Standing Timber
It’s important to harvest every 10 – 15 years. Overgrown wood lots actually stunt the growth and development of the existing trees.
Standing Timber Harvests
Timber harvests will open up the canopy which will create new growth and a better living environment for wildlife.
Also for you hunters, this attracts more deer by creating sanctuary’s with undergrowth, improves their food source and the health of the herd. Deer get roughly 70% of their food from browsing the woods. Timber harvests create a browse line which should be 6 ft and below. A mature woods will have a browse line above 6 feet. This is not ideal as there isn’t any cover or undergrowth for deer and wildlife.
Maintaining a Healthy Forest
When trees become infected with diseases or pests, they sometimes need to be removed to keep the disease from spreading to other trees. Removing weak or poorly-formed trees gives the others additional light and space, allowing them to grow faster
Visual characteristics, or the forest scenery, is very important to the public who uses the forest and to forest managers who work there. A well planned harvest can enhance the visual appearance and habitat for wild life. This is done by avoiding straight boundaries and mixing larger older trees with younger smaller trees as well as other management strategies. In addition, the natural process of harvesting timber will further add value to your forest by adding trails that allow for the occasional walk, clear sight lines and access for hunting, or recreational use of ATV’s.
Benefits of Harvesting Timber
Harvesting timber opens up the woodlot allowing sunlight and nutrients to reach the small trees, encouraging undergrowth which attracts wildlife.
Economy growth – timber is a big business and produces revenue that stimulates our economy.
Why should I harvest trees from my forest
Timber is a renewable resource. Selective harvesting promotes a healthy environment for forests. By removing the canopy of mature trees, it allows light to filter down to the forest floor enabling saplings to begin their growth cycle. Trees left standing past their maturity are not able to be fully utilized and eventually become a hazard to other trees. Ideally forests should be harvested every 10 – 15 years.
Location
Conveniently located in Mid-Michigan.
Call Us
(989) 239-4425
Email Us
justin@ michiganforestandland.com