Need Advice on Timber

[prairiedoggin]

Hello Everyone, its been a while since I have posted or been on the forum. My wife and I have recently bought some 16 acres of deep wooded land. We have a small house and pasture on it, but the rest is covered in trees. On one particular side of the land host a cedar tree thicket. It has several hundred cedar tree that seem to be over 20 years old (guessing). Is there value in the Cedar trees? I wanted to plant some trees on the property to harvest for myself as a retirement or for my children.

I have the capability to cut and stack the trees if needed to sell. My other question is; As far as investment goes, what the best trees to plant to get a return on money. I live in western Ky and usually gets good weather to go most trees.

Any ideas?

[mrchicken]

Take this with a grain of salt since every location is a bit different.

eastern red cedars are mostly used for fence posts. Retail about $4-8 each for 8' posts 4-7" diameter. Add a buck or two for fatter posts.

IF you have some large diameter red cedar WITHOUT HEART ROT they can be worth some money as millable logs.

Most of the people around here in your situation go on shares to let somebody come cut them and sell the cedars as posts.


Fast growing SYP is USUALLY the best bang for your buck Return on Investment wise. Its fast growing and always has a market. In a good location with long growing seasons (deep south), some species can be harvested for lumber in as little as 18-20 years. Probably a bit longer in your area.

Hardwoods typically bring higher prices at the mill or off the stump but they take a lot longer to grow.

Hope this helps.

[northwoodstrapper]

Where I live in the north we have white cedar. Deer use these on their migration route for deer yards. White cedar a known for growing in wet soil so replanting that with something that will regrow may become difficult. Balsam, Tamarac and tag elder usually sprout after cutting.

[barkspud]

Christmas trees pay pretty fast balsm or Douglas fir I have several friend got tree farms and make good monies. They groom the tree as they grow to be almost perfect. Ceders are great for winter feed for deer but they will work them over hard stunting there growth. Hardwood are your biggest money I'd think but takes a long time to grow. Maybe not putting all your eggs in on basket and just growing a variety and removing the less desirable s. We have 20 acres here I've been working on that was cut years ago. Its coming up in white birch, yellow, northern red oak, beach, maple, cherry, ash, poplar, pine, cedar, spruce, balsam and Douglas fir. The birch and cherry come in really thick so I have started thinning the stands a little and stacking for fire wood. All my oaks, cedar, are staying for deer feed. I,m cutting all the spruce, pine but a few low pockets to allow for deer winter cover and bedding. Some of large balsam and douglas fir are going as well but saving all the small ones to grow and groom for christmas trees. Some I,m even digging up and moving to manage my area better. I,m on a large southern exposed ridge but lots of bedrock so shallow soil not good for big trees. As the hard woods grow I'll thin and turn some into firewood. Guess I've rambled enough but talking to a local forester may help shed some light on it for you to..