quahog
ArboristSite Member
So this is going to be a lifelong project, but I figure I would get some input as to whether my idea is right/wrong.
I guess if this were a poll I would have two questions.
1. Yes dummy, thin it.
2. No dummy, let nature be nature.
I have a pretty typical ~40 acre lot in northern NH where I'm having a house built. It was cleared ages ago for farming, regrew, then was selectively logged about 20 years ago. The result is dense stands, thin, and often dying trees throughout the lot. Wildfire isn't a concern, it is helping the fittest trees stay healthy so some can eventually feed my woodstove.
There is a pretty diverse mix of species. At least a couple white pines are still standing, some firs/spruce, and something that looks like a fir but has longer needles, some red oak, a couple maple species, a couple of birch species, poplar, ash, crabapples, and a tiny bit of beech which I would love to expand. I suck at tree ID and that is something I need to get better at. With the exception of the white pines, most of the evergreens are in their own nice dry stands.
While I'm limited in equipment and living an hour away, I plan on working the stuff near the house build for now. Basically identifying some desirable trees from various species and giving them some breathing room.
This is a pretty typical area in the middle of the woods. All thin trees which shoot up trying to catch the sun, then fall over and die. The moss is an indicator of something I can't do anything about-the lot isn't wet, but there is a lot of water for a long time every year. This results in thin root systems and occasionally root systems rotting out. It's not bad in this pic, but you'll see it on the base of trees in others.
This is an overhead shot from October 2022. Lots of trees. House is to the right of the excavator:
Other pics:
Same place in three different directions. This is near the house and I have done some brushcutting to clean up.
Four pics from same place, but different directions. On one of the trails.
At the pic limit, so only one pic. This is a more open area, but in the third pic you can see the birches leaning over. This happens with all the hardwoods throughout the property.
I guess if this were a poll I would have two questions.
1. Yes dummy, thin it.
2. No dummy, let nature be nature.
I have a pretty typical ~40 acre lot in northern NH where I'm having a house built. It was cleared ages ago for farming, regrew, then was selectively logged about 20 years ago. The result is dense stands, thin, and often dying trees throughout the lot. Wildfire isn't a concern, it is helping the fittest trees stay healthy so some can eventually feed my woodstove.
There is a pretty diverse mix of species. At least a couple white pines are still standing, some firs/spruce, and something that looks like a fir but has longer needles, some red oak, a couple maple species, a couple of birch species, poplar, ash, crabapples, and a tiny bit of beech which I would love to expand. I suck at tree ID and that is something I need to get better at. With the exception of the white pines, most of the evergreens are in their own nice dry stands.
While I'm limited in equipment and living an hour away, I plan on working the stuff near the house build for now. Basically identifying some desirable trees from various species and giving them some breathing room.
This is a pretty typical area in the middle of the woods. All thin trees which shoot up trying to catch the sun, then fall over and die. The moss is an indicator of something I can't do anything about-the lot isn't wet, but there is a lot of water for a long time every year. This results in thin root systems and occasionally root systems rotting out. It's not bad in this pic, but you'll see it on the base of trees in others.
This is an overhead shot from October 2022. Lots of trees. House is to the right of the excavator:
Other pics:
Same place in three different directions. This is near the house and I have done some brushcutting to clean up.
Four pics from same place, but different directions. On one of the trails.
At the pic limit, so only one pic. This is a more open area, but in the third pic you can see the birches leaning over. This happens with all the hardwoods throughout the property.