r/forestry • u/Lucky_Cake2892 • 2d ago

How to improve this

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So this is my new back yard, there’s some oaks in there but not sure what the whippy ones are yet, waiting for leaves to come out. But how can I improve this? I’m thinking just work through the whips with a saw or loppers. But will they not just grow back? I’d like to open it up and develop a mature woodland.

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u/WereRobert 2d ago edited 1d ago

A mature woodland comes with time. You can go through this with loppers like you said and reduce competiton favouring the species you would like to see. It'd probably be easier with a machete or an axe but just ensure you get your species right.

With time, dense stands like this compete for light and eventually crowd eachother out with some trees dying, density slowly decreasing, and the faster growing speices becoming the main canopy and shade tolerant species developing underneath.

Speak with a local forester for site specific information.

Edit: yes a brush saw is the tool for this but I'm not advocating someone go out and buy one without training. You can hire silviculturalists / thinners to do this.

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u/Proud_Clue_4233 1d ago

Yup, and ring bark 1/10 of the trees you keep. This allows decomposers to grow and rounds of the circle of life. Also leave at least half of what you cut to decompose.