Caring for Your Woodlot
In this age of environmental concern, keeping your own little neck of the woods healthy is more important than ever. Your woodlot, whether it is only an acre or two or several hundred acres, is home to a wide variety of wildlife and native plant species. Of course, you are also interested in getting good quality firewood and lumber from your woods for many years to come. All of this can be possible with proper care for your woodlot.
Your specific priorities in woodlot care will depend on your goals for your forest. Are you more interested in producing firewood or creating good habitat for wildlife? Do you use your woods for recreation, such as hunting or hiking? Each of these priorities will require slightly different management techniques, but there is much in common among the different approaches.
One thing you may wish to do is plant more trees around the periphery of your woods in order to make the lot larger. If you can, plant them so that they cause your woods to link up with other large tracts of forest. The value to this practice is in providing quality habitat for many species of wild animals. Many animals require a large territory for safety and food.
When you plant trees, be sure to choose native species. These are suited to the environment and will not bring unwanted pests or become invasive through overgrowth. Also, if you wish to encourage wildlife to stay in your woods, choose trees like walnuts and black cherry that provide something for animals and birds to eat.
When harvesting your woodlot, use methods that do not impact the forest very much. Choose trees to harvest so that you leave enough large trees to keep the canopy overhead intact. Also make sure to leave a few dead trees and hollow trees per acre. These provide valuable nesting sites for many species of animals. Similarly, leaving an occasional hollow log on the ground provides homes for small animals.
If you are harvesting firewood, it is good to first choose the smaller trees that are competing for space. By thinning the trees, you can have firewood of manageable size and allow your trees to grow more efficiently.
If you plan to sell your timber from time to time, proceed cautiously and learn the lingo. Choose your loggers carefully and be sure they understand what your goals for your forest are. It is wise to write up a woodlot management plan to give yourself a plan for the next five, ten, or twenty years. Consult a professional forester if you need help writing up this plan.
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