things first-congrats on the property aquisition!
My very first thought when reading this was that (japanese) honeysuckle is a non-native species and is on the USDA's invasive list -therefore it can not be sold anymore. Everywhere/everyone else that has the stuff is trying to figure how to get rid of it (including me) because it WILL overtake everything else in the understory....so why are you wanting to plant it? Best way I've found of whacking it so far is with an OLD "stumpjumper" bushhog that I'm not afraid of doing welding repairs on...
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Post by swilk on Jun 3, 2009 15:15:07 GMT -5
Thank you.
I was looking to the honeysuckle as a winter long browse for deer.
I have read of the problems associated with japanese honeysuckle and if the wildlife benefits do not outweigh the problems i will promptly abandon the idea.
Kind of new at this .... looking for guidance.
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Post by hornharvester on Jun 3, 2009 16:42:52 GMT -5
Autumn Olive is another invasive bush you want to get rid of. If you decide to spray, Crossbow works very good on everything except grasses. Good luck with your new property. h.h.
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Post by dadfsr on Jun 3, 2009 17:12:08 GMT -5
I'm not a wildlife biologist but a call to Purdue's Forestry or Wildlife Sciences extension people would provide you with a very good beginning on what to plant or not to. I do know that deer are browsers and as such will not only eat green leaves but also the buds of many plants. Many of the fruit trees-crabapples, apples, pear, peach, etc. will be hit to the browse line every winter. Just go visit somebody's orchard early in the spring that has a deer problem and you'll see what I mean. We have an area in our family woods known as the "old apple orchard" that is about as thick as any deer would want to hide or overwinter in plus it makes a fairly good mushrooming spot in the spring.
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Post by mullis56 on Jun 3, 2009 17:24:11 GMT -5
Where is a good place to get some fruit trees? Good time plant? I am thinking of apple and persimmon trees. Thanks!
Also, how can I forget CONGRATS TO YOU ON YOUR PURCHASE it is an awesome feeling!
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Post by swilk on Jun 3, 2009 18:11:26 GMT -5
The arbor day site has about any kind of tree you could want except persimmons. They offer bare root trees for between $2-10 each (depending on what it is) and they offer a flat $4.95 shipping. They only ship when the trees are dormant and it looks like the ship time for our area is November-December. www.arborday.org/index.cfmIt is the cheapest source i have found. I got a list of the trees that were planted as part of the WRP process .... 4000 Cherry Bark Oak 2000 Green Ash 2500 Pecan 3000 Pin Oak 4000 Swamp Chestnut Oak 4000 Overcup Oak 2000 Shumard Oak The problem is they have been allowed to get drown out by weeds and invasive trees since they were planted. They are still there (or at least some of them are) but their growth has really been stunted. |
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Post by turkeyscout on Jun 3, 2009 18:12:19 GMT -5
CONGRATULATIONS swilk, that was a good move, for further free advise ,i would call your local district D.N.R. wildlife biologists, and make a appointment with them to come out to your new property......look in your indiana hunting guide in the back for your district wildlife biologist phone number......hope this helps.................turkey scout
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Post by swilk on Jun 3, 2009 18:14:32 GMT -5
Also, I intend to put 5' tall wire cages around the apple and pear trees to keep the deer off them for a few years. I planted some apple, peach and cherry trees in my yard a few years ago and the deer just eat the heck out of them ....... Im gonna have to replace some of what I planted in my yard because they have basically killed them.
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Post by jrbhunter on Jun 3, 2009 21:23:25 GMT -5
I just sent you a PM and then continued reading this thread... please let me know where the property is located in your PM reply. Might be able to help with those stunted trees.
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Post by schall53 on Jun 4, 2009 6:52:19 GMT -5
One thing to keep in mind even if your property is surrounded by grain fields by early fall they will probably be harvested and may even be plowed under. In that situation a small plot of soybeans or corn on your land will really become a magnet for deer and turkey.
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Post by drs on Jun 4, 2009 9:31:46 GMT -5
CONGRATULATIONS, on your land purchase, swink! Where did you purchase your property? Also Honeysuckle is fine for deer to browse on during the Winter Months. However it is a very invasive plant, that needs to be controlled. I have some on my 83 acres, but it is well under control. I am planning to place my property in CRP, and plan to plant several grasses, Alfalfa, and some clover, in 1 to 2 acre food plots. You'll want to have your soil analyzed though, checking it's pH and other things.
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Post by swilk on Jun 4, 2009 9:53:47 GMT -5
I purchased 145 acres in northern Gibson county .... right on the white river.
It is great .... only 15 minutes from home .....
I have become an expert on the white river over the last month .... studying historical data and levels. out of the 145 acres there is only about 15 that will never, ever get wet. About 30 more acres will stay dry in all but the highest of recorded levels.
The crest we just had was about 24.4' making it the 16th highest Hazleton crest on record. I walked part of the property the day of the crest and it ranged from being under 10' of water in places to about 6" in other places with several acres having no water.
I think this year will spend with more blood and sweat than money as far as projects go.
Several weekends with a chainsaw and a few friends ..... and hopefully borrow a tractor and a bush-hog to get some mowing done.
