FOR-168: Two-age Deferment Harvest for Upland Oaks

Jeff Stringer | May 4, 2026 (New)

The objective of the two-age deferment harvest is to establish a two-age stand composed of scattered overstory trees (reserve trees) and a robust regenerating age class. The use of a deferment harvest has attributes that can address several economic, silvicultural, ecologic, and aesthetic objectives for both public and private forests.

FOR-149: Landowners Guide to: Sustainable Oak Management Practices

Jeff Stringer, Darren Morris | May 4, 2026 (New)

Maintaining healthy oak forests often means ensuring that oaks continue to regenerate seedlings and saplings and existing oaks have room to grow. Even in forests where the number of oak seedlings and saplings (advance regeneration) is adequate, ensuring that competing species do not eventually reduce their growth or threaten their longevity is still a concern. Management is usually necessary to ensure oak seedlings are present and are able to grow into large saplings capable of eventually reaching the upper canopy of the forest. All of this indicates that oak growth and development is a management concern throughout the life of a forest. Every forest is different and offers specific challenges to oak regeneration and growth depending on soils, topography, history, and management objectives. However, the need to ensure regeneration and continued growth and development is universal. While the different species of oaks generally have the same issues and respond similarly to common oak management practices, these practices can be optimized to meet specific requirements for each species including white oak.

FOR-146: Landowners Guide to Identification and Characteristics: Post Oak

Laurie Thomas, Darren Morris | May 4, 2026 (New)

Post oak is a found throughout eastern and central North America and is a
member of the white oak group. This oak is usually found on dry uplands. Post
oak can grow to 65 feet tall. The foliage and acorns are an important wildlife
food. However, the leaves can be toxic to cattle, sheep and goats due to high
levels of tannins.

FOR-167: Group Opening (Gap) Harvest for Upland Oaks

John Lhotka, Zachary J. Hackworth, Jeff Stringer | May 4, 2026 (New)

Creation of canopy openings (i.e., silvicultural gaps), typically < 1.5 acres, where all or the majority of the overstory is removed and removal of midstory is sufficient to allow for the unhindered development of a new age class. These gaps create a range of light availability across the gap, from the edge to the center, and into the adjacent forest area surrounding the gap. These varying light conditions provide opportunities for a range of species to perpetuate based on their shade tolerance and where they occur in the gap. Gap-based regeneration provides a regeneration option for small tracts and/or where ownership is hesitant or resistant to significant harvest disturbance, and for stands where the potential for oak regeneration occurs in relatively small areas within a stand.

FOR-144: Landowners Guide to Identification and Characteristics: Chestnut Oak

Laurie Thomas, Darren Morris | May 4, 2026 (New)

Chestnut oak is found in the Appalachian Mountains and surrounding areas. It is a member of the white oak group. The chestnut oak is a medium-sized tree that typically grows 50 to 80 feet tall and up to two feet in diameter. The wood resembles white oak wood, and the leaves resemble American chestnut, chinkapin oak and swamp chestnut oak. The large acorns are an important wildlife food.

FOR-145: Landowners Guide to Identification and Characteristics: Scarlet Oak

Laurie Thomas, Darren Morris | May 4, 2026 (New)

Scarlet oak is one of the many red oaks found in the eastern United States. It is a medium-sized tree of 70 to 80 feet and is commonly found on dry upland slopes and ridges in natural landscapes. Scarlet oak has also been widely planted as an ornamental for its beautiful scarlet red leaves in autumn and its ability to tolerate dry conditions. Like many red oaks it is suitable for timber products and its fruit, the acorn is a valuable wildlife food.

FOR-164: Site Preparation for Regeneration of Upland Oaks

Jeff Stringer | April 22, 2026 (New)

The practice is designed to aid the growth of a developing age class resulting from a regeneration harvest (cut). Specifically, site preparation includes removal of residual unwanted trees, left after a harvest that are present in sufficient density to reduce the growth of the new regenerating age class.

FOR-166: Crop Tree Release for Upland Oaks

Jeff Stringer | April 22, 2026 (New)

The objective of crop tree release (CTR) is to ensure that specific highly valued trees sustain themselves and provide defined attributes to aid in meeting objectives. CTR is a variant of free thinning that focuses on increasing crown growing space of specific main canopy trees (crop trees).

FOR-141: Landowners Guide to Identification and Characteristics: Northern Red Oak

Laurie Thomas, Darren Morris | April 22, 2026 (New)

Northern red oak is widespread and one of the most important oaks of the red oak group. It is a medium-sized to large tree that grows 60 to over 100 feet tall and two to three feet in diameter. Often considered one of the highest quality tree species in upland forests, it is an important tree for lumber.

FOR-140: Landowners Guide to Identification and Characteristics: Black Oak

Laurie Thomas, Darren Morris | April 22, 2026 (New)

Black oak is a common and widely distributed oak that is part of the red oak group. It is a medium-sized tree that can grow up to 80 feet in height. Like many red oaks it is suitable for timber products and its fruit, the acorn, is a valuable wildlife food. Black oak can be found on a wide variety of sites, including those with moist and well drained soils but is most often found on medium to poor soils associated with a south or west facing aspect.