So my issue is I am wanting to put a food plot in an area that is not accessible with any equipment. I can hike up the hill with a shovel and rake but not much else ... Does anyone here have experience with doing a controlled burn to put in a food plot. Do's and Dont's would be greatly appreciated ... Or is this not a good idea ? Thanks for any help and advise.
First what is it you wish to plant..You can plant clover,brassicas and Winter Rye by simple killing off the vegetation with Round Up. Once it is dead broadcast the seed and then cut the broadleafs and grasses. It will act as a mulch holding moisture and aiding in the growth of the seed..Wait to broadcast the seed just before a rain if possible..I have an article on controlled fires on my website. Many different types of burns and much to complicated to explain here.
If your goal is to fully consume what vegetation there is use backing flame (burn into the wind). Better yet do it on a windless day.
I've done quite a few controlled burns. If you can, you really need to put in a fire line around your burn area. I personally till in the fire break, but you can do it with smaller tools. A push mower set at the lowest level can do a decent enough job to allow you to be able to stop any fire that is trying to get past the fire line. I will start the fire on the down wind side and let it slowly burn into the wind. this helps control the speed in which the fire moves, and allows you to safely control the fire on the down wind side as it will be a small fire and much easier to control. Depending on how large or how slow the fire is moving, I will either let it complete the burn into the wind, or I will wait until it is about a third to half way done, and then I will light another fire on the upwind side and let the fire burn down into the downwind fire where all the fuel has already been consumed, putting itself out. Without good fire lines it can get dangerous. It's advised to have a good number of people there to help.
Very good advice. Burning off small plot areas is effective at killing existing vegetation. It also add potash into the soil. I've had good luck planting clover without tilling after burning an area
Lol... I fought forest fires for a few years. Our big money makers were...''Controled Burns''. More times than not, regardless if the fires were made by Forestry Specialists or tourists, the fires would escape and get out of control, sometimes burning miles and miles of forest. Here's the last control burn I worked on... Worse time to try a burn is in the spring, chances of loosing it are very high. IF, you were to do a burn, I strongly recommend doing it in the fall. You have to check the weather carefully. NO winds in the forecast. Ideally, you start your burn at the end of the day, with rain forecasted for that night. Then you make sure you are prepared, a good motor pump with lots of hose to reach wherever the fire might take off on you. Also, burning the perimeter before hand will slow it down if it gets too hot. Good luck.
