Landowner Tree Selection for Forest Improvement

Peter J. SmallidgeCornell University

State Extension Forester

www.ForestConnect.info

2” in 10 years

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

Overall: how to grow healthy trees that make you feel good about your forest.

Why Grow Healthy Trees

Accomplish goals soonerand with greater control

• Timber production

• Wildlife habitat

• Wildlife foods

• Aesthetics

• Water quality

The outputs related to health require adequate tree growth. Sunlight typically limits tree growth. Cutting releases desired (uncut) trees from competition for sunlight.

What makes for healthy trees?

One example of good growth following thinningSugar maple: 2” radial increment, 4” diameter, 10 years

Crown closure in a spruce

plantation.

Does an action support your objective?

How to Pick Winners and Losers

You’re making an investment of time, money, and sunlight. Pick your investments carefully.

Pick Winners and Losers Based On….

• Owner objectives for favored species (soils)

• Healthy crowns

• Crown class

• Species mix for soil

• Vigor and defect

• Spacing

The tree crown is the production factory.Don’t invest in a weak factory.

Favor forCrop Trees

Avoid asCrop Trees

From Nyland, 1996. p. 355

Know your soil type and the tree species that grow well on those soils. Favor trees suited for the soil. You can’t squeeze blood from turnip.

http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/http://www.gmushrooms.com/Greenwood/Guide.htm

Sandy loam, good organic matter. Sugar maple, red oak, beech, white pine.

Sand, low organic matter, very well drained. White pine, red pine.

Maple borer

Fusarium Nectria

Eutypella

Reduce defective trees. They have slower growth, provide inoculum, and are more likely to break during a storm.

Weak Crotch

Try to adjust spacing for equitable distance among retained trees. Not always possible.

Safe operations depend on your skill level and available equipment. Most people aren’t as good as they think they are.

A garden approach to forest management.

Crop Tree Managementhttp://na.fs.fed.us/stewardship

Thin around the crowns of the most desired trees.

1 2

34

FTG = Free to Grow = 0

What makes a good crop tree?

1 2

34

FTG = 4 = Optimum Growth

1 2

34

FTG = 3 = OK for Adjacent Crop Trees

High Intensity Crop Tree Release

Low Intensity Crop Tree Release

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

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

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

Should you girdle ?

Flame Weeding (research)-Will kill trees- Is USDA organic approved- Some logistical advantages- Economics are unknown

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

Leave the losers to avoid damage to residual trees

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

Contact a NYS DEC forester for a FREE visit to evaluate stocking (number of trees per acre). Flag trees and have a DEC forester discuss your selection with you. DEC foresters will mark an acre to illustrate correct tree selection, or, will assess your marking with constructive ideas.

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)