It’s been a dry spring in South Carolina, and as of mid-May the entire state is experiencing some level of drought, with over 70% of the state under extreme drought conditions (Figure 1). This, of course, isn’t great for the flora of our state – including our trees! We are fortunate to have trees growing […]
Clemson Extension Forestry and Wildlife
Importance of Boundary Marking
Boundary marking is the practice of establishing clear, visible markers that show the edges of a property. Normally, a professional surveyor uses equipment to set iron or concrete corner posts accurately. Surveyors also leave blazes or hack marks on trees between corner markers. Over time, these hack marks become very difficult to see. Paint is […]
Felling Wedges – As Important As The Chainsaw
In this article, I’m going to explain everything you need to know about felling wedges and why they are important in your chainsaw inventory of tools. The felling wedge might look like a simple tool of humble importance, but in actuality, it might be the difference between success and a terrible accident while felling a […]
I Hope That Thang Don’t Bite!
I imagine that the first time a human saw a Venus flytrap in action, they were stunned. The first person was a Native American, but if they were a Southerner, they might have said, “I hope that thang don’t bite.” We call them carnivorous plants, but are they really carnivores? They don’t obtain energy from […]
Growing Season Prescribed Burning
Why Do We Conduct Growing Season Burns As spring turns to summer across South Carolina, many landowners notice a shift in prescribed fire activity. The smoke we were used to seeing during the winter months is now appearing later in the year. This sometimes prompts questions, concerns or even frustration. If prescribed fire already occurred […]
Forestry Herbicide Series- Triclopyr
Triclopyr was first registered for forestry use in 1979 and is currently used in both agricultural and non-agricultural settings. With widespread use, there are over 200 products that contain triclopyr. As always, it is important to read the label, as it is the law and make sure the product you purchase has a forestry label […]
Stumpage Price Trends in South Carolina for the Q4, 2025
South Carolina Hardwood Pulpwood Prices Show Mixed Trends In the fourth quarter of 2025, the average statewide stumpage prices for pine and hardwood pulpwood in South Carolina were $5.00 per ton and $6.30 per ton, respectively. Compared to the third quarter of 2025, pine pulpwood prices declined by approximately 10%, while hardwood pulpwood prices increased […]
Invasive Species Spotlight- Autumn Olive and Thorny Olive
When I visit with landowners, I have noticed thickets of thorny olive (Elaeagnus pungens) and/or autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata) throughout woodlands, especially in bottom lands. It was introduced from China and Japan in the 1830s and was widely planted for wildlife habitat and ornamental purposes. While animals do like the fruits from these olives, they […]
The Five-Step Felling Plan
This is an excellent time of the year to fell trees in your woods. It is cool enough to be comfortable, but not so cold that you would rather sit by a fire inside the house. However, using a chainsaw can be dangerous, and we covered chainsaw use previously in the CU in the Woods […]
It’s Timberdoodle Time Y’all
Timberdoodles are crawling through the young, moist forests and grasslands of the Carolinas. Most people never see them, but the lucky ones get to see their sky dance. Timberdoodles (Scolopax minor) are also called woodcock, mudsucker, mudsnipe, mudbat, night partridge or Labrador twisters. They are the only woodcock native to the Americas, with the other […]
