For any landowner considering a major plantation of pine trees for profit, a great deal of thought and planning needs to be done before any sort of trees hits the ground. It’s important to keep in mind that a pine tree operation is a long-term investment of time and money, and a landowner who chooses wrong or doesn’t prepare properly or maintain planting pine seedlings properly will surely face much diminished returns when it’s harvest time.
And as far as harvest goes, tree productions are different from other agricultural planting. We’re not talking about a year’s worth of growth before harvest but several years. For best and most profitable results, the help of professional tree specialists in the selection of trees, preparation of site and routine maintenance of planting is surely the best plan.
Whether a landowner is looking at planting pine trees for pulpwood generation or for longer-term saw timber growth, working with a seedling producer skilled in genetic research such as ArborGen is a very good idea.
Species of Pine Tree- Best Pine Trees to Plant
Just as any potential agricultural crop has multiple possible choices, there are many different types of pine trees which might be grown on any particular site. Here’s a rundown of some of the most common and most profitable pine trees grown in the South.
Loblolly pine – A very important and common timber producing tree in the South. Fast growing and adaptable to a variety of soil conditions. Does not tolerate cold weather which limits its planting potential to southern areas.
Slash pine – This pine occurs naturally in coastal areas of the Gulf region. This pine does not tolerate fire. It has rapid early growth and tolerates a variety of soils.
If planted properly, pines will produce profitable growth in a reasonable time.
Long Leaf pine – once very widespread in the South. This pine prefers sandy, dry soil and does not tolerate shade. Many wildlife species depend on the longleaf pine. This is a good species for land reclamation and native growth use.
Shortleaf pine – This is an important commercial pine which tolerates a wide range of soil conditions. Grows in at least 24 states, but does not tolerate high pH soil. Does not grow well in shade.
Important First Steps
A very crucial first step in any commercial pine planting operation is getting the land ready for planting. Pine seedlings have very specific needs for successful growth, and planting pines without making the land ready first is a waste of time and money.
In the July 2022 publication by ArborGen, Geoffrey Lee Hill, RF, CF provides some very helpful information about the process of site preparation for pine seedling planting.
Good planting technique and site preparation helps pine trees growth fast and strong.
Hill says that appropriate site preparation on a cutover tract or old field site is important before planting pine seedlings. It reduces the woody and herbaceous weed component to facilitate planting. It also controls woody and herbaceous weed competition, so the young seedlings survive and thrive in their first growing season. It’s important to ask the right questions to make sure you get the best seedling growth possible. Along with your consulting forester, our Reforestation Advisors trained and experienced in silviculture techniques are also available to help in this process.
Hill continues, “The first step is to assess your site. There are several variables to review in the site assessment which will determine the optimal site prep treatments.”
Is it an old field? When and what Ag crops were grown there? What species of herbaceous weeds will be a challenge? What is the soil texture and pH? Does it have a hard-pan (plow-pan) layer that needs to be sub-soiled? Is it a pine plantation cutover? When was it harvested? Are weevils a concern? If you decide to chemically site-prepare the tract, will the hardwood stump sprouts be 18” tall by the time to spray? How much woody debris and residual trees are present? What species were planted there before? Are the rows of stumps evenly distributed due to past machine-planting, or was it hand-planted? Was it bedded during the last rotation? Does it need bedding for the next rotation? Is there volunteer pine recruitment to consider? Are there non-native, invasive species to consider?
Overarching questions would be: What are your objectives for the next stand? What are your local markets? What is your site quality to begin with? What site preparation, genetics, and silvicultural options do you have to increase the inherent site quality? What is your budget? Is cost-share available? Can you burn the woody debris during site preparation? What site preparation contractors are available to help? Will you manage the operation or work with a forestry consultant?
No doubt about it, proper and necessary site preparation is a crucial and time-consuming operation.
Points to Consider
How many pine trees per acre – This will vary from site to site. However, according to ArborGen research, the average planting density in the South is 546 trees per acre. Lower densities may be desirable. Wider spacing will allow enhanced wildlife habitat before the pine tree canopy closes and changes the ground cover habitat.
If grown well, pine trees can produce good income for landowners.
How long for pine trees to grow – Pine trees of any kind are not a quickie-profit crop. Landowners are looking at several years of growth before any return can be realized on pine planting. However, it is not uncommon for a first cut to be done at the eleven to thirteen-year range after planting. Saw timber will take longer for the trees to reach the full most profitable size.
Once a landowner has a plan for pine seedling plating, some steps can help promote the best growth and survival of the infant trees before and after planting. ArborGen advises landowners to take proper care of pine seedlings in a few critical steps:
8 Tips to Ensure the Best Survival
- Keep seedlings cool.
- Keep seedlings from freezing.
- Keep seedlings moist. Seedling roots must never be allowed to dry out, even for a few minutes.
- Handle seedlings carefully.
- Keep storage duration short.
- Don’t plant small, weak seedlings.
- Don’t plant when soils are dry.
- Don’t plant when weather conditions are critical.
Final Thoughts
There are many kinds of potentially profitable pine trees, but not all pine seedlings are suitable for every planting site. Some trees do better in coastal settings and others are best in higher ground. A great deal of planning and research needs to be done to ensure that the years of pine tree production and growth result in a good financial return.
The best call for any landowner who wants the best return on investment with pine trees is to work very closely with a professional forester or reforestation service which can provide advice and guidance on tree selection and other important points.