The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Smallholding => Land Management => Topic started by: deepinthewoods on July 27, 2012, 07:09:27 pm
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weve had the forestry in clearing the phyto infected rhododrendroms and larch. ive gained about 1 1/2 acres. has any one got any experience of how long it takes for the land to become useable, im hiring a digger to get the rootballs out, but the years old leaf litter remains, how long till this becomes safe for pigs?
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Not sure how long it takes. Is it the same type of Phytopthera that affects currants, gooseberries etc?
One way of getting rid of the stumps that might help the problem is not to move them with a digger but burn them. You dig down around the stump for about a foot put in loads of dry wood. Cover it with a metal bin with the bottom cut out and set light. Once it is going really well you cover with soil and leave to smoulder. You end up with charcoal, which is a great soil conditioner and the stump removed plus the heat would probably kill the Phytopthera.
There may be a better explanation somewhere online of how to do this.
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The phytophthora species affecting woodland is called Phytophthora ramorum . P. infestans causes blight in potatoes and tomatoes but will not infect trees. Trees and shrubs other than Rhododendrons and Larch do not appear to be good host plants. There is a good general overview on P. ramorum here:
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pramorum (http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pramorum)
and more specific advice on replanting here:
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/FCReplantingrecommendations.pdf/ (http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/FCReplantingrecommendations.pdf/)$FILE/FCReplantingrecommendations.pdf
I am not sure about the risk of old Rhododendron leaves to pigs. Messages on the ASH forum seem to indicate that pigs avoid Rhododendron but if possible it might be safest to clear/ burn Rhodendron leaves before putting pigs on.
Cheers,
DD
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ramorum. thats the one i meant, ta. :D