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Old 31-12-2002, 12:13 AM
Gail and Kevin Lambert
 
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Default management question

thank you that really helps.
Larry Caldwell wrote:

In article ,
writes:
have a 37 acre lot about 10 or so acres bush.
house primarily heated by wood, at the moment i cut up the half decent
fallen trees for fire wood.
my questions are
1. how do i cut the required amount of wood for heat, while still
keeping the appearance of the land?


It depends on the species of trees you have growing. Sustained yield
firewood management is often accomplished by coppice management. The
same trees are harvested over and over again. You cut them high enough
that they will branch and sprout from the same root ball. Many
hardwoods, particularly maples and arbutus (madrone) are great for
coppice management. If vine maple grows in your area, it is the ideal
coppice tree.

Starting from a well established root structure means the tree will put
on substantial wood volume very rapidly.

With 10 acres of trees, you should have no problem producing enough wood
to heat a house. That is a 10 acre solar collector. If you thin your
trees, the remaining trees will grow faster. If you have hollow trees or
snags in a reasonably safe spot, you might consider leaving them for
wildlife habitat.

2. and should i fall trees for next years' harvest?


Always. It is traditional to cut firewood in the winter. This means not
only falling but cutting, splitting and stacking, but at least get them
on the ground. Falling the tree before the sap starts to rise (usually
around February) means less creosote in your chimney.

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