Important Information About Thinning Forest
Thinning forest in Boulder and Jefferson County can be best described as similar to weeding your garden, but on a much larger scale. The purpose is to make sure that the best trees will thrive by removing trees that are not desirable or healthy. When you remove the undesirable trees, you are allowing the trees you want to get more nutrients from the soil, as well as sunlight and moisture. This is because after thinning, there is less competition among the trees.
Starting the Thinning Process
You will need to start by thoroughly surveying the trees in the forest. Look at the size, condition, species and value for wildlife to determine which ones are the most desirable. Once you choose which trees will remain, you want to mark them so that it is clear which ones should not be touched. The others will be promptly removed.
To determine when to start this process, you should talk to a consulting forester or a forestry agent. This will be able to survey your land and conduct the necessary calculations to determine which ones should be kept and which ones should be thinned. They can have you the ratio you need to ensure that the forest that remains after the thinning process can thrive. It is a good idea to get a professional’s opinion to ensure that it is done correctly because if it is done wrong, it can negatively impact the health of your forest.
The Benefits of Thinning Forest
When a forest is too dense, there is a much higher risk of disease, wildfires and pest infestation. Because of this, if humans do not intervene and take care of the thinning process, it might not occur in time to ensure that the forest is healthy. When the thinning process is done properly, the following are common benefits:
Making it possible for more sunlight to get to the floor of the forest to improve the wildlife habitat. This allows for better growth for animals and plants.
Utilizing the undesirable trees for other purposes, such as firewood or selling them for lumber
Helping to ensure faster growth of the desirable trees that are left
Enhancing the overall look and view of the property
The Thinning Forest Process
After getting the information you need from a forest professional, it is time to get the thinning process going. You will analyze your trees and take the time to properly mark which ones you will keep. From here, the following steps are typical when thinning forest:
Look at your land as a whole to look for features, such as sensitive soils, fragile areas or slopes. You will also want to take note of windy ridges or coastal area. All of these will need to be attended to in a special manner.
Know what your goals are when you are thinning forest. For example, is your primary goal improving the habitat for wildlife or working on an area for commercial timber? It is important to know your goal before you begin.
Make sure that you are spacing properly when deciding which trees to keep. It is ideal to have approximately 10 to 30 feet in between your trees. You may need more space if you are using the area for something like grazing livestock.
Make sure that you have the proper training, equipment and permits necessary to get the thinning done.
Thinning forest is a process and one that can take some time. However, the benefits are immense once it is finished. It is important that you properly assess the area and strategically choose the right trees to thin.