Hiding a field from the road???

[spctbone]

On the lease we got there is a nice 1.5 acre field along the road. What would be the best and fastest growing things to plant along the edge to "hide" the field. Was thinking cedars but I know there is better things than that. Also when would be the best time to plant them?

 

[TNTomtaker01]

ive never done it but was thinking that cedar and honey suckle. dont know if that would help.

 

[spctbone]

That is kinda what we where thinking.

 

[deerchaser007]

This was discussed some years back and WDS used something and had great results. I cannot remember,.. but maybe BSK or S N S can ..........

 

[Chris Tripp]

try kenaf

 

[birddoginQ]

cedars i would think would be a little on the slow growing side. Pines are always an option. white pines if topped will bush creating a decent screen like cedars but may grow a little faster.

 

[scn]

It depends on how high of a visual barrier you need. I've seen a few rows of closely planted corn work well. Prairie switchgrass will grow quickly and give you a thick 3.5-4' barrier. Autumn olive will provide a great barrier, but will become a major problem if you don't bushhog the field on a regular basis.

 

[spctbone]

There is about a 3'-4' burm going up from the road, putting the field at that level. would need something that stays close to the ground and grows maybe 3'-4' tall and thick!

Stupid poachers are out there! Found 2 bucks just down the road that just had the back straps and hams cut out and then they tossed them in a ditch!

TWRA need a place to put robo-deer in henry county???
Would glady let yall use the place!

 

[HOOK]

Great wall of China

 

[big 8s in Weakley county]

i would put a fence up and not bush hog it and pile brush buy it

corn is also a good idea

 

[spctbone]

We also thought about "hog wire" and letting the native grasses take it over.

Anyone got about 100 yards of hog wire for sale cheap?

 

[PickettSFHunter]

kenaf, better make sure they cant drive in the field either o r theyll do that once the brush grows up.

 

[BSK]

Kenaf will produce a visual barrier in a single growing season, but better let the authorities know what you are growing as it looks exactly like pot.

For the long-term, I recommend several staggered rows of pines in addition to a 10-yard-wide strip of unbush-hogged weeds, grass and brush.

 

[Slaughter-06]

It depends on how high of a visual barrier you need. I've seen a few rows of closely planted corn work well. Prairie switchgrass will grow quickly and give you a thick 3.5-4' barrier. Autumn olive will provide a great barrier, but will become a major problem if you don't bushhog the field on a regular basis.

Ditto:

Autumn olive is a great no shoot through hedge we planted that along with white pine at our farm. Haven't had any road hunting problems since.

 

[TN24081]

I would suggest planting pine and staggering them, then you could do about 5 rows of corn on the other side.

 

[Winchester]

Autumn olive.

 

[spctbone]

OK, say i plant autumn olive. What "food plot" seed will with stand the frequent bush hogging needed to control the olive?

 

[RS]

spctbone,

If the autumn olives are planted near the food plot, you will be able keep them in check by just maintaining the plots. As long as you bush hog every couple of years, you will be fine.

 

[spctbone]

Cool.
We are looking at planting a mix of Chufa and clover or chickory.

Wanting to keep both the Turkey and deer in the area

 

[RS]

Cool.
We are looking at planting a mix of Chufa and clover or chickory.

Wanting to keep both the Turkey and deer in the area

Unless you have sandy soils, I wouldn't bother with planting chufa.

 

[spctbone]

Not sure about the soil, it is in henry county. Will be doing a soil sample before long to get ready for a spring planting.

 

[hard county]

bi-color lezpedeza is some very neat stuff, it grows tall and thick and the birds love it.
supposably deer like it but i have seen no evidence of browse. i also wouldnt rule out pines, at least every 10 feet or so, this would provide a wind block at a low cost. i have a friend who planted hybrid willows and he loves them, but im not sure about cost.

 

[TAS]

I'd use Leyland Cypress trees or White Pines.

Chad I am surprised that you are the first person to mention Leyland Cypress. They are faster growing than pines and will grow 3 to 4 feet a year even in poor soil. They are used as a hedge or screen and get up to about 40 feet. I planted 100 of them the beginning of this year because they grow so tall and will work for elevated roads. Due to the poor growing conditions this summer I lost about 5% and they only grew about two feet.

 

[eightpoint]

Only problem with leyland cypress is that the road riders will cut them as Christmas trees if they can see them.

 

[Tractor John]

If possible, I would just let the field grow up so it's hard to see into it from the road. From our experience, if you attract the deer to a plot close to the road, you are just asking for problems. The road hunters will still be able to see and shoot deer going to or leaving the field. Spend you time and money on plots in the center of your lease. Just my 2 cents.

 

[416wbymag]

how bout some indigenous cane? It growaaaaaaaa10-12 ft and spread quickly. you would have to keep it cut back ( a mower works fine)

 

[TAS]

Only problem with leyland cypress is that the road riders will cut them as Christmas trees if they can see them.

Maybe, but we haven't had that happen yet with our older ones but we have had white pines cut down. You never know with the prices of trees this year but I have never seen a leyland cypress christmas tree.

 

[TAS]

If possible, I would just let the field grow up so it's hard to see into it from the road. From our experience, if you attract the deer to a plot close to the road, you are just asking for problems. The road hunters will still be able to see and shoot deer going to or leaving the field. Spend you time and money on plots in the center of your lease. Just my 2 cents.

My problem is I have a little over a mile of county dirt road that goes through my farm and is elevated as much as 20 feet over my pastures. The deer are feeding on weeds and stuff as much in the pasture this year as the food plots in the center of the property.

The GW this year told me they don't take trucks and guns from the lazy road hunters anymore. Thats the problem. Shooting from roads is extremely dangerous to rural families who live on them. It should be a much more serious crime.

 

[spctbone]

This property is only 19 acres, and has very limited places you can plant! The road frontage of the field is about 150'
Probably gonna build a fence and let it grow up with weeds and plant Honey suckle on it too.

 

[eightpoint]

TAS, I have some neighbors that set out over 100 leyland cypress trees along their paved road frontage about 4 years ago. They have lost 10-15 per year to folks cutting them for Christmas trees. I noticed 2 new ones cut yesterday that got whacked overnight. Down here in GA folks will definitely cut em!