Converting forest to grassland

[chain]

Sounds shocking? Mother Nature did her thing of 'forest thinning' by uprooting several hundred large timber trees this past fall. Ridge tops as well as deep hollows the trees fell in strips. We were advised several years ago by a wildlife specialist we needed 15% of  timbered property to contain open areas of native grassland or at least, clear-cut areas on ridge tops and keep brush cut about  18" high for deer and turkey and quail habitat.

So, what Mother Nature takes away , she gives; we'll salvage logs  and push stumps aside. Anyone with experience and advice of what native grasses to sow or possibly go with wheat/rye/legume combination for first years? Low maintenance required.

[WDH]

Check with the NRCS.  They will have a recipe suited to your particular area.

[thecfarm]

The damage is too bad. Any state money to help out with the costs?

[chain]

In the big blow-down a few years ago there was a little money available. The local Soil & Water district had a program last year but mostly dealt with forest trails, log clearings, after logging. I will probably have to have a forester or conservation "private lands Specialist" to recommend converting to grassland.. most want reforestation.

To add...I would rather free wheel it than get tied in to guidelines I may not want. Think our loggers could do a great deal of the work[pushing and filling] as they went along.

[chain]

I  looked around yesterday at some forest management types in Mark Twain and State forest lands, and after further review, think possibly a 'savannah type', i.e., widely scattered pine and post oak with native grasses would fit;  more of a natural setting then grassland range.

[WDH]

That will be easier to accomplish, but you are going to have to burn it.

[chain]

The post oak must be a little more 'wind worthy'. Not many in the stand to begin with. But have been watching a similar management with all SL pine. they thinned from about 50' to 100' or so spacing then burned. Next problem..the tops, lop them down to ground level or push aside in clumps?

I see what I'm running into now..residual tops and stumps and waste wood from the blow-downs, could be a few years. :-\

[WDH]

Your challenge will be having enough fuel on the ground to carry a fire until the grass is well established.  The problem with that is that in the interim while you wait for the grass to get established so that you can carry a fire, the hardwoods are going to sprout back, and that will keep the grass from coming in.  It is a conundrum.  It will take some time and some herbicide to accomplish unless you use heavy equipment.