Articles Archive
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How Can I Tell if My Woods are Old Growth?
Old-growth forests, sometimes simply called “old growth,” are just that: really old woods. Accordingly, they are marked by the presence of exceptionally old, typically large-diameter trees that are living, dying, and dead. For most forest types in our region, this likely means there are trees exceeding 150 years old and some may be as old as 200 (white pine),… (more)
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Why do Some Spruce Trees Appear Reddish in Winter?
Those reddish spruce needles you see adorning some mountaintop spruce trees are dead, killed by freezing. They are a flagrant indication that the host tree could not stand the weather. Such intolerance would be problematic for any tree, since none can hibernate or move south to avoid the winter. But it is especially odd for red spruce, a tree species… (more)
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Do Stressed Trees Produce More Seeds?
Even those who say they don’t know the first thing about trees are likely to appreciate the fact that giant trees emerge from tiny seeds. Really, what sort of grump doesn’t smile at the image of a tree growing from a seed? It’s certainly a worthy inspiration, but it’s not the only miracle. Indeed, before there can be any trees… (more)
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Are All Tree Leaves the Same?
Everybody knows that tree species vary in their ability to tolerate shade. It’s easy to find shady places in the woods where shade-tolerant species such as American beech and eastern hemlock outcompete shade-intolerant species such as quaking aspen and paper birch. Or picture an old field where pine trees still overtop maples. It’s a question of light. But what’s less… (more)
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When is the Best Time for Sugarmakers to Tap their Maple Trees?
Sugarmakers begin drilling holes and hammering spouts into their maple trees at their own discretion, and each has particular schedules and reasons for tapping when they do. Still, the traditional time for tapping has always been right around the first of March, at least in northern New England. But this is changing. Just as we’ve seen long-standing sugaring traditions like… (more)
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Why Do Some Leaves Persist On Beech and Oak Trees Well Into Winter?
Those dead, bleached-brown beech and oak leaves rattling in a January wind – but somehow still clinging to their twigs – are symbolic. Like ecological pennants, they announce that beech and oak are not quite finished; that these species are still works in progress.
To understand this, consider both the physiology and the evolutionary history of trees. All living trees… (more)
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Why are Paper Birches so White?
Certainly there’s much to admire about paper birch trees, also known as white birch (Betula papyrifera). Ecologists marvel about how adaptable they are, growing natively over a transcontinental range and doing so in all types of soil and topographic situations. Generations of happy homeowners rave about paper birch’s value as beautiful veneer and as solid-wood furniture and cabinetry. Even Robert… (more)
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What is Shade Tolerance and Why is it so Important?
Shade tolerance is the relative capacity of tree species to compete for survival under shaded (which is to say, less-than-optimal) conditions. It is a tree trait, a functional adaptation that varies among species. Because of its outsized influence on tree survival and stand growth, shade tolerance is a pillar of silviculture.
Foresters everywhere commonly rank tree species on a… (more)
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What Is Forest Stand Structure and How Is It Measured?
Once upon a time, forest stand structure meant age structure. Areas of forests containing similar-aged trees were called even-aged stands, and areas with trees of multiple ages were considered uneven-aged stands. It was all quite straightforward. Stand structure was defined by how many trees were present in each age class within a given stand. It was beautiful. This view of… (more)
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Do Tree Stems Freeze in Winter?
Trees are about half water, maybe a little less in winter. And if the temperature drops low enough, the water in even the most cold-hardy tree will freeze. Since ice crystals can shred cell membranes, a hard freeze can be devastating to living tree cells, leading to dead leaves, branches, and even whole trees. But most trees actually live through… (more)