So....i have a cabin and a few acres in da U.P. i was planning to retire there, but mama changed her mind when the time came. Had lots of plans, but..... So....i spend time up there enjoying myself.
The property is standard " up nort" with very sandy soil, a high water table and lots of trees. I have created clearings and have thinned out a lot of areas so i can plant " deer and other critter food". Some grows ok. Some..not so much. I send in a soil sample for testing this past winter and will amend the soil to the specs listed.
So.....anyone with experience....what can i plant up there ? Much of it gets full or mostly sun. Some thinned areas get diffused sun.
Like ol Aldo...i am trying to steer my tiny acreage to be the best it can be.
Chuck. I have some land in northern Wisconsin, which I suspect is similar to yours. Aside from doing a little brushing for firewood, I plant my butt on a tree stump and let mother nature take its course. But, good luck in your efforts.
Well said Steve. I’ve been in the golf course management and landscape management field for over 30 years, and a big part of that has been soil health. I agree that constantly adding lime to raise pH can be a losing battle, but there are some better and more permanent solutions on the market. PM sent
That sounds like a bit of heaven! Enough land to hunt?
Plants? Service Berry, Blueberry, raspberry, strawberry, apple, pear...
Soil? Hmmm.... We tend to think of soil as a medium in which plants live. In the west we ignore the soil and focus on what the plant needs. We feed the plant. As a result, we are always fighting the soil to maintain the "specs". This is bad for the land and good for the fertilizer store.
In the east, they focus on the soil. They feed the soil and let the soil feed the plant. We are just now coming to realize the biotic extravaganza that is going on in the soil. Test the pH, see what it is, and then plant fruits and other things that like that pH range. Don't waste money on lime. Adjusting pH is an expensive battle you will lose.
Add organic matter in the form of mulch, leaves, and grasses. Feed the soil. In turn, the soil will feed your apple tree.
I believe it is a 5 USDA area.