Thanks for the tips. Actually, we've already cleared out about 15 buckthorn
trees, some of them quite large. They were creating lots of the underbrush
and invading on the nice trees. Not sure what some of the other shrubs and
small trees are that are still packed in there. Our forest makes up about
one-third of an acre.

Dave

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"Brynk" wrote in message
...
The size of the trunk really shouldn't be a factor.
If it's a 1 inch oak tree, protect it
If it's a 24 inch Norway Maple cut it, burn it, destroy it.........

It sounds like your woodland was originally a hardwood forest til
beneficial
fires were kept from killing off non native and harmful fast growing soft
woods which choke off the Oaks and Elms. That's probably a lot of your
undergrowth.

Selective clearing of these trees and annual burning has been returning my
woodland to an oak glade, open and full of woodland flowers in the spring.
Closer in to my house I have done a lot of what Bockman mentioned in his
reply. Especially the hostas! They are great in shade and can be split
several times / year.

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Barry