PNW fir canopy getting thin…?

[davidwyby]

I’ve been away for 25 years. When I was young, the canopy was thick and dark, and not much undergrowth. Now it is thin and there is a lot of brush. Other places in the area are still thick and dark. Hmmm…

 

[Funky sawman]

My theory is that more trees are shedding limbs due to our excess amount of wind storms. We use to get two big wind events per year, in the last 3 years, it's been more like 6 to 7 a year now

 

[davidwyby]

Makes sense. Property is a little elevated and neighboring lots have been cleared, so it’s getting hammered.

 

[davidwyby]

Wondering if it should be thinned.

 

[HYPERSAWS]

Wondering if it should be thinned.

Definitely not thinned.
Maybe clear cut and re plant for a future crop

 

[Funky sawman]

Yea if you thin it, the leave trees end up all blowing down in a windstorm. That's been my experience harvesting timber in idaho

 

[davidwyby]

@jacob j. any idears?

 

[davidwyby]

Looks like we have Laminated root rot. Fiddlesticks...

@HYPERSAWS thoughts?

 

[davidwyby]

 

[jacob j.]

Looks like we have Laminated root rot. Fiddlesticks...

@HYPERSAWS thoughts?

Laminate Root Rot seems to be getting more widespread - that and Swiss Needle Cast. Some foresters are pointing the finger at longer, hotter summers. Are you seeing some yellowing in the crowns of your older trees?

 

[davidwyby]

Laminate Root Rot seems to be getting more widespread - that and Swiss Needle Cast. Some foresters are pointing the finger at longer, hotter summers. Are you seeing some yellowing in the crowns of your older trees?

Not that I can see from California

Srsly, no I don’t think so

 

[Funky sawman]

View attachment 489018View attachment 489019View attachment 489020View attachment 489021

Dang, the moss reclaimed those cars!!!

 

[Clint53]

Wildfires or the lack of might be the difference.

 

[jacob j.]

Wildfires or the lack of might be the difference.

That's a factor for sure - regular fire occurrence in fire-adapted ecosystems suppresses the growth of certain fungal organisms, including those that cause Laminate Root Rot and Swiss Needle Cast. The native Americans had the right idea.

 

[Stump Shot]

Wondering if it should be thinned.

Years ago, when sections of the woods here was cut it was decided by foresters to leave seed trees here and there about to re-seed the area. Which worked just fine, other than the loggers picked the ugliest gnarliest trees to not harvest and while the experts said it didn't matter the new growth also was ugly gnarly trees like the parent trees were.

 

[legdelimber]

I often wondered about that selection happening to game animals.
Any of you guys that hunt ever notice the deer getting ugly looking in a heavily hunted area?

 

[davidwyby]

Years ago, when sections of the woods here was cut it was decided by foresters to leave seed trees here and there about to re-seed the area. Which worked just fine, other than the loggers picked the ugliest gnarliest trees to not harvest and while the experts said it didn't matter the new growth also was ugly gnarly trees like the parent trees were.

The pinecone doesn’t fall far from the tree

 

[Skeans1]

That's a factor for sure - regular fire occurrence in fire-adapted ecosystems suppresses the growth of certain fungal organisms, including those that cause Laminate Root Rot and Swiss Needle Cast. The native Americans had the right idea.

Ever noticed that the Root Rot pockets spread down the hill or follow the path of water? We use to see Swiss Needle Cast in the Doug Fir Christmas trees if they didn’t get enough air flow between them.

 

[davidwyby]

Ever noticed that the Root Rot pockets spread down the hill or follow the path of water? We use to see Swiss Needle Cast in the Doug Fir Christmas trees if they didn’t get enough air flow between them.

So…it occurred to me that the LRR we know of so far is the lowest spot on the property, and downhill from the septic drain field. That being said, there hasn’t been much or anything coming out of that septic in a long time.

 

[Clint53]

That's a factor for sure - regular fire occurrence in fire-adapted ecosystems suppresses the growth of certain fungal organisms, including those that cause Laminate Root Rot and Swiss Needle Cast. The native Americans had the right idea.

Also the wildfires clean out the under growth that is taking away the water from the timber.
Most people think fire is bad for the forest. Sometimes it's good.