Softwoods
A forest is a carbon bank, every tree a deposit.
Native to North America, Douglas fir trees are commonly found in the coastal regions of the Pacific Northwest and along the Rocky Mountains, stretching from British Columbia, Canada, to the Sierra Nevada range in California. These trees thrive in cool, moist climates with abundant rainfall and well-drained soils ranging from sandy loam to clay-based compositions. Douglas fir requires at least a foot of nutrient-rich soil to grow effectively and flourishes at elevations from sea level to 7,000 feet. In the temperate rainforests of the western coast, Douglas fir trees can reach over 200 feet in height and develop significant trunk diameters in old-growth forests. Additionally, Douglas fir trees are prized during the holiday season as Christmas trees due to their iconic shape and forest-fresh aroma.
While native to North America, Douglas fir has become a globally valuable tree, cultivated for commercial timber and landscaping across various regions. Its adaptability and fast growth have made it a staple in countries like the UK, New Zealand, France, Germany, and Switzerland. In Europe, Douglas fir plantations are widely established for timber production, with its high-quality wood being used for construction, furniture, and flooring.
In Asia, countries like China and Japan grow Douglas fir for timber used in pulp and paper production and culturally significant furniture. In New Zealand, large-scale plantations supply the construction industry, similar to the role Douglas fir plays in western Canada and the northwestern United States.
Douglas fir trees excel in capturing pollution, absorbing twice their weight in carbon and pollutants, making them an excellent choice for urban planting. These trees effectively capture nitrogen oxides, ozone, sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter through their needles, transferring these pollutants into the tree's branches, trunk, and roots. In some cases, pollutants are further processed by soil microorganisms, breaking them down into less harmful substances.
Beyond pollution capture, Douglas fir trees improve urban environments by enhancing air quality, absorbing car exhaust, providing habitat for wildlife, and improving the aesthetic appeal of cities and neighborhoods.
Douglas fir trees are highly effective at sequestering carbon. A single 50-year-old Douglas fir tree can sequester approximately 17 pounds of carbon annually. On a larger scale, 5 acres of Douglas fir trees can capture 127 tons of carbon each year, effectively offsetting the carbon footprint of over 1,000 people. This makes Douglas fir an essential ally in combating climate change while supporting sustainable forestry practices.
Douglas fir is highly valued as a timber tree, renowned for its strong, durable wood that is widely used in the construction industry. Its structural integrity makes it ideal for beams, posts, and other heavy-duty applications.
Knot-free Douglas fir sawlogs, measuring 30 inches or more in diameter, fetch premium prices in the market. Clear, knot-free wood is classified as top-grade timber because it triples the wood's strength, making it far superior for structural purposes. However, for every knot present in a piece of lumber, its strength decreases by approximately 5%. If a length of lumber has more than five knots, it is downgraded to construction grade, significantly reducing its value.
Clear fir wood is becoming increasingly rare, especially large planks and beams 24 inches wide or more. These prized pieces were historically sourced from old-growth forests that took centuries, often over a thousand years, to mature. Unfortunately, many of these ancient forests have already been harvested, making their replacement essential not only for valuable timber production but also for carbon sequestration and ecological restoration.
Tree farmers have an excellent opportunity to capitalize on growing Douglas fir. With an average seedling cost of $3, a 30-year growth cycle, and the potential to harvest at least two 12-inch diameter, 20-foot knot-free sawlogs per tree, farmers can achieve a 300% return on investment. Investing in Douglas fir not only offers financial rewards but also contributes to environmental sustainability.
To understand the grandeur of Douglas fir trees, consider Big Lonely Doug, an iconic tree on Vancouver Island, Canada. This solitary giant, standing amidst a clear-cut landscape, towers 230 feet high with a trunk measuring over 20 feet in diameter. Estimated to be between 900 and 1,500 years old, Big Lonely Doug is a poignant reminder of the majesty of old-growth forests and the urgent need to protect them. Its presence symbolizes both the resilience of nature and the ongoing challenges in conserving these irreplaceable ecosystems.
Douglas fir thrives along the West Coast of North America, where it serves as the dominant timber tree for softwood lumber production. After three centuries of commercial logging, only a fraction of the old-growth forests remains, with many now protected by Federal, State, and Provincial governments in Canada and the United States. These preserved forests offer a glimpse into the majesty of Douglas fir ecosystems while emphasizing the importance of sustainable forestry practices.
New Zealand implemented an ambitious reforestation program in the 1980s, introducing Californian Redwood and Canadian Douglas fir to its landscapes. Today, New Zealand ranks second only to Canada in Douglas fir timber exports, highlighting the tree's significant role in the country’s forestry sector.
Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) plantations are a cornerstone of New Zealand's forestry industry. Originally introduced in the mid-19th century, Douglas fir has since become the country’s primary source of high-quality timber. The majority of plantations are located on the North Island, where the tree’s fast growth rate and superior wood quality make it a preferred choice for timber production.
Plantation management practices in New Zealand are similar to those employed globally. Tree densities are adjusted based on intended use and management strategies, with regular thinning to encourage healthy growth and maximize yields. Harvesting typically occurs between 25 and 35 years after planting, depending on the desired final product.
Beyond timber production, Douglas fir serves multiple purposes in New Zealand. Its attractive foliage and cone-like fruits make it a popular choice for ornamental planting, while its strong root systems are used for erosion control and streamside restoration. These versatile uses highlight the ecological and economic benefits of Douglas fir plantations.
New Zealand’s Douglas fir plantations not only provide a sustainable source of high-quality timber but also contribute significantly to the country’s economy, reinforcing the value of well-managed forestry practices.
Douglas fir trees grow fast, much faster than hardwoods and significantly faster than most softwoods except for California Sequoia and Redwood, Fast growth makes this tree extremely valuable for commercial plantations because timber investors can recoup their investment faster than they would from hardwood tree plantations.
