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Timber Stand Improvement

Timber stand improvement (TSI) activities make your woods healthier and more resilient.  Many landowners enjoy taking  on TSI projects on their own.  Working the land can be rewarding and satisfying.  Meanwhile, some landowners may find that they need a little help especially with identifying target plants and utilizing proper treatment techniques.  We have the knowledge and experience to help landowners keep their woods healthy and growing to their full potential.
 
The EQIP cost-share program offers practices to control invasive plants and grapevines, as well as crop-tree release, cull-tree removal, and thinning for forest stand improvement. Click here for more information about EQIP.
 
Invasive Species Control
Non-native invasive plants come in all shapes and sizes and occur on most every property.  The most common problem plants in our area are Tree-of-Heaven, autumn olive, and bush honeysuckle.   Left unchecked, these nuicance plants can outcompete native plants, reduce timber production, and impact wildlife habitat.  The key is to identify the problem plants and remove them before they become a more serious problem.
 
We can help you indentify invasive plants on your property and discuss the options for treatment and removal.  As a commercial pesticide applicator, we are certified and insured to spray herbicides on private property.
Grapevine Control
Grapevines are native vines that produce valuable fruits for wildlife, especially forest birds.  The problem with grapevines is in the way that they grow.  Unlike a poison ivy or Virginia creeper vine, grapevines do not adhere to the tree and support their own weight.  Instead, grapevines hang and impose their weight onto the tree canopy in which they are draped. This extra weight can cause significant breakage to treetops, damaging valuable trees and slowing their growth.
 
Cutting most vines is best, but leaving a few vines per acre and leaving arbors where no tree canopy is present can maintain benefits to wildlife.  We can assist landowners in completing their grapevine cutting projects.
Crop-Tree Release & Cull-Tree Removal
Crop-tree release is a practice used to increase the growing space for desirable young trees.  Releasing the tree involves removing the competing trees that surround its canopy.  The result is more space and a faster growing crop-tree.  Cull-tree removal is a practice that removes very low value trees.  These cull trees are often large, hollow, or undesirable species.
 
Both practices can be accomplished by cutting the trees down or by girdling the trees.  We can assist landowners in assessing which activity is best suited for their woods.  We can also  identify and mark specific trees for removal.
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