David Touchon, The Cibolo Land Manager – published in The Boerne Star 12/14/2024
The cooler temperatures are upon us so let the well-thought-out pruning operations begin … but not so fast.
What are your management objectives? What is the purpose? How are you going to haul off the mess you just made?
Less is more, in many cases, when you are trimming back your trees and a great opportunity to get creative with the slash you just produced.
Having a solid plan before trimming up is the key. The old burn pile method of slash disposal is a time-honored tradition; however, it comes with many downsides when things go south. Transport to a brush site entails a truck and trailer but could render some free mulch.
Recently I have leaned toward a repurposing plan since Juniper is very durable, fungus-resistant and Hill Country appropriate. Enter the brush fence, brush berm, or the dead hedge.
Brush fencing and slash fencing involve the careful and artful placement of slash around designated areas of protection. Brush fencing serves as a “browse barrier” which allows the plants to become well-established and safely nestled away from mouths that munch.
When building a brush fence, you should keep in mind that the structure should be no higher than two feet tall and about four to six feet in width. The dimensions of the brush fence can vary, and I assume that deer do not like navigating downed brush and the tangled mess. It is critically important to ensure that the brush fence is “loosely” placed, to allow for sunlight and water penetration.
If I have not convinced you of brush fencing yet, you can use your cuttings along creek edges to fortify and enhance riparian areas.
Another option with brush fencing is building one along your property’s contour lines. The contour approach remedies an erosion problem that leads to water infiltration and the growth of native flora and fauna, which creates a diverse ecotone.
If you are not savvy to the reuse of your cuttings, you can always visit the Kendall County Brush site just across the street from Champion High School. There is a fee to drop off your brush but don’t leave quite yet.
While onsite, you can pick up a complementary load of Kendall County’s finest mulch for your yard, garden or chicken coop. Healthy land depends on superior mulching.
From my experience here at The Cibolo, there is always a great need for straight six-foot sections of Juniper, since all of our interior fencing has fivefoot rails except for one fence that has eight-foot rails, which is a tough one. When working with Juniper you are always looking for “posts” and “rails.” Shorter rails sag less and larger-sized posts have a longer life span.
The end of the year is finally here and so is the moisture. Cooler temperatures are perfect for trimming operations, brush fencing and mulching. We all know that spring is around the corner so start planning your strategy now for maximum impact come the warmer season. It is all about capture.
If you have any questions or just want to talk “brush usage theory,” please let me know. See you in the woods!See you in the field!
