Seems every year there is more to trim. I don’t want to remove as they are a good food and cover plant. They must grow 3 feet a year. Anyone have any time saving tips on pruning honeysuckle?
Can you post a picture of the road? It might help us get a better understanding of the issue.Bush honeysuckle. The reason I don’t terminate it is it seems my honeysuckle is the areas deer nursery come fawning time. Every doe in the neighborhood heads to my property to have their fawns. Which is why I wait until July and august to trim it back. It also serves as a food supply during hard winters. If you lay on your belly and look under them you wouldn’t believe the animal trails under them.
Bush honeysuckle. The reason I don’t terminate it is it seems my honeysuckle is the areas deer nursery come fawning time. Every doe in the neighborhood heads to my property to have their fawns. Which is why I wait until July and august to trim it back. It also serves as a food supply during hard winters. If you lay on your belly and look under them you wouldn’t believe the animal trails under them.
They do make side mount bushhogs that can be lifted and angled, but they are quite expensive. I've also seen sicklebars that can be angled up.
I would consider clearing a few yards back from the actual road. They honeysuckle will bounce back along the wood line where it can climb. You should be able to simply bushhog those road shoulders. This should keep the honeysuckle back far enough so that it does not encroach the road.
It all depends on your situation, what might work best.
Trail shark (brush hogs) ?
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You sir are entitled to your opinion as I am entitled to mine. Please do not try to tell me what I need to do on my property. I am no scientist but I can see what it does in my habitat. I appreciate your feedback but as for me I will keep it in check and utilize it for what it means to the deer on my property.Eliminate it. Its not good food, its starvation food. If it was good food or somewhat preferred, it wouldn't take over landscapes. The animal trails you speak of are visible because there is no forb/grass component to hide them. There is no reason to promote BH. If we consider ourselves habitat managers we cannot play along with the delusion that BH is great cover and "deer candy." The habitat restoration community has been preaching this for years but we need to stop soft gloving folks that promote these types of invasives. Besides the damage to wildlife, they are promoting the destruction of surrounding properties as well. I am not trying to be rude or condescending, but we have to stop feeding the delusion.
Eliminate it. Its not good food, its starvation food. If it was good food or somewhat preferred, it wouldn't take over landscapes. The animal trails you speak of are visible because there is no forb/grass component to hide them. There is no reason to promote BH. If we consider ourselves habitat managers we cannot play along with the delusion that BH is great cover and "deer candy." The habitat restoration community has been preaching this for years but we need to stop soft gloving folks that promote these types of invasives. Besides the damage to wildlife, they are promoting the destruction of surrounding properties as well. I am not trying to be rude or condescending, but we have to stop feeding the delusion.
Unfortunately, many landowners are going to be in your boat. Spending thousands to combat a plant that some folks still promote. Even on the properties where people claim honeysuckle is the best species for deer because of some other circumstance, such as those laid out above, you have to remember that while that may be the best option for deer (debatable) it certainly isn't for any species that requires succulent plants or sunlight.I think its a fair reminder that some of have acquired properties covered in the stuff. While doing due diligence to not promote more, it’s also no one’s dream to own a property for battle with invasives on our dirt and skipping every property that has them means inevitable perpetuation anyway.
These can be massive undertaking with effort (and finance) to which I have learned so much first hand this year. Hoping to gain some ground while also improving my hunting experience, which is why I bought my problem child in the first place, enough to stay engaged in the process. To a previous posters comments, we can’t be upset with what we felt was good in the past…heck a lot of these species were government suggested at one point. We all know smoking used to be allowed on planes and in hospitals as well.
This thread is about special approaches, engagements and equipment for keeping this crap at bay…which is a big swallow in itself. I just got a quote for $560an aerial sprayed acre and often feel overwhelmed. So is backpack spraying my trails the best thing? Likely not, but it is what I can do, and am doing.
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We have cleared several patches of it and so far the only sure way I have found to keep it from coming back is to cut the bush down and dig up the root system then burn both.I hope to replace it all with native berries fruit and nut trees but that may not be possible in my lifetime. My son and grandson will continue the battle after I am gone. For now we try to contain the patches the deer are using.Unfortunately, many landowners are going to be in your boat. Spending thousands to combat a plant that some folks still promote. Even on the properties where people claim honeysuckle is the best species for deer because of some other circumstance, such as those laid out above, you have to remember that while that may be the best option for deer (debatable) it certainly isn't for any species that requires succulent plants or sunlight.
I don't have much issue with any non-native plants that aren't invasive, your property, your choice. However, invasive non-natives are problem for everyone. I battle reed canary grass over large portions of my property every year because someone upstream thought that was a good idea to plant.
I also realized I never answered OP's question regarding the best way to trim BH, I would recommend cutting it to three inches off ground and lightly spraying stump with Triclopyr/Imazapyr mix (I jest).
Unfortunately, many landowners are going to be in your boat. Spending thousands to combat a plant that some folks still promote. Even on the properties where people claim honeysuckle is the best species for deer because of some other circumstance, such as those laid out above, you have to remember that while that may be the best option for deer (debatable) it certainly isn't for any species that requires succulent plants or sunlight.
I don't have much issue with any non-native plants that aren't invasive, your property, your choice. However, invasive non-natives are problem for everyone. I battle reed canary grass over large portions of my property every year because someone upstream thought that was a good idea to plant.
I also realized I never answered OP's question regarding the best way to trim BH, I would recommend cutting it to three inches off ground and lightly spraying stump with Triclopyr/Imazapyr mix (I jest).