Thinning The Trees on My Forest Land - Forest Management

I thin out a thick clump of Madrone trees on my homestead property. An important tool in forest management is to thin out overcrowded trees.  When trees are given the right spacing, it can help them to be more healthy and grow faster.
Madrone trees are unique to the west coast. Thinning these Madrones will help them grow faster and have better form. It will also provide better wildlife habitat. Madrone berries are a source of food for many animals. 
Madrone will sprout back quickly from the stump when they are cut off. These sprouts will grow back thick and compete with each other. When they are thinned out to a single stem, that stem can grow into a better tree than a whole clump would. I believe in the UK, this is called coppice.
The next time, these trees are thinned, I might be able to get some firewood out of them.  madrone makes one of the best firewood‘s there is. It is relatively easy to split for a hardwood.  It burns long and hot and with little ash. 

[@marktullis1175]

Thoughtful forester😊

[@vintagemotorcyclerepair4052]

Lots of people would watch you do this and think you are hurting the forest by reducing the number of trees. There needs to be education so that people understand that forests need light and space between trees to maximize growth and health. You're doing an amazing job of stewardship, and proper forest conservation on your lands.

[@yonmusak]

Greetings from the UK. You said it right! Coppicing stands exist in the UK which have been under constant management for years, with some stools (stumps) ageing well into the centuries. From making horticultural rods, baskets, hurdles etc., to charcoal, a relatively small acreage gives someone the option to make a constant cottage industry living whilst being fully occupied in the woods. They're an amazing resource, and can be managed under a main crop of oak etc.

[@thekiltedsawyer]

Stewart of the forest, very good job it takes care of you, you take care of it!🧡🧡👍

[@Dustin_the_wind]

Steward*. The word you're looking for is steward.

[@OldMotorcycleAdventures]

Helpful video. My wife and I just took possession of some of her family's property in Maine. 30 acres or so is wooded, and is in such rough shape that I have to duck and climb over saplings. I explained to her why thinning is needed, I'll be showing her this video so she understands how it is done. I would love to see more videos on this type of stuff, it would be a great help!

[@WilsonForestLands]

I really enjoy thinning, I will be doing more thinning videos. They don’t get as many views as other types of videos so I don’t know how many people are real interested in that. I appreciate getting your comment for encouragement. I did another one more recently about thinning oaks. Not sure if you saw that one.

[@OldMotorcycleAdventures]

@@WilsonForestLands I have not, I'll check it out!

[@ryanvolk7577]

Appreciate the video. Shared with my wife as well to help her understand the importance of thinning and overall health of our land. Thanks again!

[@spencerditlow8831]

your content is inspiring me to manage my 40 acres of land (which it sorely needs). You've taught me so many great things about forest management that I think I have a good idea on where to start with my land. Please keep up the great work!

[@leeobrien8638]

Greetings from Colorado. Yes I enjoy your content. Thank you! You made quick work of it. More content on forest management would be great! P.S. I twiddled my thumbs for about five seconds to see what it's like.

[@outsidewithstevep]

I really enjoy your videos and sense of humour...

[@WilsonForestLands]

Thanks Stephen. I’m glad you are enjoying.

[@jeffmarty3353]

I really appreciate your practical forest management and your taking the wildlife into account. When the forest is managed correctly the wildlife benefits as well as the land owners. My uncle won tree farmer of the year awards several times and always selectively cut mature hardwoods in Wisconsin. I learned a lot from him and I’m learning a lot from you. Thank you very much.

[@ronharrington228]

You answered my question about thinning the smaller trees before I even got to ask it! I like the variety of your presentations. Keep up the good work!

[@finnkelcher5558]

Yes I like your thinning and forest management videos the most. I enjoy your aproach to foresting.

[@rubenboerde9935]

Liking the silence part. I can hear the chainsaw in my mind. 😂 And really like the content and give space to other species of plants and animals. I took a subscription today on your Chanel. Keep up the good work

[@randyhorner592]

Whenever I see a video in fast motion, in my head I play the song “yakkity sax”, which most will recognize as the theme song for the Benny Hill Show. For some reason, it makes any video funny.

[@WilsonForestLands]

That’s funny, someone a while back suggested I play that music.

[@N4HHE]

We need a performance of, “Yakkity Chainsaw”.

[@ianstoyan]

Yeah, I love it, and I like how you don't play music in the background.

[@WilsonForestLands]

Thank you for confirming the no music. Some say I should have music but I prefer it without.

[@BillHale-p9d]

The sound of a good gas saw hard to beat. The sound of getting things done. Even though I say huh and what a lot 😅

[@PaulHodgson-gm6lg]

Great work, you're an example of why we need big timber companies off of the land.

