The Forestry Forum

General Forestry => Ask The Forester => Topic started by: grouch on August 06, 2017, 02:29:32 PM

Title: how do i fix this?
Post by: grouch on August 06, 2017, 02:29:32 PM
I have a young white oak tree with a strange appetite. It appears to be trying to eat some cedar trees. I'd like to keep the oak, but where do I cut the cedars?

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38564/clump-175719.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1502043668)

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38564/clump-175718.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1502043667)
DBH, left to right: 4 inches (10 cm), 6 (15.2), 5 (12.7), 3 (7.7)
There's a smaller cedar behind the rightmost one that is 1-1/2 inches (3.8 cm).


(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38564/clump-175716.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1502043666)

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38564/clump-175714.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1502043664)

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/38564/clump-175715.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1502043664)
Title: Re: how do i fix this?
Post by: bluthum on August 07, 2017, 09:55:56 AM
If it were my problem I'd cut the cedars off  about a foot up then cut the stumps off as low as possible without nicking the oak bark. Looks like a small notch on the lean side then cut off from the back. I don't see cedars sprout back very often in my neck of the woods.

That is unless I'm missing something here......
Title: Re: how do i fix this?
Post by: grouch on August 07, 2017, 10:42:26 AM
I don't think you're missing anything. Just worried about giving that oak its best chance. Do I do anything about the cedar stumps after cutting, or just let the oak eat 'em?
Title: Re: how do i fix this?
Post by: bluthum on August 07, 2017, 08:01:27 PM
My best guess would be [assuming they don't sprout back] that the cedar stumps would give as the oak grows. Sapwood will rot fast hopefully giving the oak plenty of leverage to push resisting heartwood  away as the oak grows.

Digging out the cedar stumps would for sure do some oak root damage, I'd feel better about giving the natural processes the job.

Looks good on paper from here anyway.
Title: Re: how do i fix this?
Post by: grouch on August 07, 2017, 09:02:10 PM
Sounds like a good plan to me, bluthum. Thank you!
Title: Re: how do i fix this?
Post by: bluthum on August 09, 2017, 06:18:18 PM
You're welcome.!