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WASHTENAW COUNTY CONSERVATION DISTRICT
  • Home
  • Conservation A to Z
    • Backyard Conservation
    • Bats
    • Composting
    • Conservation Buffers
    • Erosion Control
    • Farmland Preservation
    • Feral Swine
    • Forestry >
      • Common Tree Diseases & Pests
      • Crop Tree Management
      • Fruit Tree Planting & Care
      • Likelihood of Deer Damage
      • Other Forestry Links
      • Pruning Forest Trees
      • Timber Sales
      • Tree & Shrub Planting Guide
      • Tree Transplanting
      • Urban Trees
    • Groundwater >
      • Groundwater Protection - Agriculture
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Clearcutting

White tailed deer, grouse, rabbits, woodcock, and many other species of wildlife are considered edge species. This means that they most often populate areas where forestland is adjacent to open fields, where a dense cover of young woody vegetation provides good cover and browsing opportunities.  By clearing small areas in a continuous woodlot, this type of habitat can be simulated to increase wildlife populations.

Areas that consist mostly of red maple, aspen, or white birch are best suited for this type of management as they tend to reproduce best by stump and root sprouts, and can be competitive with weeds, and aggressive shrubs like raspberries and blackberries.  Keep in mind, however, that these types of shrubs will likely develop soon after clearing and remain for a few years, until the young trees grow to a height of a few feet.

The size of the clearings can range anywhere from ½ to 5 acres in size, although clearings at least one acre in size will provide the best benefit.  If the clearings are located adjacent to the edge of the woodlot, this will allow easy management access (cutting and collecting firewood, for example), as well as provide a transitional area for wildlife between the woodlot and the open area.  This, however, may not always be possible.

Areas need not be regular in size, yet should be wide enough in every direction to provide adequate cover.  Every tree within the clearing should be removed, so that maximum sunlight is allowed to reach the forest floor to promote rapid regeneration.  Do not be concerned if it is necessary to cut a few lower quality hardwoods, to provide the continuity of the clearing.  If timber is also a concern though, you should try to locate the clearings in areas where potential crop trees won't need to be sacrificed.

Trees can either be cut and removed from the site, or girdled and left standing.  See girdling guidelines under  the "Den Trees" page.

Washtenaw County Conservation District                               Copyright 2018
  • Home
  • Conservation A to Z
    • Backyard Conservation
    • Bats
    • Composting
    • Conservation Buffers
    • Erosion Control
    • Farmland Preservation
    • Feral Swine
    • Forestry >
      • Common Tree Diseases & Pests
      • Crop Tree Management
      • Fruit Tree Planting & Care
      • Likelihood of Deer Damage
      • Other Forestry Links
      • Pruning Forest Trees
      • Timber Sales
      • Tree & Shrub Planting Guide
      • Tree Transplanting
      • Urban Trees
    • Groundwater >
      • Groundwater Protection - Agriculture
    • Household Hazardous Waste
    • Insects
    • Invasive Species & Control
    • MAEAP
    • Field to Great Lakes Events
    • Native Plants >
      • Native Plants Over Septic Systems
      • Planting Native Plants
      • Seeding Wildflowers
    • Permits
    • Pond Construction
    • Pond Management
    • Rain Gardens
    • Recycling
    • Shoreline Property
    • Soils >
      • Washtenaw County Soils
      • Soil Sampling >
        • Agricultural Soil Testing
        • Homeowner Soil Testing
    • Stream Bank Erosion and Control
    • Stormwater Runoff & Management
    • Water Testing >
      • Water Screening Events
    • Wells
    • Wetlands >
      • Wetland Mitigation Banking
    • Wildlife >
      • Brush Piles
      • Clearcutting
      • Den Trees
    • Windbreaks
  • Store
    • Rain Barrels >
      • Common Questions
    • Animal & Insect Repellents
    • Books & Maps
    • Composters
  • Tree & Native Plant Sales
    • 2018 Tree Sale Info
    • Purchase Trees and Shrubs
    • 2018 Spring Tree Sale -Order Pick-up
    • 2018 Native Plant Sale Info >
      • Purchase Native Plants
  • Fish Day
  • Resources
  • About Us
    • Board of Directors
    • Conservation Update Newsletter
    • Resource Assessment
    • Staff
    • Contact
    • Get Involved
  • Support Us
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