If you’re harvesting a previously coppiced stool, cut along the same angle as your previous cut, just above the point at which the stool splits into multiple stems. The ideal new coppice stool should be only 2 to 3 inches above the ground and should slope slightly to shed water (see left illustration below). This promotes the development of roots and increases the tree’s stability. A low stump encourages the establishment of new shoots at or below ground level. You can coppice at any time of year, but you’ll achieve the best results by coppicing trees when they’re dormant and leafless.Ĭut low stumps. Select trees with poor form that have little value as saw logs or other forest products to coppice. Energy Potential of Tree Species,” below.) Be aware of this time and energy trade-off when you’re trying to decide which species to coppice, or when you’re purchasing firewood and are faced with the question of which species will yield the most heat per dollar. If we were to rank four common species in terms of estimated growth rates and compare those growth rates to their energy potential, we’d see that, as a general rule, the wood from slower-growing trees contains more British thermal units (Btu) for the same volume of wood. If you’re establishing a coppice woodlot for firewood production, you can expect an inverse relationship between the rate of growth and the energy potential of coppice species. In other words, coppicing encouraged equal wood production in less than half the time. The coppiced American beech also produced one face cord. I then harvested an 18-year-old, coppice-grown American beech tree that had four stems. The tree measured 8 inches in diameter at breast height (DBH) and yielded one face cord. The two trees in this simple case study came from the same site to minimize variability.įirst, I cut down a 40-year-old American beech tree with a single trunk, likely established from seed. The following example illustrates how coppice firewood production stacks up against trees of seed origin. The second benefit is that because coppice trees form multiple stems as opposed to a single trunk, you’ll have the opportunity to grow significantly more wood.
COPPICE DEFINITION FULL
The first benefit is reduced establishment time, meaning that you won’t need to wait for a seed to germinate, establish itself, and develop a full root system. However, despite the many variables, coppice systems offer two clear benefits over trees grown from seed. The Growth Benefits of Coppicingīecause of this natural variation, it’s important to avoid broad generalizations regarding yield. Willows, for example, will almost always outpace oaks in terms of growth rate, while beech trees in a northern hardwood forest are notorious for out-competing maples and birches, creating thick, single-species stands. Almost without exception, some species will grow faster than others, even in a less suitable environment. Primary genetic attributes include vigor, disease resistance, photosynthetic efficiency, and species. Environmental factors include climatic conditions as well as soil quality. However, more often than not, too many factors are at play to make any sort of reasonable estimate because both environmental and genetic factors influence growth rates. If I know something about the site, I can make an educated guess.
Tree Growth VariablesĪs a forester, I’m often asked how long it will take a tree to grow to a specific size.
Even into the 16th century, the economic importance of wood obtained through coppicing was so significant in England that King Henry VIII mandated the construction of fences around coppice forests throughout the country to protect them from browsing animals. Coppicing is a reproduction method wherein a tree is cut back periodically to stimulate new growth through dormant buds on the living stump, or “stool.” In turn, these buds develop into sprouts, also called “shoots,” capable of growing firewood in approximately half the time it would take to grow the same amount of wood from seed.Ĭoppicing as a management technique dates back to the Neolithic period, when people used coppice wood for a variety of purposes, ranging from beanpoles and lath to firewood and fence posts. Of all the forestry techniques available to woodland owners, few methods are as underutilized as coppicing.
You can grow firewood by coppicing trees for firewood in a fraction of the time it takes to raise a tree from seed. Homemade Cheese Recipes: Cheese Making Articles.
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