Hardwood Management

  • Hardwood management is a relatively new silviculture treatment method in Newfoundland and Labrador, growing in importance since the mid-1990's.
  • Thinning is carried out after trees have self-pruned and crop trees exhibit good form.
  • Pole size stands aged 20-40 years represent the best treatment opportunity.
  • Younger stands of 10-20 years don’t usually exhibit the preferred characteristics.
  • Most felling is done with chainsaws.
  • Pruning shears may be used to remove lower limbs.
  • Post-treatment densities are about 800 trees per hectare as opposed to 2500 trees per hectare for softwood.
  • About 200 hectares Province-wide have been treated in this way to date.