Forestry & Lumber
Timber Management
A Landowner's Guide to Sustainable Forestry: Part 3: Keeping Your Forest Healthy and Productive
This publication explains how to maintain your forest by improving tree growth, tree health, timber quality and forest regeneration. ...
A Landowner's Guide to Sustainable Forestry: Part 4: Conserving Nature
A forest is more than just trees. It's a collection of hundreds or thousands of living things interacting with each other. This publication provides information on managing wildlife habitats, endangered species, the rol...
A Landowner's Guide to Sustainable Forestry: Part 5: Forests and Water
Forests protect and purify water. Forest soils act like a huge sponge, capturing and filtering amazing quantities of rainfall. They slow runoff, preventing soil erosion and the resulting stream and lake sedimentation. Th...
A well-managed forest that is aesthetically appealing will add value to your investment. This publication offers advice for maintaining visual buffers and scenic views and how to develop the recreation potential in your ...
Most landowners may immediately think of timber when considering income opportunities from their woodland. However, there are many more possibilities. This publication highlights a few of the more popular alternative ent...
A Landowner's Guide to Sustainable Forestry: Part 8: Help!
Managing a forest may be overwhelming. This publication provides help that is available to you to help manage your forest in a sustainable manner. The publication offers contact information for organizations and programs...
Black Walnut Plantation Management
Discusses site selection and preparation, sources of seedlings, plantation establishment, weed control, pruning, fertilization, thinning, and insect and disease pest problems. ...
Characteristics of Purdue University's Patented Black Walnut Trees
Discusses the black walnut improvement program and the characteristics of patented cultivars developed by Purdue University. ...
Conservation and Management of Butternut Trees
This 10-page PDF publication describes how butternuts, native hardwood trees related to black walnuts, are threatened by butternut canker disease and have been listed as a species of special concern by the federal govern...
Criteria for Evaluating Forestry Activities in Relation to Water Quality Management
This publication discusses interrelated forestry activities, potential pollutants, and practices to prevent and reduce pollution. ...
Designing Hardwood Tree Plantings for Wildlife
This publication focuses on planting hardwood trees that are valuable to wildlife. The publication covers the variety, size and location of trees and shrubs to plant. Also included is a chart with selected tree and shrub...
Diagnosing and Controlling Wildlife Damage
Once trees are planted and begin growing, damage from wildlife can threaten their quality. In this 8-page publication (PDF) we discuss how to identify and minimize loss and manage injury caused by wildlife to hardwoods. ...
Diseases in Hardwood Tree Plantings
This publication provides the landowners with an overview of some of the disease problems (or potential problems) associated with growing hardwood tree species in the Central Hardwood Region....
Emerging Issues in White-tailed Deer Management and Conservation
White-tailed Deer have the ability to change the structure and composition of forests throughout their range. This coupled with their proliferation have led some to term the whitetail an ecological keystone species. Howe...
Many factors contribute to the success or failure of an enrichment planting operation. This publication outlines the seedling survival rates using the basic methods described in the publication....
Environmental and Management Injury in Hardwood Tree Plantations
Herbicides applied for weed control can damage and even kill hardwood trees. This publication discusses recovery of loss from herbicide injury, soil compaction, frost damage, frost cracks, dieback, sunscald, ice, salt, f...
Factors Affecting the Quality of Timber for Face Veneer
This publication outlines the veneer manufacturing process and general markets of veneer. It also discusses the characteristics affecting the quality and value of sliced veneer as well as of standing trees and logs. I...
Fertilizing, Pruning, and Thinning Hardwood Plantations
This publication helps hardwood tree producers understand the tax and financial advantages (and disadvantages) related to their planting operations....
Financial and Tax Aspects of Tree Planting
This publication helps hardwood producers understand the tax and financial advantages (and disadvantages) related to their planting operations....
Financial Maturity: A Guide to When Trees Should Be Harvested
This publication discusses financial maturity, which is a concept that provides the maximization of monetary returns from an investment in an appreciating asset (one increasing in value over time). It is also a guide t...
Forestry and Water Quality: Pollution Control Practices
This publication discusses control of water pollution resulting from forestry activities, which involves a combination of prevention and reduction measures. These measures are built into the interrelated activities of ...
Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment - Sustaining Our Oak-Hickory Forests
Our oak-hickory forests provide us with many environmental, social and economic benefits. Without proper stewardship, these benefits can be reduced through the loss of these forests. This video discusses the role mana...
Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment - Wildlife Responses to Timber Harvesting
Our oak-hickory forests provide us with many environmental, social and economic benefits. Without proper stewardship, these benefits can be reduced through the loss of these forests. This video discusses how wildlife ...
How to Identify Some Common Indiana Woods
This publication describes how to identify an unknown wood by using wood rays, color, hardness, and figure. Contains a key to 16 common Indiana woods....
Identification of Butternuts and Butternut Hybrids
This 11-page PDF publication describes how butternuts, native hardwood trees related to black walnuts, are often hard for landowners to identify, because they are rare and people often are not familiar with them. In addi...
Importance of Hardwood Tree Planting
The Importance of Hardwood Tree Plantings publication provides a brief overview of several key societal and environmental attributes that hardwood plantations provide, for example, timber production, wildlife habitat, fo...
Important Information About Planting Black Walnut In Indiana
This bulletin introduces some basic information concerning black walnut, and points out where additional information and assistance can be found....
Indiana Forest Products Price Report and Trend Analysis
This link takes you to the Publications & Presentations section of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, ...
Invasive Plant Series - Tree of Heaven, Ailanthus altissima
Tree-of-heaven is a serious threat as an invasive species in many habitats or untended areas. It can reach 80 feet or more, its growth rate outpaces most native tree species, and wind scatters seeds that female trees pro...
Invasive Plant Species in Hardwood Tree Plantations
This 25-page PDF describes 39 different invasive species that grow, spread aggressively, and displace native or desirable forest vegetation. These plants can degrade native food resources and cover for wildlife, threaten...
Investing in Indiana Woodlands
This 10-page publication provides information for any family considering the purchase of a woodland, or any owner considering whether or not to dispose of one. It deals with the practical realities of real estate owners...
Large Tree Cabling and Bracing
Trees can grow in ways that are not always the safest or most sustainable for long-term health and safety. This can happen for many reasons: species characteristics, growing location, or lack of proper pruning in earl...
After 30 years of extensive research, Purdue's Forestry and Natural Resources Professor Dan Cassens has released a new CD Lumber from Hardwood Trees. It is a fact-filled resource of field research and information that...
Lumber from Urban and Construction-Site Trees
For many different reasons, more and more people in larger cities want to reuse urban trees scheduled for removal. People who are part of the "green movement" want to turn urban trees into something more valuable than fi...
Native Hardwood Trees of the Central Hardwood Region
Native Hardwood Trees of the Central Hardwood Region is 15 page table listing all of the family, scientific, common names of all of the native hardwoods in the Central Hardwood Region. It contains habitat and native rang...
A great companion reference book to the Shrubs of Indiana CD, the book Native Trees of the Midwest is a definitive guide to identifying trees in Indiana and surrounding states. Descri...
Natural Oak Regeneration Following Clearcutting on the Hoosier National Forest
Predicting mature stand conditions based on the current status of a stand and natural progression is often difficult and imprecise. However, intermediate silvicultural operations allow a land manager to control and shape...
Nursery Production of Hardwood Seedlings
The success of a hardwood restoration project starts with seedlings. This publication discusses the types of nursery operations, procurement and processing of seeds, sowing seeds and culturing seedlings....
Planning the Tree Planting Operation
As the title implies, this publication discusses planning the tree planting operation. It discusses the importance of planning, site inspections, making a plan, silviculture, and it provides a timeline for major planning...
Planting Hardwood Seedlings in the Central Hardwood Region
Successful establishment of hardwood plantings requires planning, a commitment of time and resources, proper planting, maintenance, and protection. This publication provides information about seedling care and handling, ...
Properties of Wood Waste Stored for Energy Production
Storage of wood biomass is not a new concern, but our current focus on using wood for renewable energy has brought it back to researchers' attention. Many barriers stand in the way of the use of wood biomass for energy. ...
Resources and Assistance Available for Planting Hardwood Seedlings
Successfully starting a tree plantation involves several steps, ideally starting with preparation a year or more before the seedlings are planted. Part of planning is finding sources of materials, information, and ass...
As the definitive identification guide to the shrubs and woody vines of Indiana, this book also provides coverage of 90% of the species to be found in surrounding Midwestern US states. As well as covering indigenous spec...
Shrubs of Indiana / Native Trees of the Midwest - Combo Package
This combo includes a book and CD.
Indiana is home to more than 100 species of shrubs that are native to the state and the Midwest. This publication was inspired by the work of pioneer botanist Charles Deam.
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Site Preparation for Tree Planting in Agricultural Fields and Hardwood Forests
Site preparation is used to create favorable growing conditions for hardwood seeds and seedlings, and to facilitate tree planting operations. This publication provides information on site conditions that require site pre...
Some Important Indiana Hardwoods--Their Characteristics and Uses
Information is provided in this publication about the characteristics and uses of many Indiana species of hardwoods. ...
This publication discusses the importance of spray equipment calibration. ...
Stain in Hardwood Logs and Lumber
This publication discusses the problem of stain and its prevention in logs and lumber. Types of stain included....
The Economics of Timber Stand Improvement
Information in this publication covers the financial aspects, including projected costs and revenues, of a well-managed timber stand improvement program. It also provides methods for calculating projected costs and re...
The Great Clearcut Controversy
Supplementary Material for FNR-549-W -- 23 MB zip file - NOTE: file will download immediately
In this inquiry-based teaching unit, st...
Thousand Cankers Disease: Indiana Walnut Trees Threatened
Thousand cankers disease (TCD) has killed many black walnut trees in the West, and the beetle that transmits the fungus has been detected in Indiana. This publication describes TCD and Indiana's walnut product quarant...
Timber Harvesting and Logging Practices for Private Woodlands
This publication discusses woodland ownership objectives, the steps involved in timber removal, alternatives for harvesting residue, and timber harvesting considerations. ...
Tips on How to Get the Most from Your Timber Harvest
This publication discusses the proper planning and preparations of any timber harvesting. ...
Top Weight Estimates for Sawlog Size Hardwood Timber
This report will present total tree oven-dry weights for small diameter hard and soft hardwoods. In addition, information is included on top weight data for sawlog size oak in Indiana and regional data for oak and othe...
Pruning has been called "one of the best, worst maintenance practices," especially when performed on urban trees. The process creates wounds, which have a major impact on plant processes. Improper cutting on a tree cause...
Urban Wood and Traditional Wood: A Comparison of Properties and Uses
Trees are cultivated in public and private landscapes in and around cities and towns. They are grown for the tremendous contributions they make both to the environment and the quality of people's lives. In this urban for...
Weed Competition Control in Hardwood Plantations
A publication for landowners with wooded areas. Covers weed control strategies and related issues....
Wildlife Habitat Education Program - Teaching and Learning Wildlife Management Practices
The Wildlife Habitat Education Program (WHEP) helps students understand wildlife ecology and management practices. In addition, students gain skills in teamwork, oral and written communication, decision-making, and leade...
Woodland Stewardship for Landowners: Autumn Olive
Autumn-olive is an invasive plant that is originally from Asia, but has been introduced into the United States for erosion control, and wildlife food and cover.
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Woodland Stewardship for Landowners: Common Buckthorn
Native to Eurasia, common buckthorn was introduced into the United States as an ornamental plant, but has since invaded our woodlands as an invasive plant. Common buckthorn is becoming more common in Indiana.
Woodland Stewardship for Landowners: EQIP
The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a cost-share program administered through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that helps woodland owners remove invasive plants from the landscape, an...
Woodland Stewardship for Landowners: Japanese Barberry
Japanese barberry is an invasive plant that is originally from Japan, but has been introduced into the United States as an ornamental plant.
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Woodland Stewardship for Landowners: Managing Deer Damage to Young Trees
Browsing by deer on planted and naturally regenerated hardwood seedlings is one of the greatest obstacles to seedling establishment in many parts of the central hardwood region. In this Woodland Stewardship For Landowner...
Woodland Stewardship for Landowners: Privet
A variety of privets have been introduced into the United States from China, Europe and North Africa. Privet has been used as an ornamental plant, particularly as a hedgerow plant, but has since became an invasive specie...
Woodland Stewardship for Landowners: Regeneration Openings
A variety of different types of regeneration openings can be created on properties to provide different structures and species of plants that are suitable to a wild variety of wildlife species. In this episode of Woodlan...
Woodland Stewardship for Landowners: Sealed Bid
There are several ways to sell timber from your property. One of those methods is a sealed bid timber sale. A sealed bid timber sale minimizes risks to landowners by using a professional forester to assist with the entir...
Woodland Stewardship for Landowners: Single Tree and Patch-Cut Harvesting
A well-managed woodland can promote wildlife diversity and forest health. Two of the more common techniques that we use are single tree selection and patch-cut harvesting. Used together in the long term, these two techni...
