If you need some silviculture work done on your woodlot, why not try it yourself? There are several treatments you can do yourself that don't require heavy machinery or rigorous training, and that also may qualify for silviculture funding. After all, who doesn't love a day in the woods?

 

 

Done in younger stands, the point of a precommercial thinning (PCT) is to reduce the number of saplings so that preferred trees get more light, nutrients and space to grow. A PCT also makes the stand much easier to manage and harvest in the future, and allows the trees to grow faster than they would if they faced more competition. Normally, trees are thinned to a spacing of 1.8-2.4 metres (6-8 feet). To qualify for silviculture funding from the Association for Sustainable Forestry (ASF), softwoods must be 2-7 metres high and hardwoods must be 6-9 metres.

 

PCTs are done using a clearing or thinning saw, which looks like a string trimmer (also known as a whipper-snipper or weed-whacker) with a circular saw blade on the end. The saw has a harness that is worn by the operator to distribute the weight of the machine, making it easier to carry and handle. Stihl and Husqvarna both make excellent clearing saws and have many distributors around the province. For safety gear, you should have a hard hat, eye protection, ear protection, gloves, and boots. Wearing long sleeves and pants, as well as having a cell phone, first aid kit and fire extinguisher on hand, are also recommended. Clearing saws are fairly safe to use since the blade is so far away from you, but you should always be mindful of where your blade is and make sure you have complete control of the saw. To use the saw, move in a sweeping motion through your stand and thin around healthy and desirable trees you wish to keep while keeping the spacing mentioned above. For more information about pre-commercial thinning, click here.

NSWOOA Director Matt Miller is featured in the Association for Sustainable Forestry's video on crop tree pruning.

 

Tree planting is often a good option for stands that don't have enough natural regeneration coming up. Both softwood and hardwood seedlings can be planted, though woodlot owners often have to fence around young planted hardwoods to keep deer and rabbits from browsing on them. The species you decide to plant should depend on your site conditions (ex. wet/dry, fertile/nutrient-poor, open/closed canopy) and what your personal goals are. Red spruce is an excellent commercial tree, but you may also wish to plant trees for biodiversity, wildlife habitat, or personal aesthetics. There are several tree nurseries around the province where seedlings are available.

 

The best tool for planting containerized tree seedlings is called a pottiputki, which is essentially a long tube with an angled trap door at the bottom. To use the pottiputki, push the end into the ground where you would like a containerized seedling to be planted and step on the lever, which opens the trap door and creates a little hole in the soil. Then drop the seedling into the tube, remove the pottiputki, and press the release at the top to reclose the trap door.

 

Larger, bare-root seedlings often are planted with a dibble bar. Just sink the dibble into the ground, rock the handle to make a hole, drop in the seedling, and kick the hole closed with your heel. Once you have some practice, tree planting can be very quick and efficient, as well as being an excellent opportunity to go for a walk in the woods. To carry around your tree seedlings, you can either use a special harness that tree containers can hook onto, or put your seedlings in a shoulder bag that hangs at your side.

For more information about planting, click here.

 

While the treatments described above are relatively safe and low-risk, it is important be vigilant about personal safety and the safety of those around you. If you have any questions about safety, or the appropriate use and maintenance of your equipment and tools, always ask an expert. The Nova Scotia Department of Labour and Advanced Education has published 'The Forest Professional: Guidelines for the Stewards of Tomorrow's Forests,' an excellent resource detailing appropriate equipment use and safety measures used by the forest industry. An electronic copy can be found here.

  

Working on your own land can be an exceptionally rewarding and relaxing experience for many small private woodlot owners. It allows you to get to know your woodlot better and take a more active role in the management of your property, as well as being great exercise. Enjoy!