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Did you ever notice how the trees in a timber plantation are different from a tree in your backyard? These forests are planted with their end use in mind: they need to be tall, straight and have few branches in order to make strong lumber.
The boards made from trees are used in all kinds of building projects, from the framing needed to pour concrete, to the trusses in a house, to DIY projects like decks and dog houses.
Watch this video that follows a tree from the forest to the sawmill. What type of characteristics did foresters work to bring out in these trees to produce the best lumber?
Applying What You've Learned
Why does lumber have to be placed in a kiln before it’s ready for use? What do you think would happen if the mill skipped that step?
FROM TREES TO BOARDS
From Trees to Boards
Article: How Trees Become Lumber
Video story: How Plywood is Made: A Veneer Mill Tour
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Learn more about Products and what comes next in the Forestry Lifecycle: