Full-Vigor Management Systems:   
Timber Stand Improvement:    Pre-commercial cutting, or combined with a harvest
thinning, weeding, site preparation, crop tree release, pruning.
Restoration Harvest:  eliminate trees with poor future potential
commercial weeding, thinning, site prep for regeneration
this first pass through the area may be a major treatment if land is highly degraded.
worst - first, salvage, develop existing opportunities, and TSI
Improvement Harvest:  improve spacing of important trees
regular removal of small amounts of wood to gradually improve timber
worst - first, salvage, and TSI
Maintenance Harvest:    improve spacing for vigor and value growth
harvest the natural production of the forest on a 1-10 year schedule
encourage natural regeneration, succession, and diversity
(do not allow the market to influence the harvest)
Regeneration Harvest:  Maturing stand with inadequate regeneration
(reduce the excessive deer and turkey populations)
patch cutting to regenerate shade intolerant species
Tree planting:  to establish new forests or regenerate poorly stocked forest
direct seeding of selected seeds by hand, or traditional methods

D-trees:  Put your timber on a Diet!
Trees require a certain amount of light, water and nutrients just to live.  If trees are overcrowded, they struggle just to produce leaves, seed, and to survive each year. 
For a tree to grow vigorously - extra light, water, and soil nutrients are needed. 
Think of these factors as the number of  "calories" in your tree's daily diet. 
By monitoring a tree's diameter growth, we can easily tell how well it is "eating".

The simplest and most accurate method of determining optimum stocking levels in a forest is to monitor the diameter growth of the important trees.  These are the individuals of all sizes and species that have good future potential.  A sample of D-trees (Diameter-trees) will be marked and measured to monitor the diameter growth of the forest.  Dominant high value trees as well as representative individuals of various sizes should be measured.  A permanent mark at 4.5 ft from the ground is needed to assure accurate re-measurement.

One D-tree per 5 acres, with a minimum of 10 trees - and a maximum of 100, will be chosen to monitor a woodlot.  Ideally at least 5 D-trees per working area should be measured.  A random selection is best, but convenient locations near trails will make the system more efficient.  Careful mapping and/or GPS coordinates are important for larger properties.  D-trees will be marked with paint or tags and measured with a diameter tape.

Growth data, correlated with the bark characteristics of trees in each working area will be used to guide management decisions over the years.  Examining stumps of trees cut for TSI or harvest also gives valuable information on the history of the stand and current timber growth rates.  Stands will be managed to encourage crop trees to reach optimum diameter growth rates. 


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