[@alfonsonava8]

Thanks... lots of useful information to those who owns a piece of forest..... greetings from pv Mexico

[@christopherallen4456]

Yes this is good. I have three city lots in a rust belt illinois. I planted cherry apple and pear trees on them . More enjoyable than plain grass.

[@davidsauer8072]

First thing, I for one really appreciate the no music during your videos! Besides what musical band could truly compete with the sound of a finely tuned chainsaw?! Secondly, I really like the content of your videos. I grew up on a woodland farm that I'm sure would have benefited if I, at the age of eight, had had your experience and woodland knowledge! This is actually true, but right now just trying to match your humor! Fact of the matter is, I really like your content and humor! Keep em coming!

[@WilsonForestLands]

Thank you for the kind comment David. I agree with you, I would rather hear the actual sound than music. In the time lapse part, there was no sound recorded so I settled for silence.

[@MsdMakingSawDust]

That’s the way poplar is around here, you cut one down and 20 try to come up off the stump. Thinning them out like that and they really take off. Thanks for sharing and take care Sir

[@WilsonForestLands]

I am guessing Poplar is probably faster growing than Madrone. they sprout fast, but then slow down as they get bigger. Thanks for watching and commenting, I will be looking for your project video number 5.

[@stephenkutney9626]

Poplar grow new trees from the roots when you cut them down. Try girdling them. Two chainsaw cuts around the tree.

[@circrna]

Yes. I love to lean how to maintain healthy forest. My yard is full of pine and oak trees and I have no idea how to properly thin them.

[@abrogard]

Yep. Good content. Forest management. The whole gamut. Show us your finance books even if you like.

[@WhatWeDoChannel]

I love to see the forest as one well managed system.

[@Dustin_the_wind]

My answer to that question really hasn't changed, since I last gave a detailed response; but for the sake of trying to contribute and give a hand, lemme think on it again. The sky timelapses are a nice touch, albiet I get how that would be a pain to keep up with, and also keeping an eye out for a day that would be unique enough to justify the effort. It would be nice segways, and filler, I'd think. Its difficult to think of ideas, because I can also see why they wouldn't be ideal as well; I have nothing to hide, but just the same I prefer my privacy, and I can see that about you as well. As much as I like people, many bother me; and it bothers me that I'm bothered. This Nirvana thing sure is like trying to work with a pulled groin. I feel like the easiest answer is, you're figuring it out. I see the projects you have coming up, I'll hang out. Thanks, Wilson.

[@middleway1885]

Thanks for the no music...

[@WilsonForestLands]

Thanks for appreciating the no music and for the comment.

[@barrelfish8106]

fwiw, i like the normal audio played over a timelapse vs music

[@WilsonForestLands]

I actually thought about doing that. Maybe I should try that in the next one. Thanks for your input.

[@joelleblanc-km9cm]

I love this content. I work as a mountain bike trail builder/manager and do ski glading. I try to stay conscious of how thinning affects the forest... hopefully in a positive way. I'd love to see more of it.

[@sswoodprocessing]

Nice work!

[@BrentT1964]

Your videos are always good my friend. Keeper going 👍👍

[@WilsonForestLands]

Thanks Brent.

[@stormcrowe9820]

Great subject matter & very entertaining per usual! I vote for more of the content you mentioned; forestry improvement, management for woldlife, etc. Great channel, love your videos!

[@HardRockVermont]

Great content! Thinning is definitely a continuing process... Very interesting to watch your methods!

[@Blackadder75]

there is one sound I hate more than the sound of silence: the sound of two stroke petrol motors... So I was a happy thumb twiddler

[@427Ron]

That was a great video

[@BillHale-bh7fh]

You have a good mix . don't change a thing . Good land management is a big part having it!😊

[@wayneweis653]

Looking forward to your If I was a forester, I would do this with my land.

[@stephenoverdorf4917]

There are few things as rewarding as a properly managed woodlot that will be providing raw materials and habitat for wildlife for many years to come. Forward thinking. Your videos are great.

[@WilsonForestLands]

I agree Stephen. Thinning and managing the forest is my favorite part.

[@noahlcastello4568]

Yes, I like it

[@OGSpaceMike]

Beautiful. I wish I could do that sort of thing all day long. Doing the 1st cuts and pruning forests encouraging growth

[@exitar1]

Yes very interesting...

[@peterellis4262]

I had no idea madrone copied so very well. You have a good deal of firewood in what you thinned out - in the UK that stand would be harvested for firewood at that size, and then again in a few more years. Whether to maintain a coppice system or to thin for single stems as you have done is a management choice. Both are highly valid approaches for achieving somewhat different goals.

