Weeding Trees

[Harold Money jr]

I'm about to be in a position on newly purchased property to be able to do about what I want. It has a large variety of forest types but, most of it is getting too open. I'm gonna be burning some areas with a low ground fire backing it down some slopes to open the ground up for new growth. I'm looking at weeding the maples, some cedars, some hickories, gum trees, crooked pines etc. to totally cut or hinge cut. Which species do y'all cut first, no question asked?

 

[backyardtndeer]

Which species do y'all cut first, no question asked?

Sycamore and willows are pretty invasive, I have been trying to get rid of them on my property for years.

 

[Creek]

Sycamore and willows are pretty invasive, I have been trying to get rid of them on my property for years.

Imo, the only exception to that would be the consideration of erosion control along drainage ditches, creeks, etc...but otherwise mostly irrelevant to the original concern.

 

[bigtex]

I cut the Sweet Gum's anywhere I can. Second is Beech, but I do leave a thicket or two of Beech saplings and a few mature trees for cover and food. I see no benefit from the Sweet Gum's but Turkeys and Deer do utilize the Beech nuts.
I leave all of the Sycamores because they are alongside the creek and are useful for erosion control. I also leave a couple of thickets of mature Southern Yellow Pines, Turkeys use them for roosts.

 

[MickThompson]

Cedar is a water thief and always throws shade

 

[killingtime 41]

Cedars are also excellent bedding for deer. Keep rain off them and snow. And it's shady and comfortable underneath in the summer. Trick is don't get rid of them. But cut every other one in the clump. Just picture not being so close together that it's impenetrable. Those should be left in my opinion in strategic areas.