Pre-commercial Hardwood Thinning

Definition

Spacing of naturally regenerated sapling stands (4-8 m height) to achieve a hardwood stand with minimum 15% softwood and healthy, vigorous trees capable of accelerated growth.

Eligibility Criteria

• Residual stem species: Sugar maple, red maple (upland sites), yellow birch, red oak, white ash, black ash, white birch, white pine, other high-quality species
• Initial stand density >4000 stems/ha required
• Dominant stand height: 4-8 m
• Caution with species prone to epicormic branching

Guidelines and Assessment Procedures

• Post-treatment density: 1600-2500 stems/ha, uniformly distributed
• If present, 15-30% of residual density should be good quality softwood
• Crop trees: minimum 40% live crown, good health and form
• Trees with large crowns interfering with higher quality trees may be girdled to create wildlife tree
• Untreated areas up to 10% of total area may be left in original condition
• Felled trees laid as close to ground as possible