Table of Contents
How long do Douglas fir grow?
Trees 5 to 6 feet in diameter and 250 feet or more in height are common in old-growth stands. Self-pruning is generally slow and trees retain their lower limbs for a long period. Douglas-fir is grown as a Christmas tree on harvest rotations ranging from 4 to 7 years.
Do Douglas firs stop growing?
Currently, about 3 percent of coast Douglas-fir likely stop growing in the summer when high temperatures coincide with long photoperiods (the blue area on the map). By 2100, more than 30 percent of the range is projected to stop diameter growth in the summer.
How old is the oldest Douglas fir tree?
Oldest: Big Tree in Oregon Caves National Monument is one of the oldest Douglas firs at an estimated 1,200 years.
How tall does a Douglas fir grow per year?
This tree grows at a medium rate, with height increases of 13–24″ per year.
How long does it take for a Douglas fir to grow 6 ft?
Other Christmas trees grown outside the South but often shipped nationwide include Douglas fir, which grows to full size in 7 to 10 years; Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens); balsam fir (Abies balsamea); white spruce (Picea glauca); and white pine (Pinus strobus).
How tall is a 30 year old Douglas fir?
Grow Douglas fir trees and earn a 300 percent return in 30 years. Tree farmers can earn 300 percent return growing Douglas fir trees based on a $0.38 cent price for each seedling, a growth cycle of 30 years and a knot-free sawlog that is 12 inches wide and 30 feet tall.
How far do Douglas fir roots spread?
The Douglas-fir tree’s root system consists of a strong taproot, secondary supporting taproots, lateral roots and fine roots. While the majority of the root system is densely packed near the stem of the tree, roots may extend as much as 10 feet vertically and horizontally from the tree base.
How deep do Douglas fir tree roots go?
The root system depth in Douglas fir is determined pri- marily by the soil structure and texture. On perme- able soils with favourable moisture conditions, the roots may reach down to 60–100 cm but they may penetrate even deeper (Hermann 2005).
What is special about Douglas Fir trees?
Douglas fir, (genus Pseudotsuga), genus of about six species of evergreen trees of the conifer family Pinaceae, native to western North America and eastern Asia. The trees are important timber trees, and the strong wood is used in boats, aircraft, and construction.
What animal eats Douglas Fir?
Douglas fir seeds provide food for a number of small mammals, including chipmunks, mice, shrews, and red squirrels. Bears eat the sap of these trees. Many songbirds eat the seeds right out of the cone, and raptors, like northern spotted owls, rely on old-growth forests of Douglas firs for cover.
How long does it take for a fir tree to grow full size?
According to the National Christmas Tree Association, “It can take as many as 15 years to grow a tree of typical height (6-7 feet) or as little as 4 years, but the average growing time is 7 years.” Read on for a roundup of Christmas trees that grow in the South, listed by typical growing speeds from fast to slow.
How long does it take a Douglas fir to grow 7 feet?
7 to 10 years
Other Christmas trees grown outside the South but often shipped nationwide include Douglas fir, which grows to full size in 7 to 10 years; Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens); balsam fir (Abies balsamea); white spruce (Picea glauca); and white pine (Pinus strobus).
How big does a Douglas fir tree grow?
Douglas fir is a big tree that grows to over 120 feet when mature. The straight trunk can grow to four feet in diameter and sometimes even twice that wide. The trees are long lived as well. When you are planting a Douglas fir tree, keep in mind that these giants often live 800 years.
Where do Douglas firs grow on the west coast?
Rocky Mountain Douglas firs are the inland variety that grow in the mountainous Pacific Northwest and in the Rocky Mountains. They are much more tolerant of cold than the coast Douglas fir, which is suited to moist, mild climates on the west coast. Douglas firs are conifers, which means they produce seeds in cones rather than in flowers.
Where did the name Douglas fir come from?
Menziesii is the epithet given after Archibald Menzies, who documented the Douglas fir on Vancouver Island in 1791. Its official name, the Douglas fir, comes from the Scottish botanist, David Douglas, who was the actual first person to document the tree.
Do you need to fertilize a Douglas fir tree?
Both thrive in USDA zones 6 through 10 and, like the Douglas fir, do not require soil amendment or fertilizer. You’ll want to mulch with shredded redwood or fir bark.