Land Management Guides

In-depth guides on forestry mulching, prescribed fire, EQIP cost-share, wildlife habitat, and more. Written for southeastern landowners by working land managers.

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What Is Forestry Mulching? The Complete Guide

A comprehensive guide covering what forestry mulching is, how it works, what equipment is used, costs, benefits, and when it's the right choice for your property.

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How EQIP Cost-Share Works: A Landowner's Guide

Everything you need to know about the Environmental Quality Incentives Program — eligibility, application process, practice codes, payment rates, and how to maximize your cost-share funding.

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Understanding Prescribed Fire in the Southeast

Why prescribed fire is essential to southeastern forest health, how it works, when to burn, how to prepare your property, and the ecological science behind fire-maintained ecosystems.

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What Is Mesophication? Why Your Forest Is Getting Darker

The science of mesophication — how fire suppression causes hardwood encroachment, shades out the forest floor, and degrades habitat. What it means for your property and how to reverse it.

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The Land Management Process: From Assessment to Results

A step-by-step walkthrough of the land management process — from initial property assessment through treatment planning, mechanical execution, and long-term maintenance.

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Why Sunlight Matters for Forest Health

How sunlight drives forest ecosystems — from native groundcover germination to wildlife food production. Understanding why canopy management is the foundation of healthy forests.

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Longleaf Pine: The Ecosystem That Shaped the South

The complete story of longleaf pine — its 90-million-acre history, the ecosystem it supports, why it declined, and the growing restoration movement bringing it back.

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Managing Your Property for Deer, Turkey, and Quail

Science-based habitat management strategies for the three most sought-after game species in the Southeast. How to create the mosaic of habitats they need on your property.

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A Landowner's Guide to Invasive Species in the Southeast

Identification, ecological impact, and management strategies for the most damaging invasive species in southeastern forests — from Chinese privet to cogongrass.

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Timber Stand Improvement: What It Is and Why Your Forest Needs It

A comprehensive guide to timber stand improvement — the selective forestry practice that improves timber value, forest health, and wildlife habitat simultaneously.

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Native Groundcover: The Engine of a Healthy Forest

Why native groundcover is the most important — and most overlooked — component of southeastern forest health. How it feeds wildlife, carries fire, and indicates ecosystem condition.

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The Southeastern Landowner's Seasonal Management Calendar

Month-by-month land management guide for southeastern landowners — when to mulch, burn, plant, spray, and monitor for the best results year-round.

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Understanding NRCS Conservation Practice Standards

A plain-language breakdown of the most relevant NRCS conservation practice standards for private landowners — what each code means, how it applies to your property, and how it connects to EQIP funding.

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Firebreaks vs. Fuel Breaks: What Your Property Needs

The practical differences between firebreaks and fuel breaks — construction methods, maintenance requirements, costs, and which one is right for your fire management plan.

Want shorter reads? Check out our blog for tips and insights.

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