ORIGINAL: adams
First of all I'd like to thank everyone here for being so helpful. There is lots of good advise here.
Now that I have my small (1/2 acre)plot of imperial clover in and growing I trying to think of other improvements I can make to the land. It is not truly my land (belongs to my farther and grandmother) so I'm limited to what I can do. Any major cutting of trees is out of the question.
The property we own is about 3 acres. starting from the road and heading back into the woods the property starts with my grandmothers house and backyard then aprox 1/2 acre for wooded field (apple trees) 1/2 acre of open field (planted with imperial clover). There is next a small swamp(due to neighbors blocking up the creek to make a pond) to the far right of the property which breaks into a thick creek bottom and divides the property from left to right. On the far side of the creek bottom there is a stand of forrest most big old pines with a few oak(not sure what type of oak) mixed in among the pines. A few of the large pines have fallen into a tangled mess which is real thick and has quite a bit of new growth developing. This wodded aera is about 10 acres (only 2 acres of which we own)
I'm not really sure what else I can do to improve the habitat. I've thought about fertilizing the apple and oak trees to help with mast and apple production. This is about all I have come up with asides from possiably minerials.
Is it a waste of time and money to fertilize mast and apple trees?
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Hardwood stands can be managed to favor acorn and/or beechnut production. Wetlands can be improved to diversify forage for deer. Small fields can be planted with native forage species.
Timber harvest is generally good for deer, while also providing income from timber.Clear cuts and/or selective cuts, thinning, and firewood cutting can provide immediate benefits for deer, typically you will see forage production increase by the first spring, or even sooner depending on fall weather/regrowth.
It's all about disturbance. Fire, logging, even grazing. Any kind of disturbance will increase forage for deer.
Do you have deer yards on your land?
If so make sure there is a good mix of hard woods and soft woods.