Clemson Extension Forestry and Wildlife

Tag: thinning

Pine Stand Thinning

October 12, 2022

Three-year-old planted lobolly pine exhibiting apical dominance.

Forest management practices are recommended for various reasons to meet landowner management objectives, including generating income, improving habitat for wildlife species, and, most importantly, maintaining a healthy, productive forest.  Properly timed thinnings in natural and planted pine stands will provide all these benefits. Thinnings are “intermediate cuttings that are aimed primarily at controlling the growth […]

Pre-commercial Thinning – An Answer to a Problem of Too Much Success

August 20, 2021

Figure 1. Overstocked naturally regenerated loblolly pine stand with more than 2000

Many forested properties have changed hands in the last decade.  With ownership changes management strategies and intensities have changed too.  One outcome of this affecting the yellow pine forests of the Southeastern US is an increase in the number of naturally regenerated timber stands.  Regardless of the reasons an owner may choose to regenerate stands […]