The way it was explained to me was that certain species are adapted to poor soil conditions and full sunlight (pines, locust, aspen) so they will dominate an "open" site. As they grow and die off, they change the composition of the soil nutrients and add shade to the forest floor. Oaks and hickories prefer partial shade, so once the soil conditions improve enough and adequate shade is provided, the will begin to grow and thrive. As the oaks grow taller, they will shade out the conifers and other species that do not grow as tall. Now the oaks and hickories will dominate the site. Beech is very shade tolerant (Patient), so as the oaks fall, the beech begins to thrive in the openings created. Beech & Maples throw a lot of shade. Oaks and hickories like partial shade and are unable to compete in the understory with the more shade tolerant beech & maple and will not regenerate. Essentially, once a site becomes a beech & maple site, it will not revert to oak or hickory on it's own.
Part of my property was stripped of forest and then the hills of gravel removed. It has been intersting watching the succession of species and the pioneer species that have lost the race to the top of the canopy over 55 years. I'm cutting some of it now and a lot of it needs thinning. Lots of beech and holly coming up under maples, not much makes it under the patches of dominating pine.
Now that makes a lot more sense. I now envision rainforest in terms of levels. This is a good way to put it.
Oh yeah well my neighbor cuts huge oak trees down and hauls them to the dump . I need to trade neighborhoods with you lol.
Nope afraid not actually both neighbors across the street did this within a week of each other. They said it needed to be done quickly and I can't match a tree service.
Next time ask that damm tree service to bring that stuff over and you give them a bottle of the good stuff. Crime-in-italy... speaking of tree service how much in your area to take down a tree?
It really all depends on the tree etc. Seems to be around 1000-1500 per though. It definitely isn't as bad as going to the local dump and seeing 100s of cords of wood being burned. I'm mean oak far as you can see going up in smoke.
That's never been an issue for me. The branches and leaf holding that is. Then again, all the branches are up pretty high. I've got decades of hunting in the woods that have plenty of beech. Between the oaks, shagbark hickory, and beech that woods is squirrel paradise. Deer and turkey love it as well.
" Today at 4:20 PMReport Blazing..... You didn't happen to type this specific quote at that specific time on purpose did you??
Wow, busy thread. So one or two or more of you are correct, the trees hold their leaves very late and he is trying to grow maples for syrup. The beech trees seem to dominate the maples. Also, our properties are both very steep. Sitting 15-18 ft up in a tree stand means leaves blocking views and making serious noise. We both deal with it. But he wants the smoke to grow and I want beech to heat. Win win!!!
Yeah, it's not the birds, bees, and the climax trees. Lol I started college as a biology major so this wasn't funny to me at first. Then I thought, what would Eric VW think? Lol
