Loblolly pines (Pinus taeda) give landowners the very real possibility of planting and growing a long-term cash crop which will give good financial returns. The Loblolly pine, due to its commercial planting and some natural reproduction, is the second most common tree species in America, second only to the ubiquitous red maple- which grows nearly everywhere.
More importantly to landowners looking for a cash crop, loblolly pines are the most commercially important tree in the country. Whether grown for pulp wood production or older mature saw timber, loblolly pines should be on any landowner’s list of potential cash crops.
About Loblolly Pines
Loblolly pines are one of the most readily available trees for large scale seedling planting and are available from a number of commercial seedling producers.
If well-started seedling pines are properly cared for and planted in the best way, loblolly pines can be managed and grown to provide a relatively fast cast crop from pulp wood and then allowed to grow as thinned mature trees for saw timber.
ArborGen is a well-established seedling grower, and this company offers a very wide range of loblolly seedlings which are produced using open pollination or carefully controlled and maintained genetic isolation procedures. ArborGen can help landowners in the selection of loblolly pine seedling which are best suited for a specific location and its needs.
Loblolly pines produce straight, strong finished timber for poles and saw timber.
ArborGen has done considerable research and development on their line of loblolly pines, and their trees offer fusiform rust resistance and other disease resistance and their loblolly trees tend to grow straight which produces better sawlog quality and more money for the landowner at final harvest. ArborGen offer both bareroot and container seedlings, and each individual landowner will need to determine which planting type is best suited for a particular site.
ArborGen offers both Mass Control Pollinated and Open Pollinated loblolly pine seedlings. The advantages of Mass Control seedlings is that these genetically controlled seedlings grow quicker to harvest size and produce more and better saw timber at final harvest.
Loblolly Pine Advantages
Loblolly pines are fast-growing trees, and much research and experimentation has been done to genetically improve the growth and quality of the loblolly trees.
Loblolly trees are in general more tolerant of hardwood competition than other pine species, and loblolly pines tend to shade out understory and hardwood trees better than many other species of pines grown for commercial purposes.
A big advantage of loblolly pines for commercial production is that these trees have been very thoroughly researched by professional tree producers and seedlings are usually easy to obtain and are readily available on a yearly basis. Landowners will need to determine which seedlings are best and then place an order to the seedling grower as soon as possible for best planting and seedling survival.
Loblolly pines will naturally hybridize with longleaf pines to create the Sonderegger pine, which grows in a similar fashion and generally produces the same wood characteristics as loblolly trees.
Loblolly Pine Disadvantages
Although loblolly pines are the standard pine tree for commercial operations, there are a few things landowners looking for maximum return should keep in mind.
First, loblolly pines have fairly specific growing preferences, and landowners in the North might not have good results with loblolly pines. Specific site locations may not have optimum growing conditions for loblolly pines. Before planting, working with a professional seedling producer to make sure a site is suitable for loblolly production is time and money well-spent. Loblolly pines tend to grow and survive much better in warmer, less cold-winter weather locations.
Extreme drought and dry conditions are not best for loblolly pines which prefer a fairly high level of moisture. High pH soils are not best for loblolly pine growth.
Loblolly pines show fast early growth when superior seedlings and good planting techniques are used.
Again, help from a professional can help avoid problems and poor production later in the life of a pine planting.
Alternatives To Loblolly Pine
If specific conditions on a potential pine tree commercial planting area are not best for loblolly pines, quite often slash pine or longleaf pines might be better options.
The best way to ensure that loblolly pines are the best choice for a specific growing site is to work with a professional seedling producer who can evaluate the site, test the soil and give reliable advice on site preparation, planting rate, and other crucial elements of any pine production venture.
Final Thoughts
Although no single species of pine tree will be a perfect fit for all specific growing sites, the loblolly pine comes close to being the universal pine tree. Much research and development has been done through the years to improve loblolly pine growth and production, and landowners looking to grow pine wood for both pulpwood and saw timber use should seriously consider planting a stand of loblolly pines for fast production and maximum yield.