I’m making some huge plans for 2025, cleared out lots of brush and cut down around 20-25 good sized trees that were a mix of ash, elm, walnut, and locust. After getting all the firewood cleared out I figured the best way to clear the stumps out was to get a local guy with an excavator. Seeing him rip out some stumps from trees with 40 inch diameters was a sight to see. Going to be replacing that area of trees with fruit trees now. The rootball on one of the ash trees was the size of my mom who is 5’10 that tap root goes down deep!
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Do you just pull it by hand?
We’re in the process of getting this home and it’s on 2 acres with about a bit more of an acre of trees and brush as well.
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I attempted to clear the brush by hand. I would say the hours of time I spent doing it which was fun as I enjoy it was completed negated when my uncle came over with a skid steer and cleared an acre within a day. I would suggest heavy equipment if you have the chance to do so. It saves so much time. Plus it’s pretty fun to watch.
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Some before and after pictures.
Before:
After:
I have everything cleared out finally. I’m ready for new fruit trees to come in the spring for my garden area. One question that I’m wanting some advice on is what grass should I use to cover my dirt? I am leaning towards White Dutch Clover but I’m open to suggestions and advice.
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If you can somehow get moss to grow, i would do that before grass. My friend has this weird, really thick moss that’s beautiful and she never waters or has to mow it. I’m personally planning on grabbing a small patch from her to use for my new home.
But yes, Dutch clover 
i like the sun/shade mixes as well as the heavy traffic ones. I overseed so my dogs can run without tearing up the yard. Not sure your situation but moss = lower upkeep than clover or regular grass however… they don’t just grow anywhere.
Also she has moss in between grass as well in some spots and i think that’s kind of neat
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To get a good clover plot I suggest to first glyphosate when it greens up in the spring and then again a few weeks later. Then look at clover mixes for food plots. I’ve never tried to grow moss but it looks like your plots have too full sun.
Moss would be interesting but with the summer heat here I think it would just burn up.
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In my area, clover attracts Deer, Rabbits and Groundhogs so I use Kentucky 31 fescue. For initial establishment, I mixed it with oats and disked it in. The oats make a lot quick of growth to hold the soil until the fescue has grown enough. Then mow down the oats once the fescue is established enough to drove a mower over. Or use Annual Ryegrass instead of oats which is in the standard Contactor’s mix. Although those mixes contain turf type fescues that are not tough enough compared to K31 to hold up under orchard tractor tires. Both oats and annual ryegrass will germinate under cooler temps than the fescues.
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I was going to look at one of the White Clover varieties here. They say they work better on our sandy soils.
It somewhat depends on the goal. My food plots get 100#/A winter rye plus 6#/A white clover mix in the fall . 100# calcitic lime 50# rock phosphate/A (based on soil analysis) Mowed mid may when we is about 5’. 100# /A buckwheat beginning June. However deer pressure is destroying the bw so I’m going to stop bw. The purpose is browse and build soil.
I have bought from https://hancockseed.com/products/hancocks-killer-clover-mix. Also in the fall you can sometimes get clover on clearance at tsc
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