Crop Tree Release
Definition
Release of healthy immature trees with potential to develop into high quality trees. Maximizes growth of veneer or sawlog-quality trees.
Eligibility Criteria
Crop tree species: Sugar maple, red maple (upland sites), yellow birch, red oak, white ash, red spruce, white spruce, black spruce, eastern hemlock, white pine, white birch, largetooth aspen.
Stand must have health and vigour to grow for minimum 20 years.
Stand must contain minimum 100 uniformly distributed potential crop trees per ha.
Potential crop tree: Clear bole 2.5 m length and at least 3 sides clear from defects (bulges, burls, cankers, hollow butt log, seams/splits, crook, butt rot, crotch, conks, dead top, sweep >5 cm, branches on >2 sides, large branches, significant bark or root damage, significant dieback)
Guidelines and Assessment Procedures
- Minimum 100 uniformly distributed crop trees/ha released on at least 3 sides
- Prevent or minimize epicormic branching on clear bole
- Crop trees: minimum 30% live crown, potential to grow 20 years, minimum 12 cm DBH
- Minimum 15 wildlife trees/ha must be left/created
- Legacy trees retained and not damaged
- Minimize damage to residual stand; maximum 5% damaged crop trees
- Maximum 30% of merchantable basal area removed