Girdling Trees

[John W]

Which is better, cutting down, debarking and treating with borate until you can use them? Or girdling and leaving as standing dead for possibly a year or more? Any change in answer if you'll have to leave the trees on the ground and not be back to turn them?

[rckclmbr428]

What species of tree are you talking about? It matters

[John W]

Don't have a species, was just looking for 'in general' kind of information.

[rocklock]

Because you kill the tree does not mean that it will dry. Many trees (Like Doug Fir) have a great deal of moisture and sugars in the bark and Cambrian layer... Just like a vertical Popsicle for bugs, peckers, fungus and the like... We have dropped many standing deads for fire wood and they are just as wet as can be.
If I had a tree that I wanted to use for lumber or log, I would drop it, peel the bark off, put some borate solution on it, seal the ends and protect it.

[John W]

Thank you. More details in class, I'm sure, I was just curious.

[ivanshayka]

I have one suggestion. Cut them down and peel them as close to your stacking time as possible. Just an opinion.