Regenerating Northern Red Oak: Three Successful Case Histories

Abstract

Abstract This report documents the histories and present status of three young northern red oak stands in southwestern Wisconsin. Two of the stands, one 11 and one 17 years old, originated under two variations of the shelterwood system; the third, an 11-year-old stand, originated from a clearcut that was treated with an herbicide before final harvest. Among the three stands, the herbicide-treated clearcut had the greatest stocking of red oak with nearly 1,000 stems/ac 1 in. dbh and larger; the two shelterwoods averaged less than half that number. Nevertheless, each stand currently appears to be stocked with enough northern red oak to eventually dominate the stand. The abundance of red oak in the herbicide-treated clearcut suggests that the key to regenerating red oak may be competition control and not necessarily a long regeneration period. North. J. Appl. For. 6:174-178, December 1989.