All species of trees mature at a different rate. Some are ready for harvest in just a few years and others may take 40 or more years before they are mature enough to harvest.
PROJECTED PRODUCTION TIME FOR POTENTIAL FOREST PRODUCTS
An important consideration in choosing a tree species for planting is the amount of time required to produce a desired product and the possibility of secondary product production from intermediate cuttings or thinning.
Below is a table listing commonly planted tree species and the average time required to produce various products from each on a favorable site.
| Ash, green and white |
Pulpwood* 30-50 yrs, Logs (handle stock, lumber) 40-70 yrs. |
| Cottonwood |
Pulpwood* 10-20 yrs. Logs (boxes, crates, lumber, veneer) 30-50 yrs. |
| Locust, black |
Posts 7-15 yrs. |
| Maple, soft (silver and red) |
Pulpwood* 20-30 yrs. Logs (lumber and veneer) 40-60 yrs. |
| Maple, hard (includes sugar) |
Logs (lumber and veneer) 40-90 yrs. |
| Oak, upland |
Posts 20-30 yrs. Logs (lumber and veneer) 40-80 yrs. |
| Oak, bottomland |
Logs (lumber and veneer) 40-70 yrs. |
| Pecan |
Logs (lumber and veneer) 40-80 yrs. Nuts 20+ yrs. (75-225 yrs. best) |
| Sweetgum |
Pulpwood* 20-30 yrs. Logs (lumber and veneer) 40-80 yrs. |
| Sycamore |
Pulpwood* 20-30 yrs. Logs (lumber, boxes) 40-70 yrs. |
| Walnut |
Logs (lumber and veneer) 40-80 yrs. Nuts 12+ yrs. (30-130 yrs. best) |
| Poplar, Yellow (tulip) |
Pulpwood* 20-30 yrs. Logs (lumber and veneer) |
| Pine, loblolly |
Pulpwood* and posts 15-30 yrs. Poles and piling 35-50 yrs. Logs 40-60 yrs. |
| Pine, shortleaf |
Pulpwood* and posts 20-30 yrs. Poles and pilings 40-50 yrs. Logs 40-79 yrs. |
| Pine, eastern white |
Christmas trees 7-10 yrs. Pulpwood* 15-25 yrs. Logs 40-80 yrs. |
| Pine, Virginia |
Christmas trees 8-15 yrs. Pulpwood* and posts 15-25 yrs. Logs 40-60 yrs. |
| Redcedar, eastern |
Christmas trees 8-15 yrs. Posts 25-35 yrs. Logs 40-80 yrs. |
| Pine, Scotch |
Christmas trees 5-8 yrs. |
*Markets do not exist in all areas of Kentucky.
