Competition and crown release
Young stands often exceed optimal density. Trees compete for light, water, and nutrients — suppressed trees stagnate while dominants grow. Thinning reallocates growth to retained trees of desired species and form.
Thinning types
- Pre-commercial thin — removes small trees before merchantable size; no revenue but improves future value.
- Commercial thin — extracts pulp or small sawlogs while improving residual stand.
- Crown thin — removes branches from lower crown of retained trees to reduce knot size in future logs.
Selection criteria
Retain healthy dominant and codominant trees of valuable species with straight stems and small crowns. Remove wolf trees (overtopping neighbors), diseased stems, and undesirable species per management plan.
Frequency and intensity
Light, frequent thins mimic natural gap dynamics. Heavy thins risk windthrow on exposed edges and sunscald on previously shaded bark.