Not sure about you guys and gals, but’s it’s 65 degrees out so I left work early to walk the woods. I have eyed this tree for years and as you can see it’s a nice big ash. My wide work boot is in the picture at the base. I have this, and one huge cherry I keep watching. No obvious ash borer issues yet thankfully. Any of you have that one tree you look at but know it should be lumber instead of BTU’s?
YES ! There is a Red Oak by my work, I pass it twice everyday. It must be 40" DBH. Straight as a pole !!! Hardly any limbs. This thing is HUUUUUGE. I'd love it to somehow magically fall and land 30 miles away in my yard
I have an ash I look at all the time in the 30"-40" range, it is dropping some branches, but it probably wouldn't make lumber as it has large limbs starting at about 10 ft (believe it could have been a field edge tree about 150-200 years ago) It is one of the largest trees I have, and enjoy looking at it so it will probably get left until it dies, or eab gets here.
I've got two Black Walnut trees that are straight as an arrow for 30ish feet with no limbs. Only 18 & 22" DBH though. Just waiting patiently.
Nice. Too bad it has that little crook in it. Measure to see how long of a log you can get both above and below that crooked section and the rest goes for firewood.
I have a beech tree that is about 30" dbh and I hope it will become lumber some day. Also about 2-3 cords of firewood in the top.
I like to leave all the old veterans be. In my mind its a shame to cut one down for firewood or even lumber. If they get knocked over by the forces of nature then I'd prefer they go for lumber. I'll even give the trunk away to a local small man saw mill before it goes for firewood. I instead cut smaller trees 8-16" dbh mostly to thin for certain species that I'd like to see more of. This is where the vast majority of my firewood comes from. I have few White Oak and they are not regenerating for 2 reasons, too much shade and deer, so I'll cut other trees that are crowding my White Oaks. I have too few Beech so they are another one that get special status. I have lots of Shagbark Hickory, Sugar maples and Ironwood so if any of these are crowding a tree with special status its an easy decision on what to do. Other than certain species I give special status to all dead and dying trees. They are the future food sources and homes for the wildlife. And they are no real hindrance to small saplings/poles that are near by. I never cut a dead standing tree. I'll let it slowly fall and crumble on its own. Also even the less desirable trees are left if they have dens in them. I have one veteran Sugar Maple that is full of dens of all different sizes. He'll never make a decent piece of lumber and I'll bet most of the inside of him is rotten so his firewood value is low. He should probably go but because he has lots of dens in him he will never be touched by me. Aspen and Box Elder are on a short list of what I kill and leave standing. Nothing goes to waste, just cause I don't use it doesn't mean something else isn't using it.
