Winter Forestry Tips

Wet, stormy Puget Sound winters provide opportunities for different stewardship activities both outside on your forest property and inside out of the weather. Follow these monitoring and planning tips to make the most out of winter in your woods.

Walk in Your Woods

As you walk, note changes in the forest such as new hazard trees, patches of invasive species, and tree health. Identifying these potential problems in winter can help you plan to mitigate them before they get out of hand in summer.

Check on Seedlings

If you have a restoration project, winter is a good time to check on your seedlings. Straighten tree cages, note seedling growth, and note damage caused by wildlife.

Look for Stormwater Issues

Check that water is running off roads into vegetated areas, where the water can soak into the ground and be filtered properly. If water is running down roads or directly into waterways, there may be drainage issues that need attention.

Monitor Stream Health

During the rainy season, check your streams for water clarity, erosion, and temperature. Close monitoring of your streams will alert you to problems right away, before they become water quality hazards.

Plan for Spring

While the winds roar and the rains fall, curl up by the fire and update your records. Winter is a great time to order native plants and nesting boxes, learn about the wildlife and insects that live in your forest, and make a maintenance plan for the upcoming year.

This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement PC-01J22301 through the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency or the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.