Succession is happening! Need advice on gazillions of redbud seedlings

I've been working for four years now having MANY bug-infested pines taken down on our 3/4-acre suburban lot and building a forest garden around the stumps and brush piles. I've eradicated most of the poison ivy and English ivy that was choking the ground and trees, and I've been sheet-mulching (thank you, Amazon) and hauling in wood chips to the extent I am able. And, wow, is succession ever happening!

I've got baby wild cherry, pine, and redbud seedlings coming up everywhere. Thickly! I don't want the pines or wild cherries getting established (already have too many wild cherries), but I want to take advantage of the redbud seedlings. I was thinking of digging up some of the best-looking ones after they get bigger and planting them strategically in the forest garden, but what about all the rest of them? I mean, these things are coming up really thickly. Should I let them grow to a certain size, then hoe them down, put tarps over them to kill them for the worms, or what?

I've been working so hard to open this lot up to some sun so I can keep adding fruit and nut trees and building guilds, I don't want it to become a shady forest again. But I know those redbuds are valuable, and I want to manage them for the benefit of the wildlife, bees, soil, and family.

I am in a similar situation. First I mourned over the only red bud tree thar utility company took down three years ago, now I am facing hundreds of seedlings from the mother tree. I transplanted about 10 as landscape trees but plan on removing/coppicing the rest. Or maybe giving away to someone?

Several years ago, I was unable to mow a patch of land that measures 20x30 feet. I eyed the resulting patch of maple seedlings with a powerful enmity. Then I went and bought a plastic trellis.

That patch of maples are a few years older now, and they are gonna be trellises or roundwood projects, or.... My view has changed. I now have a woodlot.

Perhaps you could manage a woodlot too, replacing the unwanted trees with what you want, as the funds are available.

Joylynn Hardesty wrote:Perhaps you could manage a woodlot too, replacing the unwanted trees with what you want, as the funds are available.

That's a thought...

I say clump them any place you might want  one in the future and let them fight it out.
Let the best one win and chop the rest off at grade.
Maybe pot some up as back ups or to sell/ trade.

Anywhere I wantd to keep clear, I would kill with a trimmer or mower, lay cardboard and add wood chips.

Add a goat?

If you want to weed whip the area you could then cover with mulch.



A goat might eat the trees you want to keep too.

The other option is a puller-bear(and I recommend everybody have one and a broad fork.

But the puller-bear doesn't work very good with redbuds(I've tested it)

https://www.pullerbear.com/

The Broad fork might be the best way to get the little ones up.

https://www.gardenista.com/posts/5-favorites-the-dirt-on-broadforks/

Maybe those might help.

I have no trouble growing redbuds, I'm in Tulsa but I never really had that big a problem with to many except along the fence.

Where I'd rather have grapes....

What do you mean by seedlings?

I have lots of little volunteer trees every year but it's not hard to weed them.

I get oaks a lot, but by the end of the season I have walked on then to death.

I wouldn't fret too many redbuds uless your soil is compacted.

On my Berms which have loose soil, it's pretty easy to dig one up. Pretty easy to jut grab it and pull the whole thing uo.

If you don't have loose soil, you could apply an inoculate bacteria as a tea to a big area of redbuds and weed whack it, then it will loosen up.

Maybe you need them to do their job for a little while?

Simon Torsten wrote:What do you mean by seedlings?

...

Maybe you need them to do their job for a little while?

Tiny seedlings, but tons of them.... I think you're right I need to let them do their job for a while.

Mow 'em or smother them with mulch.  Redbuds cast a dense shade not conducive to growing underneath.  Maybe keep one or two and chop and drop them aggressively to feed your other trees.  I spent way too long trying to grow food crop trees in partial shade from other trees.  The lived but grew slowly, they all seem to do better in near full sun.

Do you have laying chickens or ducks? If not, a few l hens will fit nicely on a 3/4 acre lot provide eggs, and provide lots of good fertility.  Rabbits are another good option for a smaller property if you are interested in butchering them for meat.  I raised a goat on a large suburban lot and wouldn't recommend it.  They are the opposite of a tree;)

Hi.  I’m establishing my yard.  I bought 23 acres off a pine tree plantation.  I picked the largest tract that was shaped like a perfect square.  Over 1/2 my acreage is an Oak Grove.  This land hasn’t ever been developed.  I had 2 acres clear cut, had a house put next to the Oak Grove.  I love nature & the big trees are stunning.  The pines are beautiful.  They will be harvested in about 10yrs.  I will decide that down the road.  I’ve been here almost 11 months.  I love it!  I live alone & disabled!!  So needless to say I’m about killing myself getting things done.  My back deck goes up to the big trees.  My house is 16ft from the Oak Grove.  It’s great to set out there & watch the squirrels.  They started coming to my bird feeders about 2 months ago.  Took 9months to see a squirrel!!  I was wondering if I had bought country property without wildlife.  I’ve seen deer in my front yard.  Huge Buck & some doe’s with a couple babies.  I am getting my front yard filled with trees, scrubs, flowers, fig, peach & apple trees.  I have 2 red maples about 15ft tall.  1 Silver Maple 19ft tall.  I have 2 live oaks, about 7ft tall.  2 Shamard Red Oaks that are 22ft tall.  1 Bradford Pear that’s 22ft tall.  I have a gorgeous Redbud tree.  Very pretty.  He’s getting his red leaves.  He was only 5ft when I bought him.  He’s a little over 6ft now. My Pecan is almost 7ft.  My Elm is almost 10ft.  My Southern Magnolia is only 6ft.  I have many more, but those are my big guys.  I am establishing a little over 1acre for my St. Augustine grass & trees to live along with 5 Hibiscus, Crepe Myrtles, Azaleas, Tame BlackBerry bushes, tomatoes, okra & jalapeños.   I’m having a good time.  I want shade but I know it will take time.  I go to my big Shumard Oaks or my Maples now.  I’m completely shaded!!
I would love to get some Redbud trees, seedlings or even seeds.
I have some small pines & many silver maples growing in my oak grove.  If anyone has some tips, suggestions or a lot of knowledge, please reach out to me!!!  I love help.  Thanks!!