Many stands of timber do not produce as much as possible for the landowner due to mismanagement. Maximum returns from this land are obtained by planning harvests according to the growth and condition of the stand and as dictated by the objectives of the landowner.
Foresters recognize two types of maturity in a timber stand.
Biological maturity occurs when the dominant trees in the stand have slowed in growth due to size and age to the point that losses due to mortality or death of trees from various causes equals or exceeds the annual growth. This is indicated in hardwood stands by large trees with spreading flattened tops and scattered dead, dying, or down trees. Economic maturity occurs when the amount of net annual growth will not return as much money from a later harvest as the owner can get now by selling timber and investing the money in an alternate way, whether this be bank savings, or investments in his business, or payments on outstanding debts. Young hardwood stands in Kentucky may average 200 board feet per acre per year in growth. Overmature stands may be losing this much timber volume per year.