Walnut-elm forest management

[Hannah]

We recently purchased wooded property in Michigan containing mostly black walnut with red elm and rock elm (maybe Am. elm too).  There is much elm standing dead wood.

Question:  should young elm be thinned out?  Should it be left for the beetles in the hope some older elm might survive?

Many young green ash are springing up, as well as young oaks.  The woods is low, adjacent to a seasonal creek. Would appreciate ideas for best way to manage this woods.(Would you believe there are too many walnuts??!)

Hannah

[Sylvus]

Hannah;

I would first suggest that you be certain of the tree species.  From your description, the land sounds like it is in the southern part of the state.  Ash is often mistaken for walnut.  Of the three native elms, American remains the most common by far (statewide).  I would not eliminate the American elms.  They may not reach fully mature sizes, but they certainly will live long enough to reproduce and remain a part of the forest composition.  Ash are at high risk due to the emerald ash borer.  Another good reason to leave the elms  There is much more to said, potentially.  But let's leave the discussion here for now.  

[Hannah]

Thanks for the reply.  I do, however, know the difference  between ash and walnut, and believe me, the predominant species is walnut.  I have read that walnut are usually scattered throughout the forest, but I am assuming that soil conditions make their predominance possible. With a little help from squirrels.

I am still studying the differences between the various elms, but haven't nailed down visual clues from bark alone.  Spring blossoms will help, but for now, I'm guessing.  Recently purchased  MICHIGAN TREES (Burton Barnes and Warren Wagner) mentions differences in bark cross section.

Hannah

[Sylvus]

To ID elms by bark cross-section . . .

American & rock elm have white & brown layers.
Red/slippery elm has reddish and brown layers.

Try http://foresty.msu.edu/uptreeid

If you might have enough land or timber value, you might wish to consider hiring a forestry consultant.

[jrdwyer]

Here are some general ideas concerning the management of your woods. First and most obvious is to favor any healthy walnuts with good form. If the stand is overstock and 15-30 years old, thin out on two or three sides around such trees. Since you have a abundance of walnuts, I assume the site is fairly productive.

As far as the elm, in my area I continue to see American elms in the woods that are 14-24" DBH, alive and healthy. But the density of such trees is low compared to the other species in the woods, so your situation is different. I personally would leave some healthy elm crop trees in the woods for diversity sake and thin out the unhealthy ones.  And taking out the understory elms will not likely result in the older elms living longer. The older trees will be the ones most likely to fall to DED, hence the abundance of sapling and pole elms still in our forests today.

Maybe a Michigan forester can post with more detailed advice.

[Ron Scott]

What is the location in Michigan, Southern Michigan??