straight grained hedge

[che]

....this isn't. The boys finally brought home some of the larger pieces I left in the field late last winter. They split it up, guess it wasn't the easiest. I think it was Walt Galer who told me I'd find that cutting the wood was the EASY part....he was right.

 

[user 2993]

I just split some that looked just like that. Uff!! Funny though, when you do find a clear, straight piece it splits beautifully. Course that is often like finding Waldo.

 

[Gypo Logger]

Why are fencerow trees so curly and knotty?

On the subject of curly and knotty, has anyone noticed how trees along openings such as farm fields, fencerows and sideroads are so irregular? Well, there are two main reasons, one is that they are more subject to the elements and have little side competion, thus allowing lower limbs to grow in every direction. By the time the tree has become dominant, it has generally weathered several storms which break off branches causing an ugly tree that is subject to disease.
So what I am saying is, get some long handled pruning shears and cruise your fencerows etc., and creatively prune your younger trees till they have a nice crown with no lower side branching. You will be amazed how well they thrive and you will come to know your trees and shrubery on a personal level .
When in a mixed bush I use a slight variation of this technique by pruning Hemlocks and Pines with the bucket of my Kubota.
John

 

[JimL]

one of the most expensive black walnut logs i sold come out of a fence row, straight as an arrow

 

[NevadaWalrus]

I'd like to see Norm make some kind of furniture out of wood like that. Lots of potential for some interesting and beautiful pieces if it is workable.

 

[Gypo Logger]

Hi Jim, there ya go, it shows my method works, some dilegent person followed my pruning prescription, or else your walnut must have been the edge of a recent clearcut.
John

 

[Keener]

Open grown vs stand grown in my little bit of experience can be a completely different ani"mule".
Usually it is the open grown version of the same tree i.e Doug fir that puts the "mule" in ani"mule".
Cutting speed on open grown can be reduced by as much as 30% over stand grown. Then you get the knots which are harder than the hobs of Hades and the size of dinner plates on some trees.
Funny how the same conditions that make for a beautiful spreading oak can turn the king of trees (Doug fir) into a goon tree.

 

[JimL]

Originally posted by Gypo Logger
Hi Jim, there ya go, it shows my method works, some dilegent person followed my pruning prescription, or else your walnut must have been the edge of a recent clearcut.
John

Its been field on either side for years, 60+

tree had fence running through it at the base. I cut it off as low as i could without getting into the wire..
had alot more dolar in the bank had it not the fence in it.

 

[che]

Here's a couple 'open grown' hedge trees for you, John. Of course, it didn't help that they probably got bush hogged a couple times. Even without the multiple stems, the habit is pretty much the same....the swooping down branches are a real PITA...or where-ever they catch you.

 

[che]

The tree that this wood in the first image was from, was horizontal.....fallen down alongside a creekbed.

I've gotten quite a bit of wood off it before getting to these humongous pieces. I bought the 20" bar for this job, buried it but can't remember if I had to come in from both sides. I do know I cut it from the truck bed for a couple reasons....it was too high otherwise, and I wasn't completely comfortable judging WHERE it was going to roll...one of those pieces could cause some major damage to my tootsies. It is one of many I'm working with growing in the back hedge row.

Here's one that's a bit more upright, growing around the fence that was put up on the trees (I HATE that.) Most of the trees in that corner are like that, so I have to quit harvesting the wood at about 4 foot up.