Ever wonder what kind of damage you might have had following a heavy storm? Ever had to go find and later transport a downed deer? Ever wonder if someone else is or has been on your property? Do you want to know what kinds of wildlife live on your farm?
If your answer to any of these questions is yes, you will need safe passage — safe from thorns, ticks, and in some cases, getting lost. You need trails on your property.
The best trails, of course, have gravel, support structures, and a way to curb weed growth. However, the gravel is too expensive, the structures are hard to come by, and growth is inevitable. I admit I do create a lot of work for myself because in general, I try to avoid herbicides, which may harm wildlife.
Trail Preparation
- First, consider how you wish to utilize your trails in terms of walking versus using your ATV or using your truck. This will dictate not only the trail width but also the terrain possibilities. On mine, I have to cross a creek that is at times not dry. That and the terrain equate to yes on the ATV, but no to the truck.
Make Your Trail
I am sure there are plenty of ways to make trails, but I relied mainly on the weed eater/blade combination. I followed my orange markers with the weed eater and then went back with the chainsaw for what was too large or for fallen trees and so forth.
It can be slow going and you will need water, food, and a way to communicate — and working alone is less than ideal. But eventually, you will get something that resembles a trail.
If you want to walk or ride on it, though, you will need to cut the vegetation down flush to the ground. Otherwise, you will trip or puncture a tire.
Also, try to know what you are buzzing through. I naively cleared right through large, thick patches of Japanese Stiltgrass (which is very invasive and produces thousands of seeds) and spread the seeds all over the farm. I created a lot of work for myself with that one. You do have to spray for Japanese Stiltgrass, but fortunately nothing strong is required. The point is, know what you are going through. I never gave it a thought.
After a while and after a few passes, you will have yourself a trail. On subsequent outings, you can make it wide enough to accommodate your ATV or truck as the case may be.
Follow Up on Trail Maintenance at Least Twice Per Year
Keep in mind that things grow to the sun. In fact, one way to look for an old road bed is to look for a row of curved trees, just like you can maybe find an old fence row from a row of cedar trees from birds using it as a perch.
I mention sunlight, because you can’t just make a trail and expect it to just stay there. For my needs, I have two rounds of official “trail work days” per year: one in early spring and one in early fall. And anytime I am on the trail, I walk with gloves and one small cutting device to get the unexpected cleared.
Don’t Forget to Enjoy Your Trails
I love walking on my trails. I walk on them preferentially over riding if at all possible to lessen the impact on wildlife. If you need to avoid walking in deer woods, then that is what you need to do. I have 8 to 10 acres for my deer sanctuary I rarely if ever travel. Otherwise, I don’t hesitate to enjoy a slow walk through the woodlands on my trails and old road beds.
I stay out of the woodlands during peak tick season and stay up top, so to speak. I am also prudent in early spring to be mindful of nesting animals.
Finally, by making trails, you have enhanced not only your enjoyment but also the value of your land. Your children or grandchildren are much more likely to join you on your walks through the woods if you have adequate trails. They might even leave their iPads and phones at home!
Bradley Rankin farms several of the 48 acres at Bobcat Ridge Habitat Farm in rural Kentucky, where he and his wife also manage a woodlot to attract wildlife. When he is not tending woodlands and pasture, Bradley enjoys raised-bed gardening, rock collecting, tree identification, and astronomy.
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