Warm day here but I managed to get a little done thanks to some apple tree shade and a cooling breeze. An old orchard came with the woodlot I bought and the three ancient trees that are left actually produce quite a few apples as well as good bait for deer and elk. I cleared quite a bit of it last Spring with the handheld and noticed there were some good sized apple limbs and an Alder the power company had knocked down. Went up this morning and cut up the limbs and the part of the Alder I could get to without clearing the blackberry vines. Will knock them down at some point and get the rest of the log cut up. Very warm work today and it didn’t help that I grabbed the wrong saw that was heavier than I needed for the job. Lots of breaks and iced tea to keep me going. I’m working on a deal to purchase the adjacent lot which will give me access to the county road on the back side of the orchard. The power line runs across, but there are enough trees on it to keep me in firewood for a few years. When things cool down I am hoping to get the DR brush cutter up there to do some work. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Pretty looking country out there and really cool you're able to purchase some. Someone once said buy land they're not making it anymore. No experience with alder but was able to scrounge some fallen apple and it was some great stuff. Of coarse had to keep some for the smoker. I have read alder is good for smoking meats also especially salmon. Do you have plans on planting more apple or alder trees Reloader ?
I am not sure about Reloader's area but alder trees are like weed trees in our part of the PNW. Stumps of alders will sprout and create clumps of trees and alders will reseed any open area quite quickly. It is one of the few hardwood trees we have in our area.
That’s for sure. I believe they put nitrogen in the ground. They mature relatively young and while they grow fast, they don’t grow tremendously tall. Eventually any Fir trees that survive the shade of the Alders will out grow them. Never had to plant them, usually have to go through and then them out. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I’d like to plant some more apple trees, but will have to have a fence to keep the elk and deer from destroying them. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