[@LANDSCAPING-jt2bs]

yes absaloutly

[@Bushman9]

I had to cut down a dying ash tree a couple of years ago. The stump was about a foot high and within a couple of months started shooting all around the bottom. Now I have a 8’ high ash bush! Leaving it for now. Looks nice and I want to see how much it grows.

[@paulchristensen6722]

More thinning and forestry management videos as requested

[@WilsonForestLands]

Thank you for the feedback. That is the part I am most interested in so there will be more of those videos continuing in the mix.

[@paulchristensen6722]

@@WilsonForestLands awesome. Just started our thinning project.

[@davidstephens7486]

Yes! I also thin young trees like you do in this video.

[@OriginalTailhunter]

Yes these videos are very educational.

[@WilsonForestLands]

Good to know, I will work on thinking up more to do

[@rickshaw296]

We need a thinning update. Whens the next prescribed burn?

[@100-AcreWoods]

Yes it's interesting to watch FSI projects, thank you!

[@raycecil4643]

Ive got 30 acres in Kentucky. Was logged about 18 years ago. Ive been here 3.5 years. Looking to actively manage it in a more natural way, to bring back the natural Kentucky forest.

[@jul059]

Wildlife management, forest management, etc are great topics! With some tractor and woodmizer once in a while of course 😆

[@WilsonForestLands]

Thank you, and well said.

[@benniebarrow348]

Look s great ……I like it

[@whirving]

I live on an area that is an emerging spruce forest with a lot of mature and older Quaking Aspen. The spruce are starting to take over as the Aspen dies out. Also my wife has been weaving willow into baskets and even wattle walls (weaving willow wattle walls, say that fast...) so I'd like to know how to best promote the growth of the willow and manage the fading Aspens. They hit hard when they fall, and we don't use them for much.

[@SasquatchBunyan]

Yes, I like this kind of content.

[@JosephConroy-b9y]

I enjoy watching your forest management videos. It shows me the procedures I can be doing on my 34 acres in western Maine. I also enjoy you tree harvesting methods also. What exactly is your background, forester? Logger?

[@mariocc000]

good video, thanks for sharing

[@WilsonForestLands]

Thank you Mario.

[@southernadirondackoutdoors]

Yup.

[@WilsonForestLands]

Thanks Paul. I’m looking forward to seeing your tiger maple.

[@southernadirondackoutdoors]

@@WilsonForestLands It may be a few more days...trying a different (for me) approach to the editing.

[@farhadissac284]

great job

[@WilsonForestLands]

Thank you for watching and commenting.

[@glos7569]

Interesting lesson on how to manage stump resprouting, are you in California? I’m from Santa Cruz and madrones are very common here, and most other common tree species in this area resprout from the root collar, and after the fire here there are madrones like this all over the place.

[@Brazbraz601]

Great!!!

[@carloslozano2771]

I’m getting ready to start thinning my land. What’s the consensus on stumps? Pull them, cut them ground level, or leave the stump? Someone told me I should leave them to prevent ground erosion. Really enjoy the dry humor by the way! 👍

[@swansonfamilyfarm6833]

Good video. Thank you

[@thekiltedsawyer]

This is awesome content, I noticed that your PPE is like mine, a bit more dirty on the left leg 💪🧡👍

[@WilsonForestLands]

Thanks Craig. It’s interesting what people notice about me that I don’t notice. I never noticed my left side was more dirty. It makes sense though.

[@drhealthpacbellnet]

Very helpful. How about showing what to do with sprouts from a large Bay tree damaged by fire 2017 Napa CA fire.

[@ElectricDanielBoone]

Good stuff out there. Looks like Southern Oregon woods. I've stared using a cheap electric chainsaw, which does a decent job, much quieter and certainly less smelly. That long bar you're using sure gives you some good reach. Mine is only 16", so I might go longer, if available, to get that reach and save my back. I use an electric polesaw sometimes too, but need a better quality brand that'll last.

[@WilsonForestLands]

Yes Southern Oregon, good eye!

[@hugoakerlund5114]

why didn't you use a clearing saw?

[@ericwanderweg8525]

Huge improvement. No Madrone out here on the east coast, but the forest management isn’t much different. This is the first time I’m actually seeing madrone, although I’ve heard that it’s legendary firewood out there. The leaves (and especially all those stump sprouts in shrub form) look a lot like rhododendron here.

[@WilsonForestLands]

Yes Madrone makes excellent firewood. It can make good hardwood lumber but it’s difficult to dry straight so it’s not used much. Madrone is actually related to rhododendron as they are both in the heath family.

[@naturewatcher7596]

So, this is the way to manage forest - cut trees down, let stumps to resprout and leave only one sprout on each stump to grow?

