Wilkes County forests include highly diverse forest ecosystems, from planted loblolly pine in the eastern part of the county to the upland oak stands at the higher elevations along the Blue Ridge Parkway.  The forest ecosystem in the state's mountains includes over one hundred and fifty overstory tree species, making it one of the most diverse forest ecosystems in the world.

The county's total forestland is approximately 342,314 acres, 71% of the total land area. Wilkes County is the sixth largest county in NC in terms of forestland. Most of the timberland is owned by private landowners, which supplies timber for a portion of the state’s overall industrial output.

Because of the diverse forest ecosystem, Wilkes County provides a multitude of hardwood and pine species utilized for various forest products.

Best Trees For Timber In Wilkes County, NC

Many trees are grown in Wilkes County, meeting the demands for many timber products, from flooring to fence posts to homebuilding materials. Various tree species are better adapted to the particular needs of the consumer. 

Church and Church Lumber Company, located in Wilkes County, NC, procures timber throughout the Appalachians to produce timber to meet the industry demands for timber products.

We harvest various trees for timber production utilizing professional loggers supervised by a staff of foresters to ensure that the land is protected and the forest is managed for future forest health and sustainability.

Best Hardwood Trees For Timber In Wilkes, NC

Hardwood trees are deciduous trees that shed their leaves in the wintertime. The mountains of Wilkes produce a wide variety of hardwood tree species utilized for timber. One of the most abundant hardwood trees in Wilkes is yellow poplar. This species grows in better-quality sites in the coves and drainages within the county and is especially dominant in the Brushy Mountains in southern Wilkes.

Yellow-poplar is a fast-growing hardwood species that is easily regenerated through natural regeneration. It is a soft hardwood suitable for construction, furniture, molding, flooring, and veneer products.

Red and white oak are also found in the region. White oak produces high-quality timber products used for decking, molding, furniture, flooring, and barrel staves.

Other hardwoods, such as maple, hickory, cherry, and black walnut, are also used for many of the same products as oak, depending on customer desires.

Best Conifer Trees For Timber In Wilkes

Conifers are trees that remain green throughout the winter, including pines, spruce, fir, and hemlock. In NC, the dominant prime species utilized for timber is loblolly pine in the Piedmont and white pine and shortleaf pine in the mountains. 

White pine is by far the most important pine tree for timber in Wilkes County because of its fast growth and management potential. Loblolly pine and shortleaf pine are utilized primarily for building construction, while white pine is utilized more in molding, flooring, and log home production. However, they are only found primarily in the foothills of eastern Wilkes County.

Church And Church Lumber Company Wilkes, NC

Church and Church Lumber Company is a major buyer of timber products from private land in Wilkes, NC. This income provides income to landowners and jobs throughout the state and can fund proper land management activities for various natural resources.

Church and Church, a family-owned company, serves much of North Carolina and the neighboring areas. We offer various services, from logging and forest management to direct lumber sales.

Select Hardwoods markets the lumber produced by the Church & Church Lumber Company Sawmill to our customers worldwide. We kiln dry premier Appalachian hardwoods for millwork, furniture, flooring, and other high-end applications throughout the United States and worldwide.

We have 400,000 board feet dry kiln capacity, expertly dry lumber to customer specifications, and prepare lumber for shipment to domestic and export markets.

We specialize in producing high-quality hardwood products procured from across the Appalachians, which is known for its abundant hardwood timber. We supply hardwood species such as white oak, red oak, hickory, ash, beech, cherry, walnut, and yellow poplar in various dimensions and grades to fit your needs.

Contact Church & Church today for more information about how we can help you better manage your forest land.