Arbuckle Mountain Area Chapter
Sand Plum Thickets
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Sand Plums are one of the staple shrub varieties (click for photos below) that quail use for cover in our area.  Sand plums are found in much of the sandy loamy soil types in areas that generally are not or have not been disturbed.

These thickets form dense over story structure at just the height for quail and generally have bare soils underneath.  Think of these thickets as a quail condominium complex. 

Fire can set back the above ground growth, but does not kill the plants.  You should however, plan to protect the thickets from prescribed burning with disk strips.  An advantage of the disk strips is that it stimulates the production of forbs and legumes as food sources near the thickets, and can cut the spreading roots of the sand plums to promote sprout ups in the event you are trying to increase the diameter of the thicket.  Should fire run through the thicket, if it has bare ground, minimal damage occurs, otherwise expect 3-5 years of recovery time for the over story structure to be recreated.

Cattle can also trample the thickets, especially newly planted ones.  Rotational grazing and/or fences around the thickets should be considered. 

 Chickasaw Sand Plums