Tree selection when thinning / clearing

[firedog]

I'm doing the same thing with parts of my land and I've come to to conclusion that 95 percent of what's there needs to come out in order to enjoy the remaining 5 percent. I keep everything that's 12 inches or thicker and take out all the rest. Then I'll go back and take out some of those too just because there are too many left. Instead of species, I go for what I like the look of. I hate sweet gums and their spikey balls that they drop, but love the color of them in the fall and how hardy they are. Once establlished, it's hard to kill one and they can be very attractive to look at.

Eddie

I've been working the same over the last few years, (not that I've got that big a place, I'm just slow). I was thinking just the opposite on tree size. Keeping the midsize and cutting the smaller & very large ones. Had a lot of big trees go down during H. Ike, but then again maybe that's what protected the smaller ones. I figure some of the larger trees are nearer the end of their life expectancy.

I know what you mean about sweet gums, the only thing I hate more are tallows.

Alan, once you get it thinned, it will definitely dry out. At least that's what I'm seeing.

 

[AlanB]

So at what diameter does a mulcher stop, or not be able to mulch, or is it a safe height of the tree?

As I think and look more and more I wonder if I need to have it selectively logged, then a mulcher or excavator come through?

 

[Eagleview]

I would use an excavator and mulcher in that situation . I think the trees would continually hang up and cause drama using a tracked mulcher . The foliage of the surrounding trees would catch the falling trees and create problems . I'm sure I will be corrected tho .

 

[tlbuser]

I'm sure I will be corrected tho .

A little optimism is good for one's soul and well being.

 

[DIRTROAD]

A little optimism is good for one's soul and well being.

HA HA!!:laughing:

 

[AlanB]

I have a logger coming out Friday to look at the place.

One of my friends thought if we logged it well I could come away with $50K, then I could purchase an excavator, and hire a mulcher to finish the cleanup.

Options, options, options, there are just so many.

 

[beppington]

Hi Folks,

...

I want to thin / clear some areas to make them more usable as well as thin almost all of it so that more air movement and sunshine make it too the ground with hopes of drying the ground out a bit.

I have almost the exact same situation: 60 acres, about 58 of which has been tagged "wetlands" even though many really huge OAK trees are growing in it.

If you go by my county's "progressive" folks ... read "environmental protection dept" ... i.e. hippies ... it's their belief that every single thing in the woods is natural, beneficial & should be un-modified.

And they can enforce this!

So, here you wouldn't be allowed to clear your forest just for "looks".

Fortunately, if the clearing/ modifications are for "genuine agricultural purposes", it's permissible.

So I'll be buying a cow

 

[DIRTROAD]

One of my friends thought if we logged it well I could come away with $50K,

If you are refering to the same ten acres that you mentioned in your original post, you will do well to get $2k out of it.

Just think about what you wrote for a minute. If it was that profitable to sell timber there wouldn't be a tree left standing in America.

You and your friend are badly mistaken!

 

[AlanB]

If you are refering to the same ten acres that you mentioned in your original post, you will do well to get $2k out of it.

Just think about what you wrote for a minute. If it was that profitable to sell timber there wouldn't be a tree left standing in America.

You and your friend are badly mistaken!

Same acreage, and I believe that number to be high as well, but I guess we will see what I am told tomorrow by the guy standing there looking at it.

 

[MarkV]

Alan, I think your friend is way high on his estimate unless things are way different in TN than N. Ga. Timber prices are in the toilet right now with many of the mills that use to buy saw lumber shut down. Most everything here is going for pulp prices. On top of that you want to selectively cut saving the best trees and making it harder for the loggers to work. You have also mentioned that the area is wet and I'll just bet you want to put some restrictions on how much damage the loggers do.

I hope I am wrong but if we were to start a poll I would guess $800 to $1000 per acre without knowing what you have. Now that is still more in your pocket than hiring someone to clear and burn. I hope you will let us know what they say.

MarkV