Even though wintertime formally started only a few days ago , I started what I refer to as my “ wintertime practices ” on the farm the day after Thanksgiving . December days on my southwest Ohio farm can be gay and meek one day , then dusty and grey the next . And that pattern proceed on through March .
Since I have to be outdoors for daily stock task anyway , I ’ve outfitted myself with warm clothes and boot , mitt and hat . As such , I ’m able to do farm workplace alfresco comfortably during the winter . I can spend a good hour or even two before a really cold twenty-four hour period drives me inside to menage chores .
And I hate household chore !
Smaller Chores Add Up
My best-loved and most productive outdoor winter farm activities are not major projects . Rather , I prefer smaller practices that produce bighearted results . These include tree / wood management , hoarfrost seeding pastures and clear invasive tree diagram and shrubs .
Bare branches make it easy to cut invasive lowly tree diagram and shrub like Asiatic bush honeysuckle , autumn olive , callery ( Bradford ) pear and multiflora rose . All of these non - native invasive species develop in my woods , fence blood line and pastures .
I favor not to expend herbicide to control these plant ( with one exception — see below ) . A sturdy pair of pruning pruner and a penetrative pruning byword can make short work of the small increase .
For average - sized shrub and small trees , a barrage fire - powered chain saw is comfortable to bring off and mold on a charge for a couple of hours . Leafless tree diagram makes it easy to abbreviate and/or drag fallen tree limb into sight in the woodwind instrument .
I do n’t recommend burn down . These smaller trees and shrubs reveal down and waste aside in a year or two to feed in a plethora of good bug in the woods soil . In the interim , the piles supply shelter for wild animals , birds and louse .
Read more : These 5 indoor farm tasks keep you busy and affectionate during the cold month .
About Asian Bush Honeysuckle…
The exception to my weed killer rule ? Asian President Bush coast banksia . This plant is the most encroaching of all the non - native Tree and shrubs on my farm . It set parting too soon in the springiness and is the last to cast its leave-taking in the capitulation .
In December the Asian bush Australian honeysuckle is the only works still hold its leaves . ( Though , admittedly , this late in the month they may be gone . ) So early wintertime is the honest time to effectively kill Asiatic bush honeysuckle around the farm by spray the leaves with a very wanton software of glyphosate weedkiller .
Use no more than a 3 percent solution of glyphosate in urine in a haversack or other sprayer . You will not notice any major change in the works until spring . Glyphosate is a very grievous weedkiller and if you choose to use it , put on full protective vesture so it does not come in in contact with your skin or is breathed .
Even the Nature Conservancy stick with these guidelines . Seethis factsheetfor more information .
Read more : One benefit of removing coast banksia ? thin ticking populations in the spring .
Frost Seeding
Frost seeding start out the middle of February in zone 5 and 6 . This method of seeding pasturage is a practiced routine method acting for insuring a diverse commixture of pasture locoweed without using any major equipment .
I order pasture mix from my local feed storehouse around the destruction of January . It comes in 50 pound dish . The feed store managing director can help you watch how much to corrupt for your landing field .
you’re able to also bribe mix for specific type of livestock .
By the eye of February the days are usually above freezing but nights are generally in the low to mid XX . A natural heave of the soil aid the seed work out into the ground .
I frost seed no more than 5 acres at a time and I walk it with a hired hand - cranked broadcast seeder . On a moth-eaten cheery sidereal day or a milder overcast day it ’s pleasant drill .
