Making A Pasture

[Baymule]

I think it is pretty hard to grow grass under pine trees.

Nah, it's not hard......it's dang nigh impossible.

 

[thistlebloom]

If you thin them out and limb them up high enough so the light gets in there it's possible. Is BJ willing to compromise and keep some trees, but space them and lift the crowns so you get sun on the ground? My husband was totally against the idea of cutting trees when we got this place. Now he understands it's a lot healthier to have them thinned and it makes the land more usable. But I had to cut a lot of trees down on the sly for awhile, lol.

 

[Baymule]

We have some lovely big trees. Also have scraggly little trees. BJ has consented to thinning them out, especially since a friend has said that it will help with pine beetles. He said the big trees will be healthier with the little trees cut down and thinned out. THAT made it ok. And he loves to limb and shape the trees. There are also some large cedars, all the bottom limbs are dead.

My son bought a battery operated chain saw and likes it. I'm itching to get my hands on it!

 

[thistlebloom]

For some reason men getting advice from other men seems to make more sense to them, even if it's the same thing their wives have been telling them. 😄

 

[Bruce]

Well YEAH! 'Cause we all know wimmin don't know nuthin'!

If you thin them out and limb them up high enough so the light gets in there it's possible.

There is still the issue of highly acidic 'soil' under the pine trees. Need to remove the needles and add lime. Of course like the @#$% pine tree that is way too near the @#$% pool, they drop quantities of needles daily. I suspect it would be valuable to get a soil test so you add the right amount of lime.

 

[thistlebloom]

Well YEAH! 'Cause we all know wimmin don't know nuthin'!


There is still the issue of highly acidic 'soil' under the pine trees. Need to remove the needles and add lime. Of course like the @#$% pine tree that is way too near the @#$% pool, they drop quantities of needles daily. I suspect it would be valuable to get a soil test so you add the right amount of lime.

Soils in the western states are typically on the alkaline side of pH. My particular area is 6.2 pH despite the predominance of pine forests. From what I can recall from looking into this a few years ago, pine trees do not create acidic soil. They do grow in different soil types, but soils in general are not impacted by what grows on them. Also pine needles are acidic, but only when green. As they dry they lose that acidity. What falls from trees is dead needles, hence not acidic anymore.
A soil test is always a good idea. I have never spread lime, and never add woodstove ash to my garden, we just don't need the extra alkalinity those ingredients add.

And haha on "Well YEAH! 'Cause we all know wimmin don't know nuthin'! "... that cracked me up!

 

[Bruce]

Hmmm, guess I'll have to improve my knowledge of pine trees and their effect on grass. My in-laws had a couple of big pines next to their house on one side and only moss grew there. I guess it was due to the lack of sun, not the needles or soil. They had decent grass everywhere else.

 

[thistlebloom]

Hmmm, guess I'll have to improve my knowledge of pine trees and their effect on grass. My in-laws had a couple of big pines next to their house on one side and only moss grew there. I guess it was due to the lack of sun, not the needles or soil. They had decent grass everywhere else.

Yeah, probably mostly shade, but soil compaction and tree surface roots could also be a factor. Low fertility also favors moss over turf.

 

[YourRabbitGirl]

This is about a one acre pasture in the front with road frontage. It does a fine job of growing my nemesis, green briars. We are cleaning it up to prepare for planting pasture.
Before pictures.



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Thats a very extensive location you have there. I hope my area is that large and wide. I will raise not only goats. I'll have cows amd horses too.

 

[Baymule]

Thats a very extensive location you have there. I hope my area is that large and wide. I will raise not only goats. I'll have cows amd horses too.

Thank you. We have 8 acres. There are a lot of trees and we are working on pasture, the soil is very fine white sand, like you would find on a beach. We have sheep, 10 ewes and a ram, and their lambs. We have 4 horses, 2 are retired, ages 30 and 32 years old. We keep chickens, got about 24 at the moment and we have 3 LGDs and 1 farm dog. Looking for a couple of feeder pigs for the freezer. I don't feel that we have enough room left over for cows. I like cows, have had cows, but chose sheep because they are small and easier to handle. We are retired and I just didn't want to wrangle a 2,000 pound bull. A 250 pound ram is MUCH easier! LOL