Production of valuable oak wood in Europe

Large dimension branch free wood of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) and sessile oak (Q. petraea (Matt.) Liebl.) is highly valued, while small sized and low-quality oak timber generate little income. This paper describes how large dimensions of branch free wood can be produced by applying appropriate silvicultural measures. The results are based on measurements of oak trees in various regions in Germany and Denmark. Two management phases are distinguished: In phase 1 pruning is emphasized and at the beginning of phase 2 future crop trees are selected to promote diameter growth of these oak trees. The resulting guidelines provide a quantitative basis for objective-oriented oak management.