area based on the space in the stand. The B-line is also a representation of the stand being understocked and that the area is not up to its full growth potential. If the area of a planted stand is between the A and B lines, they will reduce the number of trees down to the B line, so they get the maximum growth out of the trees. Foresters usually want to have a stand around the B-line because it will give them the maximum growth out of the stand and use the fewest trees possible. But this is also a difficult decision because if you make a cut into the stand and try to make it down to the B-line this could influence the trees that are left in the stand, and they may not grow as the forester thought they would. When it comes to a stand that is overstocked or understocked it is important to make the correct decision on how to get the most growth potential. When you have a stand that is right on the edge of being understocked it may not be beneficial to plant more trees in the stand. Planting more trees, it may cause the stand to become overstocked, and you won’t have the maximum growth potential. When you have a stand that is very understocked there are two options that you have in helping the stand. You can either plant new trees in the stand as an underplant, or you can clearcut the stand and restart by planting all new trees. If you have a stand that is fully stocked, you will still want to pay attention to it because modifications may need to be made in order to keep the stand staying in the stocked area in the chart. It is important to also speak to a professional in whether you should keep the stand as it is or if you should reduce the stand so that you can obtain the maximum potential growth. Measurement types Basal area per acre When it comes to stocking, you are measuring a tree’s basal area. It is a cross-sectional area that is about 4.5 feet above the ground in the center of the tree. The basal area is measured in square feet per tree in the given stand. The equation for calculating the basal area of trees in a stand is, Basal Area =