10/29/2026
It takes time!
In order to have native grasses and forbs, you need sunlight reaching the forest floor. There are three ways to accomplish this.
We opted to go old school with the chainsaws.
Post Oaks, large Chestnut Oaks, Dogwoods, and Shortleaf Pines were saved. The Virginia Pine logs will be used for fence posts. The Chestnut Oak and Southern Red Oak logs will be cut into lumber. The smaller and crooked hardwoods will be used for firewood.
Pulling trees up the mountain and cutting 20-foot logs is a lot of work. The tops are all cut into smaller pieces and spread out across the ground. Wood decomposes faster when it is in contact with the soil. The slash helps prevent erosion, returns nutrients to the soil, and provides valuable habitat for birds, reptiles, and other wildlife.
Next winter, this hillside will be burned, and native grasses and forbs will be sown. There will undoubtedly be woody species returning next spring. Some follow-up herbicide spot treatments will be necessary.
The second option is stem injection with herbicide.
With the right herbicide, stem injection can kill both the tree and its root system. This is a great option for managing large acreages and can be excellent for wildlife habitat. Standing dead trees, known as snags, provide nesting cavities and valuable habitat for woodpeckers and other wildlife.
The downside is that dead trees and their tops will eventually begin falling. This creates a hazard around homes and in wooded areas where people regularly spend time. These snags can also become a fire hazard, especially in the mountains, where wind can carry burning embers long distances. Herbicide use can also become more extensive when large numbers of smaller trees require treatment.
The third option is good old-fashioned fire.
Fire can kill small hardwoods and many young pines. With sufficient intensity, fire can thin certain trees fairly quickly. The downside is that you have less control over which trees survive and which ones die.
Dropping trees is a hard decision to make.
It doesn't look good right now. It takes time!
Native grasses and forbs belong on our mountaintops. Look around at neighboring properties. Closed canopies, little green vegetation on the forest floor, dark, damp conditions, and thick understories.
Acorns are an important food source, but they only provide a seasonal supply of food. Deer need browse and cover throughout the year. Turkeys and quail need bunch grasses that allow them to move around and wildflowers that attract insects for them to glean. Songbirds need open areas for flight, along with shrubby cover for nesting and protection. Reptiles need sunlight and downed logs. Pollinators need nectar and pollen.
When thousands of continuous acres all look the same, even a small tract of diverse habitat can make a tremendous difference.
Another important benefit is reducing fuel loads.
We have cleared a large section around the home that will be ready for prescribed fire this winter. All of the slash has been removed from this area to reduce the amount of fuel available to burn.
I don't believe the public has been properly educated about prescribed fire and the importance of fuel reduction.
Many homes in the mountains are surrounded by deep leaf litter, thick understory growth, and heavy accumulations of woody fuels. When a wildfire occurs, it is already too late to begin preparing.
Reducing fuel loads on the forest floor is extremely important, especially around homes and other structures.
This is not destruction. It is restoration.
It takes time, hard work, and a willingness to look beyond what the land looks like today. The goal is not simply to remove trees. The goal is to restore sunlight, native vegetation, wildlife habitat, and a healthier, more diverse forest for generations to come.
