Tree spacing/thinning

[face cord]

Have a small area (less than half acre area) of mixed hardwood mostly ash some hazel field maple alder about 20 yers old , ash has out grown the other species, overshadows the hazel etc.

 

Reckon trunks are about 150mm dbh tall narrow trees mostly

 

Was thinking maybe they should be thinned out abit they haven't being pruned at all since they were planted?

 

Any idea on what spacing to thin or a link to some before & after pics of thinng similar size trees?

[Chris Sheppard]

By the time you've done a bit of brashing and cut off the obvious dead and skinny then chances are you're about right at first thin IME. It's amazing just how much better it will look after a prune.

 

Chances are the field maple and hazel will never make decent crop trees anyway.

 

Really depends on what final outcome you want.

[face cord]

Maximum growth for decent timber/firewood I suppose don't what them stunted by spacing being to close, but as they seem to be doing well & seems a shame to fell any.

 

 

Isn't really any brash apart from the hazel thickets which are stating to stuggle due to being overshadowed.

 

Trees seem to have self pruned to above head height suppose would help if I posted pictures

 

 

 

Something like this I was thinking of doing the tending bit:

 

Teagasc - Forestry - thinning and tending of broadleaves

 

I need to measure top height

 

http://www.teagasc.ie/forestry/docs/research/Teagasc_silvicultural_guidelines_Broadleaves.pdf