Commercial thinning

Commercial thinnings occur typically when the stand is 12 to 18 years of age and can provide some intermediate return on long-term forest investments. There are traditionally two methods of commercial thinning: row and selection. A row thinning is the easiet thinning method to apply. With little regard to crown class, rows of pines are selected and removed, providing additional growing space for trees in the leave rows. This method is easy to mark and to implement.

Keep in mind
A selection thinning requires a more acute eye. Selection thinnings favor only the best trees by removing the inferior individuals and producing a consistent spacing around the leave trees. This allows the favored leave trees to use the additional growing space and mature into the desired product size. The removal of the smaller, inferior trees may or may not produce an immediate economic return from the cut.

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