Woodlot Management for a Productive Sugar Bush

1. Woodlot Management for a Productive Sugar Bush -Jason Darling-

2. Overview • Planning for the future of your sugar bush. • Forest Health. • Pests and Diseases. • Competition. • Deer. • Herbaceous Vegetation. • Woodlot management. • Thinning Practices. • Increased Yields.

3. Planning for the Future • Questions that drive your management tactics… • How long has your woodlot been managed in the past? • Will your tradition be carried on to the next generation? • Do you want to manage for timber production? • What kind of road system do you have?

4. What Defines a Healthy Forest? • Vigorous growing & disease free trees. • Stable soil conditions. • Buffer watersheds and riparian zones. • Resistance to wind damage. • DIVERSITY • Resistance to various pests and diseases. • Attractive to various wildlife species. • Some dead standing trees and woody debris on the ground. • Maintain a component of as many tree species as your site will support.

5. Forest Health Concerns • Verticillium Wilt – Also called maple wilt, this fungus is a common and serious problem that can kill trees. This infection starts in the root system and works its way up the maple tree, resulting in cankers and dieback. Signs of maple wilt include scorched-looking leaves and diseased branches with unhealthy leaves. Occasionally olive-colored streaks can be found in the sapwood. • Cause – Fungus found in soil. Tree becomes stressed and may be infected. • Treatment – Hard to treat. Remove infected portions of the tree. Some chemical application. Not typically life threatening. Remove trees if thinning woodlot

6. Forest Health Concerns • Anthracnose – This disease results in extensive defoliation, shoot dieback, and twig death. Often confused with frost damage, signs of anthracnose include brown areas on leaves, canker on the trunk and main branches, and purplish-brown areas along the veins of the leaves. • Cause – Extended periods of cool and wet conditions as leaves are emerging in the spring • Treatment – Some chemical application. Not typically life threatening. Remove trees if thinning woodlot.

7. Forest Health Concerns • Tar Spot – This disease affects several maple species and causes large, tar-like spots on the leaves. • Asian Longhorned Beetle – This insect damages the sapwood beneath the bark layer, preventing the tree from properly transporting nutrients and water. Once a tree has an Asian longhorned beetle infestation, it will generally die within 1 to 2 years. http://www.ct.gov/caes/lib/caes/documents/publications/fact_sheets/plant_pathology_and_ecology/common_diseases_of_maples.pdf

8. Competition • Deer • Deer browsing can significantly reduce the stocking levels and survival of your regenerating Maple stand. • Control Methods • Reduce deer population. • Fencing. $$$$$ • Large canopy openings for vigorous growth.

9. Competition • Herbaceous Vegetation • Dominate a site that has been thinned too aggressively. • Grass – Raspberry/Blackberry – Garlic Mustard. • Inhibits adequate regeneration. • Control Methods: • Keep tree stocking levels high to shade out the competition. • Herbicide applications. Garlic Mustard

10. Woodlot Management • Why manage your woodlot? • Healthy Trees = Productive Trees. • Increase Canopy Size = Higher Yields of Sap. • Remove diseased and poorly formed trees. • Encourage regeneration for future sap production.

11. Woodlot Management • Single Tree Selection • Removes scattered large diameter, large canopy & over-mature trees. • Declining in health, vigor and productivity. • Trees do not heal tap wounds quickly. • Most are hollow. (loss of vacuum) • Release growing space for future generations of maple trees.

12. Woodlot Management • Crop Tree Management & Understory Thinning • What is a Crop Tree? • A crop tree is a well formed, disease free and vigorous growing tree. This tree will be the future of your woodlot.

13. Woodlot Management • Crop Tree Management & Understory Thinning • Understory thinning removes: • Diseased trees. • Poorly formed trees. • Canopy competition. • Water & sunlight competition. • Reduces stocking levels to encourage growth on residual timber. • Undesirable tree species.

14. Woodlot Management • Cautions: • Do not thin the woodlot too aggressively. • Sun scorch – Wind damage – Poor Form – Grass Competition • Maintain stable soil conditions. • Winter logging is best to reduce rutting and soil damage. • Thinning to release a crop tree may take multiple treatments.

15. Get in the field and manage your woodlot to its fullest potential!! Questions & Comments? Jason Darling 517-243-2000 Jason@DarlingForestry.com www.DarlingForestry.com