Managing Old Fields

About
Old fields occur characterized by a mix of patches of dense shrubs interspersed with grasses, forbs and wildflowers. If left unmanaged, these shrublands will eventually revert to forest. These shrublands are very susceptible to invasion by non-native plants.
Where are old fields found?
Abandoned agricultural fields Abandoned industrial lands Fields that are mowed infrequently
Typical Plants
Gray dogwood Sumac Aspen Juniper Pine Raspberry Blackberry Meadowsweet Golden rod Milkweed
Typical Wildlife
American woodcock New England cottontail
Knowing when to manage old fields
Shrubs are no longer dense, and vertical structure is lost Tree species are beginning to get large and over-top shrub species
Maintaining old fields
1. Identify/delineate old field
2. Divide the area into management blocks.
3. Cut the vegetation using appropriate equipment, such as brush hog, bronotsaurus, brush saw, among others.
4. Manage on a rotation, never eliminating all the habitat at once. Continue cutting management blocks over time, approximately every 5-7 years with a brush hog or every 10-15 years with a bronotosaurus.
Creating old field habitat
It is often possible to create old field shrublands habitat by simply allowing a field to revert to shrubs. This can be supplemented by planting native shrubs, but it is often unnecessary.