Douglas fir is a prized species for commercial softwood tree plantations, particularly in the western United States, where it is native.
The number of trees per acre in a Douglas fir plantation can vary depending on the intended use and management strategy. For timber frame dimensional beam and lumber, production , tree densities can range from 200 to 1000 trees per acre, with higher densities typically resulting in smaller, straighter trees that are suitable for sawlogs.
The spacing between softwood trees in a plantation can also vary depending on the management strategy and site conditions. In general, spacing between trees can range from 6 to 20 feet, with wider spacing resulting in larger trees with wider branches.
The spacing between parallel rows of trees can also vary but is typically around 10 to 12 feet in commercial plantations. This spacing allows for efficient use of equipment and provides enough space for trees to grow without being too crowded.
Thinning is an important management practice in softwood tree plantations, including Douglas fir. Thinning involves removing some trees from the plantation to promote the growth and development of the remaining trees. Strategic thinning helps to reduce competition for light, water, and nutrients, thereby improving the overall quality of the trees. Thinning is typically done at regular intervals, such as every 5 to 10 years, depending on the growth rate of the trees and the desired final product.
The average time to harvest a Douglas fir plantation can vary depending on the intended use and management practices. Timber harvests occur between 30 and 60 years after planting, depending on the desired size and quality of the trees. Some plantations may be harvested earlier for other uses, such as Christmas tree production.
Terrain, Timber & Management
Many commercial tree species require certain types of soil and terrain for optimum growth. Others grow best at a genetically determined altitude. And still others require an adequate amount of rainfall to flourish. The reverse is true with Douglas fir; probably the most adaptable softwood tree able to grow in a wide variety of environments. Douglas fir does as well on mountain slopes as it does in river valleys. It also grows well in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains where only a few inches of rain fall each summer. Douglas fir grows best however in low coastal areas that receive significant amounts of rainfall; some trees grow over 200 feet tall and 20 feet across like Old Doug on Vancouver Island.
Douglas fir is regarded as superior structural lumber. Twice as strong as spruce and pine, fir wood is used for beams and floor joists in residential and commercial buildings. A laminated beam made from this tree equals the strength of a glulam, a type of manufactured beam used to span open spaces and support the bearing load of a floor, wall or roof structure. Douglas fir lumber generally dries without warping keeping walls and floors straight and true. Douglas fir wood can be used indoors or outdoors as a decorative finish. It covers well (paint or stain), is extremely durable and can last for years. The strength comes for its tight wood grain, not seen in other types of softwood.
Douglas Fir Wood Products
Douglas fir is used for exposed and non-exposed structural post and beams, glulam laminates, shake roof shingles, exterior finishes, interior trim and moldings, telephone poles, mid-priced furniture, and railway ties.
Douglas fir oil is an essential oil that is extracted from the needles of the Douglas fir tree (Pseudotsuga menziesii) using steam distillation, which releases an oil that is pale yellow with a fresh, woody, and slightly sweet aroma.
Douglas fir oil is valued for its therapeutic properties and is used in aromatherapy and natural medicine. Fir oil has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and decongestant properties, making it useful for respiratory issues, muscular aches and pains, and a variety of skin conditions. It is also believed to reduce stress and anxiety when it is rubbed on a person’s forehead.
In addition to its therapeutic uses, Douglas fir oil is used in perfumes, soaps, and other personal care products for its pleasant scent. Fir oil can be used to flavor certain foods and beverages, like chewing gum and soft drinks.
Experimenting with trees can produce some incredible results. Topping a Douglas fir tree and pruning branches high up the trunk for example, will shape the tree much like an “Arizona Palm”, which would create a “head-turning” feature for any landscape, particularly in the Pacific Northwest where palm trees simply don’t grow.
As a landscape tree, Douglas fir trees are highly effective at capturing air pollutants, making them an ideal tree species to plant in urban areas. In the city, fir trees provide shade, and help to reduce the urban heat island effect that has become more common in urbanized areas around the world.
In addition to their pollution-capturing and shade-providing abilities, Douglas fir trees can also create an "oxygen envelope" around them through the exchange of carbon dioxide. As the tree takes in carbon, it releases oxygen into the surrounding air, which can create a layer of oxygen several feet thick around the tree – no other tree does this to this depth.
Using Douglas fir as a landscape tree can provide a range of benefits, including pollution capture, shade provision, oxygen production, wildlife habitat, and aesthetic enhancement.
Providing the planation site is generally flat and level, a circle tree plantation may be planted. Developed by Tree Plantation LLC. In the Northwest, a circle tree plantation as the name suggests, features a geometric array of fir trees planted a distance apart along an Archimedean spiral. The spiral shape protects the trees from high winds and promotes more or less even top growth throughout the planation. Spiral pathways provide easy access for thinning in year 30 and a first harvest in year 60.
Interested in growing Douglas fir? Contact us for more information about partnerships, collaborations and turn-key plantation projects.
Softwoods, the pioneer species of the temperate forest, grow quickly to leave their mark on the landscape for centuries.
Partner with us in a land management project to repurpose agricultural lands into appreciating tree assets. We have partnered with growingtogive.org, a 501c3 nonprofit, to create tree planting partnerships with land donors.
We have partnered with growingtogive.org, a Washington State nonprofit to create a land and tree partnership program that repurposes agricultural land into appreciating tree assets.
The program utilizes privately owned land to plant trees that would benefit both the landowner and the environment.
If you have 100 acres or more of flat, fallow farmland and would like to plant trees, then we would like to talk to you. There are no costs to enter the program. You own the land; you own the trees we plant for free and there are no restrictions; you can sell or transfer the land with the trees anytime.
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