Kaventamalla

Kaventamalla is the Finnish gerund form of kaventaa, meaning "by narrowing" or "through thinning." It is used in forestry, horticulture, and agriculture to describe the process of thinning or pruning that reduces density and competition among plants. As such, kaventamalla denotes performing thinning operations, typically by removing selected trees, branches, or shoots to improve light penetration, air circulation, and the growth conditions for the remaining vegetation.

In practice, kaventamalla encompasses strategies such as selective thinning and crown thinning, depending on the objectives—often to accelerate growth of favored specimens, improve wood quality, or reduce pest and disease pressure. The choice of method and intensity is guided by stand structure, site conditions, and management goals. The term appears in technical manuals and field guides dealing with stand management and crop production.

Etymology: kaventaa means to narrow or reduce; kaventamalla literally translates to "by narrowing" or "through thinning." Related terms include kavennus (thinning or narrowing as a noun).

See also: thinning (forestry); pruning; stand management.