[@CyberOakEMpiRE]

Nice job!, How big is your land how much time you spend working on it per month?

[@mrpush2532]

Why do you trim off all the lower branches?

[@craig243ful]

do you just pick the straightest one to leave or is there another way to figure out which ones to leave

[@cawstongreenway]

Great video, why do you cut the lower branches off from the trees that you are keeping? I guess it is so the tree puts more energy into growing upwards rather than outwards, but be nice to get clarification from someone who knows what they are doing...

[@WilsonForestLands]

I thought I responded to this a few few days ago but it looks like my response didn’t stick. I mostly trim the lower branches to make it look nicer. it makes it easier to walk through. Also trimming the lower branches removes the ladder fuels that can transport a wildfire from the ground up into the crown.

[@noahv.6486]

Definitely an interesting watch! What about tips for planting?

[@WilsonForestLands]

I rarely do any planting. Out here most of the time the problem is too many trees. I did a plantation a few years back, maybe I will go over it one of these days.

[@thekiltedsawyer]

Do your sapling cones kill the starters when it gets hot out there?? Or are the vented properly to avoid killing juvenile trees?🤔🌲🧡

[@WilsonForestLands]

@@thekiltedsawyer I haven't used them here where it is hot. Years ago we used some mesh tubes on the coast where it is cool.

[@hosocat1410]

What are your thoughts on using a weed whacker type arrangement with a brush blade on some of that clearing, rather than getting your chainsaw so close to the dirt? Worth the effort of taking along another tool?

[@WilsonForestLands]

My thought is that’s probably what smart people would do. I haven’t been doing it enough lately to justify buying one. But one of these days I might. The local Stihl dealer and some other people were telling me the hedge trimmer type attachments would work well for some of the smaller material. Looking into that is on my list of things to do.

[@johnfahey7215]

👍

[@davidford694]

Deer around here LOVE downed Arbutus (Madrona) branches. Nibble them down to the nubs. I think the forests would be much better off if people like you were managing them instead of sociopathic corporations.

[@limbzippertoolsfortrees7172]

I like your sense of humor and straight forward presentation. I spend most of my days doing TSI here on the east coast. At first I was surprised by the long bar that you were using ( my saw bar is 15"). At first I wanted to write some snarky comment but the more I watched I could clearly see that you display grace and skill with that saw. In my younger days I too ran longer bars, 16"hrs most of the time with semi chisel square ground on a Husky 372. This is what I do now so I sent along a link to a video that I made. Just 52 seconds long kzbin.info/www/bejne/gXiWiaGPlpakaq8 Well it's time to put on my Birkenstock safety sandals and get back to work '

[@WilsonForestLands]

That tool looks very slick. I could have use that a few years ago when I thinned and pruned this place. Pruned up all the trees to 10 feet. That wouldn’t have been the first snarky comment I have had on that subject. Thank you for the comment.

[@TheOldManAndTheSaw]

I disagree that cutting the smaller, weaker trees allows the remaining tree to grow faster because of the additional nutrients. The remaining trees grow faster because they witnessed you MURDERING their smaller, weaker siblings and know that they're next if they don't grow REALLY REALLY fast. The area looks MUCH better after thinning. Dave

[@WilsonForestLands]

Wow Dave, that’s quite a revolutionary bit of information you have there. The Department of Forestry has public meetings regularly to discuss things, including forest management and thinning. I think you should attend one of those via Zoom and present this bit of information. Let me know when you do, I definitely want to watch that.

[@thekiltedsawyer]

Hopping he's being facetious 🤞🤞🤔

[@TheOldManAndTheSaw]

@@thekiltedsawyer Yeah, I am. Just can't help it.

[@WilsonForestLands]

@@thekiltedsawyer Yeah that's Dave. You can check his channel out too. He has an LT40. He can be a funny guy.

[@humblepie1017]

Awesome job, I worked for a season with a arborist and learned a lot about thinning out trees in a healthy way, but that was individual trees like big oaks and things like that. I bought me a property in Bonners ferry Idaho. It’s one and 1/3 acres And it has probably I haven’t counted them yet. I’m guessing but about 300 trees and it’s predominantly dug fir and I know that I need to manage this properly and do some thinning. Even though your video was not in line with my type of forest, I enjoyed watching you clean that forest and make it healthy

[@WilsonForestLands]

Thank you for the comment. I have been to Bonners Ferry once, beautiful place. That sounds like some thick trees you have. When they are very thick, I like to do a light first thinning. Leave them closer together than recommended see how they respond for a couple or few years, then thin again as needed. That way if some of them blow over or die, you have plenty left to take their place. In the next thinning you can leave the ones that responded best to the thinning.