Signs of Deer Along Corridor

This is a buck rub, a definitive sign that a buck has passed by this area.  Bucks rub against trees with their antlers to visually mark their territory.  However, they are also rubbing the trees with a gland that is in their forehead to pass along information about their presence via scent released from this gland.  It has been determined that rubs are more commonly made by more mature bucks which also might give the landowner some information about what is traversing the corridor.  Buck rubs usually appear close to rut activity.

Deer Also Use Linear Openings

These linear openings between different wildlife habitat areas are also utilized by deer.  Once these trails are established the exposure to additional sunlight encourages the growth of various foliage that provide food for the deer.  And the deer tend to follow these trails to get to other habitat areas.

Linear Wildlife Openings

One of the recommendations that was in our Forest Stewardship Plan was to make and/or widen roads on our property.  These roads provide a firebreak and also provide openings for wildlife.  This is a road that we added with the help of the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC).  It is also a linear wildlife opening that provides connectivity between the creek and acreage where mast trees and native warm season grasses were planted.

Forest*A*Syst -Check out this interactive website

The Forest*A*Syst interactive website has information about developing a management plan for your acreage.  By zooming in on the map provided you can pinpoint your particular property, find out about the predominant types of forest cover in your location, and print an aerial photo of your land.   Contact information is also available for various natural resource specialists.

Forest Stewardship Program

Consider applying for the Forest Stewardship Program in your state.   This is a nationwide program that is administered jointly by the USDA Forest Service and each state's forestry agency.  The purpose is to provide private forest landowners with a comprehensive Forest Stewardship Plan (FSP) that will help guide you toward improving your property.

Once you have established certain goals for your property, such as  wildlife habitat improvement, timber management, water and soil conservation, or just recreational  enhancement, a plan will be developed by a group of forestry professionals for you to follow.  The plan is of no cost to you, and the cost of its implementation might be alleviated with a cost share program.

Contact your state forestry agency about eligibility and participation.

The calyx can be the best clue of the sex of the Persimmon



Persimmon with calyx



When scouting for persimmon trees in the winter after the leaves and fruit have fallen it is not possible to determine the sex of the tree.  If you look on the ground around the tree you might spot, among the dead leaves, a small calyx that looks like a star with 4 points.  This is the calyx from the persimmon fruit and is the only indication in winter that the persimmon tree is a female.

Persimmon trees begin to show their fruit in the fall

Persimmon trees are valuable trees to have for wildlife habitat.  The persimmons, once they ripen, are like candy to deer.  We have spent a great deal of time trying to find the persimmon trees on our property, and then have kept our fingers crossed that some of them are females, which are the only ones that produce this popular treat.  It is not possible to determine whether a persimmon tree is female or male except of course when the female tree matures and begins to produce the fruit.

It is very difficult to see the fruit in the spring and summer, when the trees are in full foliage, and the fruit is very small and almost the same color as the leaves.  But as summer turns to fall, the leaves droop and fade in color, and the fruit gets larger and turns a lovely shade of orange.

This particular tree is a prolific producer of fruit.  The persimmons, altlhough small, are now beginning to be very visible.  The fruit is still somewhat bitter and will remain on the tree for several more months.  Eventually ithe persimmons will get even more colorful and very soft, sweet and juicy.  Once the persimmons fall to the ground they disappear quickly.  The only reminder that there are persimmon trees on your property will be the large brown seeds that get dispersed and eventually turn into new persimmon trees.

Tree Protectors Make Sense

When planting small trees we have found that by using tree tubes or protectors we are giving the trees a better chance of survival.  These blue tubes made from polyethylene act as miniature greenhouses by holding moisture around the seedling.  This increases the humidity and temperature inside the tube.  When the tubes are placed 2 inches into the soil around the tree, the tough material also discourages small animals from chewing on the stem.  And several tubes can be linked together to support a larger tree.

Consider planting seedlings cultivated to thrive in Georgia

The Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) has a nursery, the Flint River Nursery, in Byromville,GA that sells tree seedlings every year very economically.  Various seedlings, including hardwoods, pines, and fruit trees, can be ordered beginning in July for delivery during the next planting season from Dec – Feb.  These seedlings, although bare rooted, are cultivated to do well in Georgia’s climate and variety of soils.  They can be picked up at the nursery or delivered to your local forestry office.  Check out the information and variety of seedlings available at their GFC Seedlings Ordering Info website.

Crabapple tree in name only

If we hadn't planted this Crabapple tree ourselves we would never know what it is, because it has never bloomed and never produced a crabapple.  I thought that Crabapple trees were very hardy, but perhaps our sandy drought prone site is too challenging.  Any ideas on how to convince this tree to produce?