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Landowner Tree Selection for Forest Improvement

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Landowner Tree Selection for Forest Improvement

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    1. Landowner Tree Selection for Forest Improvement Peter J. Smallidge Cornell University State Extension Forester Welcome to everyone Express excitement for the nations first forestry seminar webcast series, installment #2 Turn “RECORD” on Introduce yourself Profile audience (13 states, plus Germany Average of 105 acres, high of 360) Allow for any early questions in the chat box. Poll #1 Welcome to everyone Express excitement for the nations first forestry seminar webcast series, installment #2 Turn “RECORD” on Introduce yourself Profile audience (13 states, plus Germany Average of 105 acres, high of 360) Allow for any early questions in the chat box. Poll #1

    2. What I Hope You Learn Today Specifically: How your objectives relate to tree selection Factors to consider when selecting trees to cut and leave Strategies to remove unwanted trees This presentation will focus on what you need to know to improve the health and “outputs” from your forest.This presentation will focus on what you need to know to improve the health and “outputs” from your forest.

    3. Why Grow Healthy Trees Accomplish goals sooner and with greater control Timber production Wildlife habitat Wildlife foods Aesthetics Water quality Healthy trees are important for a healthy forest. A healthy forest provides many important values and is more efficient and less hazardous than a forest that isn’t healthy.Healthy trees are important for a healthy forest. A healthy forest provides many important values and is more efficient and less hazardous than a forest that isn’t healthy.

    4. The outputs related to health require adequate tree growth. Sunlight typically limits tree growth. Cutting releases desired (uncut) trees from competition for sunlight. Individual trees retain their health by being able to sustain growth. Growth is sustained when a tree has a competitive advantage over neighboring trees. Some trees are naturally advantaged, other trees need to have the competitors removed so they can remain healthy. But, this isn’t to say that you have to cut trees, but cutting trees is necessary for ownership objectives that desire certain species and certain qualities of those trees. Individual trees retain their health by being able to sustain growth. Growth is sustained when a tree has a competitive advantage over neighboring trees. Some trees are naturally advantaged, other trees need to have the competitors removed so they can remain healthy. But, this isn’t to say that you have to cut trees, but cutting trees is necessary for ownership objectives that desire certain species and certain qualities of those trees.

    5. One example of good growth following thinning Sugar maple: 2” radial increment, 4” diameter, 10 years

    6. Many landowners rate privacy, aesthetics, and wildlife as a primary ownership objectives.Many landowners rate privacy, aesthetics, and wildlife as a primary ownership objectives.

    7. How to Pick Winners and Losers You’re making an investment of time, money, and sunlight. Pick your investments carefully.

    8. Pick Winners and Losers Based On…. Owner objectives for favored species (soils) Healthy crowns Crown class Species mix for soil Vigor and defect Spacing

    9. Trees are like a company or business, where growth depends on the ability to respond to opportunity. Thinning is an investment – physically, physiologically, and financially. Don’t invest in a tree (or company) that doesn’t have the ability to respond to improved conditions. When thinning cut those trees with small crowns, poor stems, or symptoms of poor health.Trees are like a company or business, where growth depends on the ability to respond to opportunity. Thinning is an investment – physically, physiologically, and financially. Don’t invest in a tree (or company) that doesn’t have the ability to respond to improved conditions. When thinning cut those trees with small crowns, poor stems, or symptoms of poor health.

    10. Thin to favor the trees with crowns in the dominant or co-dominant crown class. These make the best crop trees. The horse race is half over, who is winning and who should you bet on?Thin to favor the trees with crowns in the dominant or co-dominant crown class. These make the best crop trees. The horse race is half over, who is winning and who should you bet on?

    11. Make investments in trees that are best suited to the site (1st) and that match your objectives (2nd). Make investments in trees that are best suited to the site (1st) and that match your objectives (2nd).

    12. Matching Species to Objectives Wildlife Species Red oak Black cherry Red maple Hickory Service berry White/chestnut oak Hemlock Timber Species Black cherry Sugar maple Red oak White ash Red maple White/chestnut oak White pine If possible, encourage a variety of species in your forest. However, don’t include diseased or high-risk trees just to add diversity. Note that many wildlife species also support timber objectivesIf possible, encourage a variety of species in your forest. However, don’t include diseased or high-risk trees just to add diversity. Note that many wildlife species also support timber objectives

    13. We have a fact sheet on tree health in the publications section of www.ForestConnect.info We have a fact sheet on tree health in the publications section of www.ForestConnect.info

    14. Sometime you have to make a tough choice based on spacing. By doing nothing you may hamper the growth of two trees. This is easier when trees are 6 to 10 inches, but the choice is difficult when the trees are 12 to 16 inches because the loss of one good tree won’t be offset by the growth on the retained tree. It’s best to start the thinning when the trees are younger.Sometime you have to make a tough choice based on spacing. By doing nothing you may hamper the growth of two trees. This is easier when trees are 6 to 10 inches, but the choice is difficult when the trees are 12 to 16 inches because the loss of one good tree won’t be offset by the growth on the retained tree. It’s best to start the thinning when the trees are younger.

