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Forest Site Preparation

Forest Site Preparation Job Sheet (JS-MO490)

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JS-MO490: Forest Site Preparation (PDF, 366 KB)

Definition

Treating areas to improve site conditions for establishing a forest or woody planting.

Purpose

Encourage natural regeneration of desirable woody plants
Permit artificial establishment of woody plants

Specifications

Choose an appropriate site preparation method (mechanical, chemical, burning) to protect any desirable vegetation. (see Table 1)

Maintain necessary filter strips and/or riparian forest buffer areas.
Remaining slash and debris should not create habitat for or harbor harmful levels of pests, or hinder needed equipment operations, or create undue fire hazard.
Erosion and/or runoff will be controlled.
Soil compaction and soil displacement will be minimized.
Comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
All chemicals will be used in accordance with label guidelines. Chemical containers should be disposed in a safe, approved manner.
Livestock will be fenced out to prevent damage to site preparation areas and woody plants.
Under planting should only be attempted on upland sites with regeneration-deficient stands or on upland sites where conversion to pine is desired.

Cropland/Grassland

Residue cover > 50% may require site preparation. Use one or more of the following methods:

Mechanical: Expose mineral soil. Limit tillage to no more than 2 months prior to planting or seeding. Till earlier if flooding is a possibility. Fall tillage is permissible for early spring planting. Use contour strip tilling on slopes greater than 3 percent. Planting strip widths should be greater than 3 feet in width with inter-widths of 5 feet or greater. Ripping or deep soiling may be necessary to break-up restrictive subsoil pans.

Chemical: Apply appropriate chemical(s) in 3 to 4 feet bands over projected planting rows. If slopes exceed 3 percent, apply on contour. Use WIN-PST to evaluate leaching and runoff potentials. Pesticide/soil hazard risk ratings of "extra high" or "high" shall be accompanied by mitigating practices and/or substitution of pesticides to lower risk ratings. Use low volatile formulations. Some chemicals need extended time to work. Consider applying chemicals in the fall or early spring prior to establishment.

Prescribed Fire: Conduct burning only under controlled, predetermined conditions as outlined in a prescribed burn plan.

Woodland

Desirable Vegetation for Hardwoods:

Reduce competition from woody plants less than 2 inches DBH and herbaceous competitors by mechanical or chemical means before under planting. For under planting with pine, kill all existing stems less than 8 inches DBH.
Make a harvest cut and leave a well-spaced overstory of about 55 percent stocking. No cutting is necessary if the stand is already 55 to 65 percent stocked.
Remove the remaining overstory during the dormant season after 3 to 6 years. For pine under planting, remove overstory within 1 to 3 years.

Desirable Vegetation for Pines:

Reduce competition from hardwood plants less than 8 inches DBH and herbaceous competitors by mechanical or chemical means before under planting.
Make a harvest cut and leave a well-spaced overstory of about 55 percent stocking. No cutting is necessary if the stand is already 55 to 65 percent stocked.
Remove the remaining overstory during the dormant season after 1 to 3 years.

Undesirable Vegetation:

Harvest any merchantable material. Then use one or more of the following site preparation methods:

Mechanical: Remove remaining cover to expose mineral soil. Pile debris in windrows. On slopes greater than 3 percent, operations should be on the contour. On land that is gullied, some additional grading may be necessary.

Chemical: Apply appropriate chemical(s) in 3 to 4 feet bands over projected planting rows. If slopes exceed 3 percent, apply on contour. Use WIN-PST to evaluate leaching and runoff potentials. Pesticide/soil hazard risk ratings of "extra high" or "high" shall be accompanied by mitigating practices and/or substitution of pesticides will lower risk ratings. Use low volatile formulations. Some chemicals need extended time to work. Consider applying chemicals in the fall or early spring prior to establishment. Always follow label instructions.

Prescribed Fire: Conduct burning only under controlled, predetermined conditions as outlined in a prescribed burn plan.

Table 1 - Site Preparation Methods
Cover	Direct Seeding	Natural Regeneration	Seedlings
Cropland Residue Level < 50% cover	Chemical, Not Necessary	Chemical, Not Necessary	Chemical, Not Necessary
Cropland Residue Level > 50% cover	Chemical, Mechanical, Chemical and Mechanical	Chemical, Mechanical, Chemical and Mechanical	Chemical, Mechanical, Chemical and Mechanical
Grassland	Chemical, Mechanical, Chemical and Mechanical	Chemical, Mechanical, Chemical and Mechanical	Chemical, Mechanical, Chemical and Mechanical
Woodland Understocked	Not Recommended	Chemical, Harvest Out	Chemical, Harvest Out
Woodland Undesirable	Chemical, Mechanical, Chemical and Mechanical, Burning, Mechanical and Burning, Chemical and Mechanical and Burning, Harvest Out	Chemical, Mechanical, Chemical and Mechanical, Burning, Mechanical and Burning, Chemical and Mechanical and Burning, Harvest Out	Chemical, Mechanical, Chemical and Mechanical, Burning, Mechanical and Burning, Chemical and Mechanical and Burning, Harvest Out

If a permanent cover crop is needed or desired after site preparation, use the indicated species at the specified rates to control potential erosion or weed competition between woody planting rows:

Table 2: Permanent Cover Crops
Species	Rate - PLS/Ac
Landino clover	2.25 lbs
Annual lespedza	5.6 lbs
Orchardgrass	3.2 lbs
Kentucky bluegrass	1.6 lbs
Timothy	2.3 lbs
Redtop	1.3 lbs
Virginia wild rye	7.0 lbs

Note: Rates are for good planting conditions. Increase rates by 50% for fair planting conditions.

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