Harvennetaan

Harvennetaan is a term used in Finnish forestry and horticulture to describe the thinning of a plant stand by removing some individuals to reduce density. It is typically performed on forests, plantations, and fruit or ornamental stands as part of silvicultural management. The objective is to relieve competition among trees, allowing the remaining trees to grow more vigorously and produce higher-quality timber, while also shaping stand structure and promoting biodiversity and resilience to wind and pests. Thinning can also facilitate regeneration by providing space and light.

The process involves selecting trees for removal based on factors such as size, health, form, and whether they suppress healthier individuals. The removed trees may be marketed as timber or pulp or left on site as residuals or mulch, depending on management plans. Thinning is usually scheduled at predetermined stages during the rotation and can be done gradually in several passes. It may be combined with other silvicultural actions such as pruning, pest control, and regeneration management.

In fruit and ornamental plantings, harvennetaan helps optimize growth, fruiting, and flowering by balancing resource competition after establishment. Environmental considerations include minimizing soil disturbance, protecting non-target vegetation, and maintaining habitat features.