[Purdy Bear]

Im thinking long term here as I know a lot of trees take years to mature into decent sizes but what trees a good for wood (ie fire, building etc).

I love the oak and pine. Ash grow quickly but what could you use it for.

Is anyone growing a forest/copse as a long term investment after SHTF?


PS: I currently have a ornemental willow, Bay and an Ash tree. When I get my own place I want to plant Apple (cooker and eater), Pear, Plum, and Peach.

 

[paramilusmc]

I don't plant trees for lumber, bu then again there is enough around my AO to worry about, but fruit trees, oh yes.

 

[Al Diehl]

Here is a website for Hybrid Poplars here in the states. He says he can Export. 10' per year growth capability. I have heard of these and your post reminded me of them. I went ahead and ordered some for my property, for fire wood.
http://www.hybridpoplars.com/index.htm

Thanks for reminding me. Hope this helps.
Al

 

[Cuppycake]

How about Hickory? It's strong wood, they use it often for tool handles like hammers and axes. You can also eat the hickory nuts.

 

[Daisy]

Ash seems to be really good as fuel, carpentry material and other uses. Locust (honey) is supposed to be really good for fuel as well. They can both be copiced, (meaning you cut the tree level to the ground and it will regrow. I think for ash it grows about an inch in diameter per year, so you can determine how thick you want your firewood logs. then you chop them down and it will regrow again. The same with honey locust.

Here are links

for Ash trees
http://eatclosetohome.wordpress.com/2008/04/12/coppice-ash-for-firewood/

http://www.malverncoppicing.co.uk/coppicing_ash.html

and for honey locust
http://www.essortment.com/honey-locust-tree-54165.html
(in the above reference they mention that it does not fix nitrogen in the soil. I think later scientific studies have proven that this is untrue, honey locust does fix nitrogen, and from what I remember it is black locust that does not. but do check for yourself. Honey locust is also good for making a hedgerow to keep animals in/out of particular fields, this is because it has thorns and grows quickly. you can check some references on making a hedgerow.

 

[MaKettle]

I prefer cherry and maple for our wood stove and they also provide good syrup and building materials.

But I'm not growing specifically for fast growing fire wood. I live in the woods and am surrounded by trees. Instead we selectively cut, use downed trees first, and always replace what we've taken. I don't buy them. I relocate infant trees from the forest where they're too close to grow properly to the newly opened up space.

 

[Ydoom Nedav]

Here is a website for Hybrid Poplars here in the states. He says he can Export. 10' per year growth capability. I have heard of these and your post reminded me of them. I went ahead and ordered some for my property, for fire wood.
http://www.hybridpoplars.com/index.htm

Thanks for reminding me. Hope this helps.
Al

We planted two acres of hybrid Poplars back in the early 80's. After about 6 years a blight hit and wiped out every tree there. Funny thing is eventually other trees came along and now it's a nice mix of wood.

 

[ForestBeekeeper]

Trees grow really good here. No need to plant firewood trees. Any place where you stop tilling, in 3 years will be covered with saplings.

I have planted a fruit, nut and herb orchard.

 

[Sierra Dave]

I am wondering...

About Bamboo. It grows fast, but what other properties does it have?

How well does it burn per volume. I am also wondering how easy it can be converted to Ethanol. http://www.biofuelsdigest.com/blog2/tag/bamboo/

Seems to be a lot of research on that front. Whether its time or cost effective. I do not know.


Sierra Dave

 

[Uncle Bob]

Look into the practice of copicng ( I think thats what its called) This is where you take only branhes of a bush type tree. The european people have had to do this for years

 

[Al Diehl]

Look into the practice of coping ( I think thats what its called) This is where you take only branhes of a bush type tree. The european people have had to do this for years

Coppicing I believe is what you mean. That is how you maximize the yield on the Hybrid Poplars I mentioned above.
Other trees that I have here that coppice well are Sweet Gum and Maple.

Al

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coppicing

 

[da_wanderer]

If you are in London, then willow is your best bet for a fast growing tree. You can expect 4 feet of growth per year, you can coppice or pollard the trees if you want to create multiple stems, and you can use the fresh cut stems for rustic furniture or weaving. Here in the states, poplar is one of the fastest growing trees available.

Bamboo will work in your climate as well. It will take about 10 years to size up on average in a hot, humid climate. It may take longer in London, but any of the temperate timber bamboos will grow there. They are all runners so you either need to put down a barrier or have plenty of space for them.