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Post by throbak on Jun 4, 2009 12:59:24 GMT -5
The best place to start without a doubt is your local usda. Nrcs .office there is money for invasive eradication ..food plots ..wsg establishment ..tree planting etc. they work close with the DNR &USFWS to get the rite plan for you or if you dont want there money good advice is free
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Post by drs on Jun 4, 2009 13:13:12 GMT -5
I purchased 145 acres in northern Gibson county .... right on the white river. It is great .... only 15 minutes from home ..... Sounds like you bought a great piece of property!  I have some friends that live in Northern Gibson County. You're right inthat it will take some work to whip you land into shape. I still have "Tons" of work to do on my place here in Ky.  |
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Post by danf on Jun 6, 2009 20:55:16 GMT -5
Another option for trees is from the Indiana State tree nursery. I'm not sure they have any fruit trees available, but if they do they'd probably be a better option than the Arbor Day trees. From my limited experience, Arbor Day trees are very small and they ship them too late in the year to have adequate time to plant them before the conditions get too nasty to want to plant them.
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Post by swilk on Jun 7, 2009 15:26:30 GMT -5
I *think* I have found a better option on the trees thanks to an offer from a fellow member here ......
Now .... what is a good source for cheaper roundup? There are a few areas that have a Johnson-Grass problem so I made a trip to Rural King this morning and bought a couple things of Roundup concentrate ..... enough to make 26 gallons. $45.
I made a trip to the property and used 13 gallons spraying the most infected area and saved the second thing of roundup for a follow up spray in a couple weeks.
I am leaving on vacation next weekend so it will be a couple of weeks before I can do any more .... as soon as I get back I am going to rent a tractor and bush-hog and spend a weekend mowing and spraying.
I know Roundup is a brand name ..... do the local co-ops sell the chemical any cheaper?
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Post by jrbhunter on Jun 7, 2009 16:57:19 GMT -5
I think you'll find a need for a tractor everytime you turn around... now that you're a landowner. It may be in your best interest to start researching small utility tractors. You'll likely need a front end loader and a 5' bushog. Anything from a Ford 8N ($2500) to a new Kabota ($24,000) would work... but I doubt your need for such a piece of equipment will go away after you return the rental. My dad is loaning his Kabota to 2 folks who recently purchased land and have yet to concede that they'll need their own tractor. It is inevitable: in my experience.
There are a couple Round-Up knockoffs, from what I've seen they work about as well as the price comparison. The brand thats 30% cheaper will accomplish 70% of what round-up would've. I applied 60 gallons of mixture last week with a 3 gallon hand sprayer (Yeah it sucked), this is done once a year to control the growth in our orchards and short timber plantings.
I would buy the good stuff, apply it early in the morning and allow a nice hot/dry afternoon sun to cook it in. This is a good time to spray, but another week or two won't be bad either. The goal is to kill the vegetation before it matures, and leave the second wave of unwated vegetation to struggle with the hot July & August weather. Your mature and well rooted "wanted" plants will outgrow them and hopefully choke them out in time.
Another option, although more labor intensive, is to wait a couple more weeks and come in with a weedeater. This may be a safer, cheaper and more effective solution... but again... it's a lot of work when you're cover 10/20 acres of trees.
PS: Planting 1500 mature trees without an PTO driven auger sucks! From grubbing out old fencepost to spreading gravel to grading off an embankement: that little tractor will come in handy. Look into it.
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Post by hornharvester on Jun 7, 2009 17:48:14 GMT -5
I *think* I have found a better option on the trees thanks to an offer from a fellow member here ...... Now .... what is a good source for cheaper roundup? There are a few areas that have a Johnson-Grass problem so I made a trip to Rural King this morning and bought a couple things of Roundup concentrate ..... enough to make 26 gallons. $45. I made a trip to the property and used 13 gallons spraying the most infected area and saved the second thing of roundup for a follow up spray in a couple weeks. I am leaving on vacation next weekend so it will be a couple of weeks before I can do any more .... as soon as I get back I am going to rent a tractor and bush-hog and spend a weekend mowing and spraying. I know Roundup is a brand name ..... do the local co-ops sell the chemical any cheaper? I use Crop Smart from Rural King. Its does as good as Round UP for me. Mix @ 1.5% - 2%. Cost is 89.00 for 2 1/2 gallons, which will make over 150 gallon of spray. h.h. |
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Post by swilk on Jun 7, 2009 18:16:18 GMT -5
I plan to invest in a tractor .... it just wont be this year. I have all but made up my mind to purchase a Yanmar from the "Little Miami Trading Company" in Ohio. I can get a 30hp, diesel, 4x4 with a front end loader and a brush cutter for around $10k. These are Japanese tractors that are imported and refurbished in Ohio. Yanmar is the engine found under the hood of many JD compact tractors.
I had though about buying a 8N simply because I could afford (almost) to buy one this year but I decided, after hours of research, that a Yanmar was going to be the best bang for my buck and allow me to do everything I need for years to come.
I figure I can get away with renting/borrowing a tractor a couple times this year and see where I am at $$$ wise next year.
Dad is already trying to bribe me with another project .... "ill buy the materials if you'll build us some elevated towers that will keep us dry and warmer during gun season"
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I have some friends that live in Northern Gibson County. You're right inthat it will take some work to whip you land into shape. I still have "Tons" of work to do on my place here in Ky. 
