Clemson Extension Forestry and Wildlife

Pine Stand Thinning

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 […]

Understory Foliar Spray Applications in More Developed Stands

Understory “carpet” of Nepalese browntop (pre-treatment).

Problematic plants and cost-share An expanse of mature or well-developed forestland in the southeast contains plant species deemed undesirable by landowners. Plants may be suppressing 1. forest regeneration, 2. preferred wildlife habitat, 3. aesthetics, or 4. simply hindering overall enjoyment of the area. These plants may be non-native, invasive species such as tree of heaven […]

Chainsaw Usage: Girdling and Herbicide

Girdled stems that fell (unexpectedly) some duration after the initial treatment. This added to the downed woody debris in the stand. Photo by S. Peairs.

Chainsaws are synonymous with forestry. Loggers use them to fell timber on steeper terrain and process logs to length (also referred to as “bucking”). Wildland firefighters use them to drop flaming snags near fire breaks and displace burnable fuel. Landowners can also use them to facilitate active forest management. Management practices could be for wildlife: […]