Thinning and pruning in young birch stands

Yellow birch and paper birch are similar in that both are light-demanding throughout most of their life and require freedom from competition to produce high-value products. However, the two species differ markedly in other silvical characteristics. Yellow birch seldom constitutes a large proportion of the stand: it grows slowly and is long-lived. In contrast, paper birch sometimes makes up a high proportion of the stand: it has rapid early growth, and tends to be short-lived (Cooley 1962, Powells 1965). Both birches are responsive to intermediate cuttings and other cultural practices that can increase their yield and value and shorten rotations. Although data for yellow and paper birch are somewhat limited, enough is known to indicate that their response to treatment is comparable to that of other hardwood species.