Successfully Establishing Longleaf Pine
Establishing longleaf pine can be difficult. Careful planning and attention to detail will increase your success.
A longleaf establishment plan must include competition control, the most important practice for establishing longleaf
pine. When establishing longleaf pine you should understand the following tips about competition control.
1. Competition from herbaceous vegetation, particularly grasses, is a primary cause for seedling mortality.
2. Competition for light, water, and nutrients slows the growth of the seedlings and prolongs the duration
of the grass stage.
3. Adequate competition control will increase survival and shorten the time it takes longleaf to begin
height growth.
Longleaf pine has a distinctive growth phase called the grass stage, in which the young seedling looks more like a
clump of grass than a forest tree. While in the grass stage, longleaf seedlings focus on developing an extensive root
system. Longleaf does not begin height growth until the root-collar is one-inch in diameter, which often takes two or
more years. While in the grass stage, young longleaf pine does not compete well with other plants. It is intolerant of
shade and grows best in full sunlight.
Plan for Success
 Pick the right site. Longleaf pine is well-suited for dry, infertile soils, but does not like flooded or saturated
soils and struggles to become established in heavy, textured clay soils.
 Prepare the site before you plant. Longleaf pine does not tolerate shade or vegetative competition. Pastures,
agriculture fields, and high quality sites require the most intensive site preparation.
 Container vs. bareroot seedlings: Hand-planted, container-grown seedlings survive better than bareroot
seedlings. Bareroot seedlings survive well if they are machine-planted.
 Choose an experienced tree planter. Longleaf is sensitive to improper handling, storage, and poor planting.
Site Selection for Longleaf Pine
Longleaf pine will grow on many soil types but prefers well-drained sand or loam soils. Avoid clay or silt soils and wet
soils. Avoid these sites for longleaf.
• Sites with prolonged saturated soils.
• Sites where the high water table remains high during the growing season.
• Sites with a shallow rooting zone.
• Sites with high clay content in the subsoil.
• Compacted soils common in old fields and pastures.
• High quality sites with profuse and persistent vegetative competition.
Proper Site Preparation Improves Success
Site preparation is the key to success. Research shows applying intensive site preparation methods to control competing
vegetation will increase seedling survival and early growth. The most effective tools for site preparation include
FM-39 February 2006
applying herbicides, scalping, chopping, burning, and bedding. Newly planted longleaf seedlings are sensitive to
herbicides at the high rates. Try to apply herbicides before planting. Scalping (mechanical removal of sod) in
combination with herbicides is recommended on pastures and fields. Soil erosion is common after scalping. Keep soil
from covering the seedling by planting container seedlings slightly shallow or off-center. Chopping crushes unwanted
vegetation and is usually recommended in combination with herbicides and/or burning. You should bed wet sites to
position the seedling above the water table and control vegetation. Bedded sites must be allowed to settle before
planting. Several heavy rains during a two or three month period are usually required. Burning reinforces vegetative
control and facilitates easier planting.
Pastures and Fields Require Special Attention
Planting fields and pastures requires intensive site preparation. Fields often have excessive grasses and weeds, hardpans
or compacted soil, and areas of poor drainage. You should consider these factors and how the land was used previously
prior to planting. Grasses and competitive weeds must be controlled. Broadcast an appropriate herbicide in mid-to-late
summer to control common weeds in old fields. Subsoiling is recommended to break up plow pans or compacted soil
that inhibit root development. Tilling the soil, a practice also known as "discing," prior to planting can aid longleaf
establishment by cultivating compacted soil and reducing weed seed production. However, tilling the soil makes it
difficult to plant seedlings at the proper depth and is not recommended. If you choose to till the soil, wait at least three
months prior to planting to allow the soil to adequately settle. Avoid applications of animal litter because it can result in
excessive weed growth. Be aware that previous applications of ClassicTM and CommandTM herbicides (commonly used
in soybean production) may hinder pine establishment.
Planting Dos and Don'ts
Do hire an experienced and well-supervised tree planting crew
Do plant early. Seedlings planted in the late fall tend to survive and grow better. Longleaf pine can be planted from
October through February. Late planting in March or April becomes increasingly more risky.
Do handle the seedlings carefully. Longleaf root system is sensitive to rough handling and exposure to sun or wind.
Do not store bareroot seedlings for more than a week. Containerized seedlings store better, but should be planted as
soon as possible after lifting. Keep stored seedlings from over heating or freezing.
Do not prune the root system. Use a bigger planting tool to accommodate the larger root.
Do not plant longleaf seedlings too deep or too shallow. The proper planting depth is where the bud is slightly above or
at ground level but never buried.
Do not plant in dry soils. While longleaf tolerates extended dry periods, it is safer to wait for adequate rain to wet the
soil.
Competition Release after Planting
Longleaf seedlings continue to be susceptible to herbaceous competition until height growth begins. Conduct an annual
inspection in late March or early April to determine the need for competition release. Seek advice for the right herbicide
and application rate for target weed(s). Ask a knowledgeable forester, NC Division of Forest Resources specialist, or
forestry herbicide representative to visit your site for specific recommendations.
Prescribed Burning after Establishment
Longleaf pine is the most fire tolerant southern yellow pine, yet it is susceptible to fire damage after planting and during
height growth. After the first growing season, the denser needle tuft protects the terminal bud and the seedlings are more
fire-resistant (low intensity burns). The trees are most fire-tolerant when they are more than three-inches in diameter and
taller than12 feet. Fire damage to pines depends on fire intensity. Potential loss increases with fire intensity. If you burn
expect some mortality and loss of growth to your trees. To set up a prescribed burn program, contact the local N.C. Division
of Forest Resources ranger in your county.