    15. Obviously select against trees that are hazardous. Be careful if you’re doing the cutting or advise those who do the cutting. Don’t undertake a thinning activity unless you have participated in a training session that teaches chain saw safety and skill.Obviously select against trees that are hazardous. Be careful if you’re doing the cutting or advise those who do the cutting. Don’t undertake a thinning activity unless you have participated in a training session that teaches chain saw safety and skill.

    16. A garden approach to forest management. Crop Tree Management http://na.fs.fed.us/stewardship Thin around the crowns of the most desired trees.

    17. FTG = Free to Grow = 0 In this “cartoon” of an aerial view of the forest, the tree in the center has zero sides of it’s crown that are free to grow. Dark green crowns are potential crop trees, light green crowns are competitors of crop trees, and cross-hatched crowns are not competition with crop trees.In this “cartoon” of an aerial view of the forest, the tree in the center has zero sides of it’s crown that are free to grow. Dark green crowns are potential crop trees, light green crowns are competitors of crop trees, and cross-hatched crowns are not competition with crop trees.

    18. FTG = 4 = Optimum Growth This tree has optimum growth.This tree has optimum growth.

    19. FTG = 3 = OK for Adjacent Crop Trees If two crop trees are adjacent, you can think of their crowns as one unit, and thin around that.If two crop trees are adjacent, you can think of their crowns as one unit, and thin around that.

    20. High Intensity Crop Tree Release Notice the number of trees with potential for growth.Notice the number of trees with potential for growth.

    21. Low Intensity Crop Tree Release This forest has a higher residual number of trees, and the trees that were released will grow well, but there will be less of an increase in growth per acre than with a more intensive application of crop tree management. The right decision depends on your objectives.This forest has a higher residual number of trees, and the trees that were released will grow well, but there will be less of an increase in growth per acre than with a more intensive application of crop tree management. The right decision depends on your objectives.

    22. What to Expect from Correct Thinning – the numbers*

    23. What to Expect from Correct Thinning – general trends Positive effects Best growth response with High site quality Trees 50 to 85 years Healthy residual trees 30 to 50% growth (cords, board feet, etc.) increase Improved quality of stems Reduced mortality Improved live crown ratio (start with young trees) Diameter response in 2 to 5 years, varies by species Diameter doesn’t predict response potential (Leak) Response depends on intensity of cut

    24. What to Expect from Correct Thinning – general trends Cautions Increase in epicormics by 30% (Marquis 1969), but little effect on butt log quality (Smith et al 1994) No effect on height growth No effect on release of low canopy trees

    25. Directional Felling …”you decide the direction a tree falls.” Game of Logging for Landowners Don’t “chase the tree” Directional Felling Advantages Reduce hung trees Safely and quickly release hung trees Position log for extraction Reduce risk of personal injury Increased productivity

    26. In areas you don’t often go, you can girdle trees to kill them. This leaves a standing snag, good for some bird species but not something you want near a campsite or picnic table.In areas you don’t often go, you can girdle trees to kill them. This leaves a standing snag, good for some bird species but not something you want near a campsite or picnic table.

    28. Herbicide Treatments for Thinning Cut-stump treatment [Misc. publications at www.ForestConnect.info ] Basal bark treatment Foliar treatment http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/freepubs/pdfs/UH174.pdf google psu uh174, #2 on list

    29. This landowner is teaching other landowners about crop tree management in his woodlot. He decided to leave the competitors on the ground, that is was cheaper to get firewood from other parts of his woodlot or to buy it than to risk damaging the crop trees.This landowner is teaching other landowners about crop tree management in his woodlot. He decided to leave the competitors on the ground, that is was cheaper to get firewood from other parts of his woodlot or to buy it than to risk damaging the crop trees.

    30. So, should you thin? You should thin if Closed canopy and irregular crowns Dead lower branches No understory Disease and defect Slow radial growth You should not thin if Shallow roots and thin soils You see daylight

    31. For More Information www.ForestConnect.info NYS DEC, public service forester http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/4972.html Consulting or industrial forester http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/5230.html Master Forest Owner volunteer (CCE) www.CornellMFO.info http://na.fs.fed.us/stewardship (crop tree management) Poll #2Poll #2

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