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Fires can be one of the most devastating threats to our homes and cabins. It is important, as landowners, to understand these threats and take action to protect your property and your investment. Some tree species, such as balsam fir, can overcrowd the understory of our forests and create a hostile environment for fires to spread. We can help identify these 'hot spots' and implement a plan to reduce fire risk on your property. Fires can be scary and unpredictable, but you can take action to minimize the impact on your property before one begins.
Due to Spruce Budworm outbreak in our region, many local government agencies have recognized the importance of addressing these areas. Over the last 6 years we have completed many FireWise contracts with St. Louis County, Lake County, and Cook County forestry offices. As a leading FireWise mitigation contractor in the Northland, we understand the needs of the land and how to complete projects efficiently, on time, and on budget. We would love to help you with your FireWise plan and help your forest thrive for years to come!
Tree Planting
Have you recently had a timber sale? Or had some land clearing done? Are you looking to replant your forest so it can thrive for years to come?
We can help with that! We assist landowners with large scale plating projects, using bare root or tree plugs to help their reforesting efforts. We can also help plant smaller projects or assist in tree selection to meet your property needs.
Caging, Tree Tubes, Bud Caping
We can also help protect the trees you plant from deer and animal grazing, with the use of cages, tree tubes, or bud caping. Theses measures can help your trees to become more established and thrive, so you are not simply feeding the wildlife with fresh saplings.
We can also help you obtain seedlings and protective measures through a variety of cost-share programs with the NRCS.
Post Planting
Once the trees are in the ground and beginning grow, it’s important to think about continual monitoring and managing your trees for years to come. We can provide you with a strategic plan or even return and assist with those efforts in the future.
Already Have Trees Planted and Growing?
Ask about our brush clearing, crop tree release, and pruning services as well.
Let’s Plant Some Trees!
Brush clearing can be a great way to open up the understory of your forest and allow greater access to new areas of your land. TNT can cut, pile, and treat any unwanted brush or woody material on your property. Don't let the clutter of the forest floor stop you from enjoying all it has to offer.
We can also help clean up your yard and green spaces around your home. No job is to big or small. We are happy to tackle all projects and work with any budget.
Timber stand improvement is the combination of various treatments to improve the health and composition of the forest. It is important to understand the diversity of species within the target area and formulate an action plan based on the needs of your forest and your goals as a landowner. Common TSI techniques include: crop tree release, invasive species removal, pre-commercial thinning, pruning, and fuels reduction.
Our goal is to identify your needs and the needs of your forest and then choose the best practice to improve your forest health. Our education and communication with foresters and consultants allows us to provide you with the best practices for your forest.
Trees can become hazardous when they reach old age or after a storm has moved through the area. Fallen trees or hangups can be dangerous and make it hard to enjoy the woods on your property. Don't let these hazards become longterm problems. By simply removing hangups or limbing and bucking fallen trees, they can decompose naturally and allow sunlight to help grow regenerating trees below.
Do not attempt to remove these hazards unless you are trained to do so. Please consider all risks and options before you attempt this yourself.
Crop tree release is a silviculture technique that promotes the growth of individually selected trees. These trees are able to thrive and become dominate once the competing vegetation has been removed, allowing more sunlight and nutrients to reach crop trees. Typically this is done during the early stages of the trees development and may need to be done several times before the tree becomes dominant. When releasing crop trees a good rule of thumb is to remove anything within 6ft of base and anything impeding the growth of tree crowns. This technique can be used on sites where new trees have been planted or to protect any natural regeneration on forest floor.
Thinking of selling your timber in the future? Pre-commercial thinning will improve the health and quality of your timber by removing individual trees or entire rows of trees. This will allow the crop trees to grow to their full potential and create a more merchantable forest stand. This is typically done in the early stages of tree development and will have a positive impact on the overall health of stand.
Pruning is the process of removing branches or limbs from the selected tree to improve or sustain its health. Typically this involves pruning the bottom third of the tree, so the upper portion can grow and absorb nutrients. Some trees species are self pruning and may not need assistance to remain healthy, however, if done properly the tree will benefit from this technique and improve the strength and quality of the timber.
Pruning can also be a great way to improve the aesthetic of your property by removing dead and unsighlty limbs from trees. This process can also allow more sunlight into the forest floor and stimulate new and healthy growth on your land.
The forest in full of invasive species and when left unchecked they can overrun and diminish the diversity on your land. Buckthorn is one of the toughest and nastiest invasive species threatening our forests today. If removed improperly it will grow back more aggressively than before and spread to new areas. TNT is trained and certified to mechanically remove and chemically treat buckthorn in the state of Minnesota. Once we establish the target area and severity of invasion we can provide you with a variety of solutions to eradicate the problem.
The DNR website of Minnesota also has tips and tools for identifying a variety of invasive species in our forests, as well as solutions for treating these problems. TNT would be happy to help you with any invasive species treatment in order to help restore the health of your land.