Newly Forested Hillside

[sfulton]

When driving past a recently forested area I noted that individual trees which were spaced well apart, had been left standing and had been stripped of their branches. This is not the first time I've seen this - I'm curious to know why?

[burnhal]

How big and what type of trees are you meaning? My first thought is deer but it depends on what size trees.

[sfulton]

Hi there, These are mature trees, obviously cut for industrial purposes and only odd ones have been left un-cut, in no particular pattern and sparsely spaced. The branches have mechanically been stripped off.

[wildwood]

As with all living things, trees also have an optimum personal space, needed to grow at its best. Most trees can live in very poor soil but there is a limit. Timber trees are planted close and 'culled' so the best specimens are left to grow on.

The reason for debranching is twofold. One advantage is that with the lower branches off, the tree's energy is concentrated on growing more hight. The main purpose is to stop the knots growing bigger in the main trunk, so greatly increasing the value of the wood.