Why is Sitka spruce so special?
Sitka spruce is of major importance in forestry for timber and paper production. Outside its native range, it is particularly valued for its fast growth on poor soils and exposed sites where few other trees can prosper; in ideal conditions, young trees may grow 1.5 m (5 ft) per year.
Is Sitka spruce good?
Uses of Sitka spruce Sitka spruce is an important timber species in the UK, accounting for around 50% of commercial plantations. The wood is versatile and has lots of uses: small trees are particularly useful for making paper, while mature trees are used to make boats and ships, pallets and packing boxes.
How fast does a Sitka spruce grow?
Top Growth Rates The Sitka spruce dwarfs its cousins in maximum attainable height and rate of growth. During its 500-year life, a Sitka spruce will reach between 160 and 220 feet, with 60-inches-per-year growth rate until it reaches maturity.
Is Sitka spruce invasive?
“We have seen in some countries, for example, Sitka spruce being banned and being outlawed because it is an invasive species, it doesn’t work, it’s not good for the surrounding habitat and we end up with these dead forests which we see in some parts of Ireland.
How expensive is Sitka spruce?
Description
| Desc/Grade | Thickness/Size | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Vertical Grain, Clear | 1″ – 2″ Spar Grade | $22.00 |
How much is Sitka spruce worth?
“Sitka Spruce, fully mature, well-stocked and managed, is making over €35,000 and up to €40,000 per hectare. Even poorly performing plantations are producing timber worth €22,000 per hectare.”
Is Sitka spruce expensive?
Pricing/Availability: Construction grade spruce is cheap and easy to find. However, old growth and/or quartersawn clear pieces—free from knots—can be more expensive. Quartersawn billets of instrument-grade Sitka Spruce can easily exceed the cost of most all domestic hardwoods in terms of per board-foot cost.
Is spruce better than mahogany?
Mahogany guitars sound smoother and warmer compared to spruce top guitars which sound brighter and more crisp. This is because mahogany produces more bass and mid-range emphasis compared to spruce which has more treble emphasis.
How far apart should Sitka spruce be planted?
12 feet apart
Starting with one Western red cedar and one Sitka spruce P+1 seedling per hole, we planted the plantation near Kapowsin in Pierced County in 2014. The holes were spaced 12 feet apart, giving about 600 trees in 300 holes per acre.
How tall does a Sitka spruce tree grow?
125-180 feet tall
The Sitka spruce is all of that and more. This conifer is the largest of the spruce species and the third-largest tree in the world – after the coastal redwood and Douglas-fir – averaging 125-180 feet tall and three to five feet in diameter.
How do you grow Sitka spruce?
Sitka spruce grows best on sites with deep, moist, well-drained soils [22]. It can tolerate the salty ocean spray of seaside dunes, headlands, and beaches, and the brackish water of bogs [34]. Sitka spruce is limited to areas of high annual precipitation with cool, moist summers [16,23].
Is Sitka spruce hardwood or softwood?
Softwood
Sitka Spruce | The Wood Database – Lumber Identification (Softwood)
What’s the difference between spruce and Sitka spruce?
Spruce trees are coniferous evergreens with needles attached singly to their branches in a spiral fashion. They’re large, often growing upwards of 60-230 feet. Generally, you’ll find spruce trees in different parts of North America….Adirondack Spruce vs. Sitka Spruce.
| Red Spruce | Sitka Spruce | |
|---|---|---|
| Crushing strength | 4,870 lb/sq.in | 5,550 lb/sq.in |
Is Rosewood better than mahogany?
Rosewood is much denser/harder and stronger than mahogany. This is why it is also used a lot for bridges and fingerboards.
What kind of soil does Sitka spruce like?
It grows best on soils of poor or medium nutrient status with good moisture status and will tolerate drained peats and gleys. Sensitive to heather check on very poor soils, where it should be grown in mixture with pine or larch.
What is the lifespan of a Sitka spruce?
After slowly initially becoming established, Sitka spruce are among the world’s fastest growing trees. They are long-lived – up to 800 years – and, as such, were a “pioneer” of the Pacific Northwest coastline, colonizing glacial moraines centuries ago when glaciers retreated.
Do Sitka spruce have deep roots?
The root system of Sitka spruce is shallow and platelike with long lateral roots with few branchings. On deep well-drained soils the root system may reach depths of 6.5 feet (2 m), especially on alluvial soils. Root grafting often occurs between roots of the same tree and adjacent trees [22,24].
What can Sitka spruce be used for?
Sitka spruce is the main conifer species grown in Great Britain and the commercial wood products industry is primarily based on this species. Wood from Sitka spruce is sawn into timber for use in construction, pallets/packaging and fencing, and is also used in the production of paper and panel products.
How expensive is Sitka Spruce?
Is Sitka Spruce hardwood?
Sitka Spruce | The Wood Database – Lumber Identification (Softwood)