The Rural Voice, 2006-05, Page 45Woodlot
Management
worth trying to "train" it into a more
vertical form. Leave a stub from the
existing leader a foot (30 cm) or more
long. Bend the new leader to a near
vertical position, then fasten it to the
remaining stub. Electrical tape
works well for this. You will have to
return to the tree in a year's time to
remove the tape and prune off the
stub remaining from the old leader.
If there are any branches on the main
stem that could compete for
dominance with the new leader, you
may wish to cut their tips back about
one third of their length so they are
less likely to be competitors.
Many trees were bent over with
the weight of the heavy snow. If
they are still close to vertical, odds
are they will recover and may even
straighten out on their own. Trees
that are more seriously bent are
unlikely to straighten without help.
If bent trees are in a location where it
is worth the effort (and they're not
too top-heavy), you may wish to
straighten them, then tie them in
position using stakes or adjacent trees
as anchors. Be careful not to tie
them so tight that you girdle the stem.
They will have to be supported for
several years until several new
growth rings are established around
the circumference of the tree that can
once again support the tree in a
vertical position. As this approach is
a lot of work and may not be
successful, it is likely only worth
trying for ornamental trees that would
be costly to replace.
Trees that are seriously bent have
likely suffered stem injury that could
show up as splits or wounds on the
trunk, so in woodlots their future
commercial value may be affected.
It is likely best to remove trees that
are seriously bent or that show signs
of being uprooted.
Smaller hardwood trees that are
cut off close to the ground before
new growth starts in the spring will
sprout prolifically from the stump.
Saplings may even replace the lost
4
BERNIE McGLYNN
LUMBER LTD.
BUYER OF HARDWOOD BUSHLOTS
Wholesaler - Hardwood Lumber
Box 385, R.R. 2,
Wingham, Ont. NOG 2W0
BERNIE McGLYNN
Ph/Fax (519) 357.1430
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07-
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7,
SAWMILL
R.R. #5, Mildmay, Ont.
(519) 367.5789
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WINGHAM
FORESTRY SERVICE
R.R. #1, Wingham
Ontario NOG 2W0
TREE MARKING FOR TIMBER
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CALL (519) 335-6768
MURRAY HALL -
FORESTRY TECHNICIAN
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MAY 2006 41