5 Crucial Tips for Maintaining Your Forested Property

Owning forested acreage is a privilege, and we all have certain responsibilities to our land and our neighbors. Upkeep goes with the territory, but if you’ve never done this type of work before, it can be difficult to figure out where to start. 

Bandsaw Sawmill

Fortunately, most forested acreage management work isn’t too tough, especially when you’re equipped with quality tools like a bandsaw sawmill, PTO chipper, and log arch. With a bit of know-how and some elbow grease, you can keep your property in tip-top shape and enjoy the land for years to come.

Here are the top five things to keep in mind when it comes to managing your forested acreage.

Properly Store Firewood

Ironically, one of the things property owners tend to forget about firewood is that it’s flammable. In fact, that’s exactly why we collect it, right? Improperly storing firewood can have severe, even irreparable consequences.

From a fire safety perspective, you should always store firewood outside, with the exception of what you’re going to burn immediately. Place it on a rack to keep it elevated several inches off the ground, and don’t stack it more than four feet high. Keep firewood about five feet from the exterior of structures to protect against fires and pests. Also, it’s best to keep firewood tarped so it stays dry.

Take a Proactive Approach to Damaged or Aging Trees

When trees suffer weather damage or start to show their age, it’s important that you assess any potential hazards and intervene appropriately. Trees that fall unexpectedly can damage your exterior features, and you’d never want a tree to fall on your cabin or storage shed.

Consider felling trees that start to lean in the wake of severe weather and remove limbs that grow too close to structures on your property. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, so know how to use your chainsaw and keep it handy. You should also keep replacement sawmill parts on hand, so you’re always ready to make the most out of fallen trees using your bandsaw sawmill.

Create Defensible Space Around Structures

Wildfires destroy animal habitat and human structures alike each year, but there are steps you can take to protect any structures on your property from encroaching flames. Create a defensible space so fire can’t advance on your cabin, garage, or other outbuildings.

Thin trees appropriately, following guidelines for your particular region, and cut dry grasses. It also pays to remove down timber—wood chippers are ideal for disposing of any branches laying around, plus you can repurpose the wood chips elsewhere on your property.

Don’t Forget the Drainage

Water always has to go somewhere and, if you aren’t careful, that somewhere could be your siding or foundation. We aren’t just talking about rain, either—snow that accumulates over the winter can melt rapidly, and if it pools along your cabin exterior, you’ll find yourself paying extra to perform more maintenance than necessary.

To the extent possible, ensure proper drainage around the perimeter of any structures on your property. You don’t need to rent a CAT and go whole-hog, but a few hours with a shovel can make a world of difference.

Take Note of Any Stumps

If you’re reading this from inside your cabin, step outside and have a look at your property. Nice and open, right? In theory, yes, but in practice, any stumps on your land will act as impediments. You’ll need a parking area, and if you decide to erect outbuildings or set up horseshoe pits, at least a few of those stumps will have to go.

A PTO stump grinder is the perfect tool for the job. Because it attaches to and is powered by your tractor, you can easily transport it anywhere on your acreage without having to worry about an additional fuel source. You can take care of those stumps in no time and make the most out of your forested land.

About Woodland Mills

Since Neil Bramley and Josh Malcolm founded Woodland Mills in 2009, the company has grown into an industry leader by delivering capable, durable forestry products at price points even hobbyists can justify. From the flagship HM126 portable bandsaw mill to the new Woodlander trailer and Loglander log arches, Woodland Mills products are designed with you in mind and built to last, so you enjoy their dependable performance for years to come. It’s not just the forward-looking design, cost-effective manufacturing, and direct-to-customer sales that set Woodland Mills apart. Around the world, sawyers and landowners alike rely on Woodland Mills for exceptional customer service, too. Whether you need a new sawmill trailer, PTO chipper, or sawmill parts for your HM130MAX, you’ll find the industry’s best-valued forestry products at Woodland Mills.

Manage your forested acreage with products from Woodland Mills at https://www.woodlandmills.com/