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Most Recent Ag News Article
November 13, 2024 - Managing Winter Damage to Shelterbelt Trees and Shrubs
Ungulate Assassins and More.
Typically, one might think about large animals such as moose, elk or deer when considering tree damage, however there may also be injury under the snow caused by smaller creatures.
When it comes to large animals, moose are the ones that seem to browse just about anything. On occasion some rural residents have taken to feeding an orphan, thus encouraging familiarity with humans but leading to problems like no fear of the homestead and the heirloom rose bush.
Elk are like a vegetation swat team, able to ravage a feed pile and pine planting overnight. Increasing populations are a growing concern. Much like moose, it is difficult to economically control elk damage.
Rabbits are fans of green ash which is more common as an ornamental in our area than a row shelterbelt tree. It is not so cute when the bunny girdles the tree or removes terminal or side shoots of seedlings. Characteristic damage by a rabbit is a 45 degree cut. While repellants or wraps are OK for a small planting, extensive rows may not be realistic.
Deer populations are significant and many folks have a sorry story to tell of their damage. The majority of browsing occurs in the weeks after a killing frost. A sacrificial row of winter wheat or placing a reject bale of alfalfa hay away from the shelterbelt planting is not always popular but it is an option to help reduce damage.
Rodents such as mice and voles can be numerous on a given year. Keeping weed and grass cover away from shelterbelt trees eliminates the welcome mat, offering less food and protection, therefore a lower chance of very young trees being girdled. Voles are a preferred choice of the coyote, some dogs and most neighbourhood cats.
Porcupines have a particular taste for pine, spruce, poplar and willow. In winter they eat the sap wood and will either partially or fully girdle a tree, killing the area above. It is pretty tough to put a piece of stove pipe around every tree in a field shelterbelt row!
Wildlife typically feed on trees and shrubs as an alternative to their preferred food source. If wildlife populations are high, food may be in short supply. There may also be a shortage of food due to drought or perhaps the condition of adjacent land for other reasons (habitat loss).
Natural habitat loss can bring ungulates into human habitat putting more at risk than just shelterbelt plantings. This article is about larger stands of trees and shrubs, however there are products on the market that might help with protecting landscape vegetation and, especially, those prized ornamentals.
Do not put out the welcome mat for critters. For example, a poorly placed bird feeder (lower than six feet) is an invitation for deer to become comfortable in your rural yard or greater farmstead. There is something to be said for a dog putting the run on unwelcome ungulates.
Most of our tree planting or natural wooded areas are too large to afford effective protection. That being said, we have some options to help us gain ground:
- Plant more than you need. For example, pine reforestation often means planting three to four times more with the idea of one tree surviving the variety of challenges, such as browsing. Be prepared to plant replacements, especially for seedlings.
- Consider a poor quality sacrificial bale or the winter wheat or alfalfa row as a way to keep deer away.
- Maintain wildlife corridors and native tree stands as part of the farm. If these areas flourish, then the animals should prefer solitude. However, if these areas are adjacent to acreages and farmsteads, you will have to explore some type of protection to put up with the invaders while continuing to enjoy the trees and shrubs around you.
- Maintain riparian buffers. These setbacks from creeks, rivers and wetlands serve as protective habitat. In fact 80% of all wildlife depend on these areas. Remove them and nature will move closer to humans.
- 3-D fencing is an option; however, a mile of fence is a big expense and the advantage is lost in multiple row plantings.
- If tree and shrub plantings are small enough, consider using repellants. Plantskydd is just one product available but be prepared to monitor and make additional applications of any product on the market.
Plantskydd is one of many deer repellents designed to leave a bad taste in the ungulates’ mouth.