Great points... Is there any way for a forester to predict what tree species might take in that beech monoculture patch cut?... I see beech in the background and wondered if beech leads to more beech. Really appreciate the informative videos!
Hi Craig! There is almost always going to be at least some beech, even if you make a very large opening. It's very difficult to predict what exactly is going to regenerate, although you can sometimes increase the change of getting more diversity by timing management for seed years of desired species (in my case white pine, red spruce and red oak), targeting openings for areas with established "advance regeneration" of non-beech species, causing soil scarification and other things. I've also been recently experimenting with doing beech treatment with herbicide using a "hack and squirt" method before doing management. It is something that I never thought I would do, but it seems to be the only way to guarantee that you'll get diverse regeneration, especially in smaller openings. By doing pre-treatment, it actually makes my work more carbon friendly by allowing me to attain species diversity objectives without needing to make bigger openings. It has made me wonder, even though herbicide is something I want to use minimally if at all (usually I use it only on invasive plants), if it's worth making the compromise of using herbicide once if it means putting a forest on a better path for a century or more. I'm beginning to think that it is really worth it.
Excellent points, Ethan.
Great video thanks
Great points... Is there any way for a forester to predict what tree species might take in that beech monoculture patch cut?... I see beech in the background and wondered if beech leads to more beech. Really appreciate the informative videos!
Hi Craig! There is almost always going to be at least some beech, even if you make a very large opening. It's very difficult to predict what exactly is going to regenerate, although you can sometimes increase the change of getting more diversity by timing management for seed years of desired species (in my case white pine, red spruce and red oak), targeting openings for areas with established "advance regeneration" of non-beech species, causing soil scarification and other things. I've also been recently experimenting with doing beech treatment with herbicide using a "hack and squirt" method before doing management. It is something that I never thought I would do, but it seems to be the only way to guarantee that you'll get diverse regeneration, especially in smaller openings. By doing pre-treatment, it actually makes my work more carbon friendly by allowing me to attain species diversity objectives without needing to make bigger openings. It has made me wonder, even though herbicide is something I want to use minimally if at all (usually I use it only on invasive plants), if it's worth making the compromise of using herbicide once if it means putting a forest on a better path for a century or more. I'm beginning to think that it is really worth it.