Pine Grove

[Burvol]

From the sounds of it I think those trees are holding each other up.
If it was opened up too much I can see the rest of the stand suffering from wind throw. He must be in a warmer climate, as I can see a stand like this succumbing to snow press.
Were it my woodlot, I'd get a herbicide gun and shoot at least 30% of the less dominant stems and shoot another 30% 3-5 years later.
That would lead to alot of dead stems and a fire hazard, but what pine bush isn't a fire hazard?
Gypo

Holding eachother up? That's the age to define domnance. Wind develops strong roots at that age, not later in life. When you take out a stand and leave holes in it a more mature age is when blow down occurrs, not at this age. Conifers need to compete to a certain age. A powersaw or machine is better in these kinds of stands vs. herbicide.

 

[hammerlogging]

rows or not there is plenty of space for equipment to run as its cut to post thinning specs. $13/ton? maybe a little higher, pulp is doing good and its a first thinnning, atleast $14. Any more and you'll make them mechanized loggers lazy- lets see em run!!!

Might do whole tree chipping. there's a shortage of hog fuel out there since less sawtimber is being milled.

There's a crowd out there really advocating uneven aged mgmt of longleaf, maybe the longleaf alliance. But you are a LONG way form having to deal with that.

So, do you have pitcher plants? super cool!

An even aged pine stand doesn't much needd a forester if you have a clue about forestry, and know that you can identify a good logger. Save you money, and you and the logger a headache!

 

[Gypo Logger]

Holding eachother up? That's the age to define domnance. Wind develops strong roots at that age, not later in life. When you take out a stand and leave holes in it a more mature age is when blow down occurrs, not at this age. Conifers need to compete to a certain age. A powersaw or machine is better in these kinds of stands vs. herbicide.

If there are that many trees in a given plot they are holding each other up.
You're right though, wind is an essential thing to trees , it airates the roots and helps the sap to flow.
These trees need light, room and nutrients and I'm sure the roots in this stand are not established as they should be. Opening it up too much at this point will only cause wind throw. I'd sure like to see some pics.
Gypo