State forester leads tree value workshop at Penguin Court

When people look at a tree, they might admire its branches, bark or leaves.

Some private landowners might also want to know what the tree is worth.

Pennsylvania Service Forester Michael Doucette recently led a forest mensuration class at Penguin Court in Laughlintown to teach community members how to determine the timber worth of their trees.

Though the snowy weather made the workshop chilly, participants enjoyed the hands-on and personable nature of the event.

Two residents and several Brandywine Conservancy members learned how to use Biltmore Sticks and wedge prisms to find a tree’s volume, diameter and basal area. The tools help private landowners decide which trees can be used in timber sales and how many usable, 16-foot logs can come from a tree.

Doucette also stressed the importance of cutting trees with the environment in mind. “Good cuts” lead to better regeneration and a maximized value of property, he said.

“Trees are the best natural resource that we have and they are renewable,” Doucette said. “However, you can manage them in a poor enough fashion that they are no longer renewable.”

Brandywine Conservancy began to offer adult workshops at Penguin Court in 2019. The private property, which was the former family home of late Tribune-Review publisher Richard M. Scaife, is now under care by the conservancy.

“It’s a perfect property for (nature programming),” said Penguin Court program manager Melissa Reckner. “It’s 923 acres and most of it is forested.”

Brandywine has welcomed visitors to the property to search for salamanders, identify invasive species and more. The conservancy also hosts virtual workshops.

In the near future, Doucette hopes to lead tree and invasive species identification workshops at Penguin Court.

He also stressed that the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources provides taxpayer-funded services to private landowners throughout the state.

“I definitely recommend that private landowners reach out to us with any questions they have,” he said.

For those who want more trees on their property, the optimal time to begin planning for spring planting is now, according to Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences.

Late April into early May is the best time to plant trees and shrubs, the university said. Right now, prospective planters should determine the pH, texture, and moisture trends of their soil to choose the best species for their properties.

Those looking to buy trees can seek nurseries, their county’s conservation district or the state Game Commission’s excess stock sale, which begins on Jan. 9. A service forester can be contacted for the Forbes Forest District at 724-238-1200.