Why is Douglas Fir not grown extensively for timber in Pennsylvania?

Question

Douglas Fir is grown extensively as Christmas tree in Pennsylvania, but as near as I can tell, not much for timber. It is a major timber tree in the western USA and Canada. Why is this? What are the economics of the different softwoods in Pennsylvania?

Answer 1

A few years ago I had a job of traveling with a crew through out the East Cost planting Pine and Douglas Fir seedlings. We planted thousands of Douglas Fir in Pennsylvania. These trees were planted in rows 5 ft apart and the trees were 4 ft apart. The objective was to cut out all of the trees in ten years for pulp wood and leave the trees at ten ft rows ten ft apart to grow to maturity for timber. We did plant quite a few Fir for Christmas trees as well, but the majority were for pulp, then timber. So To answer your question, Douglas Fir are grown in Pennsylvania for timber.