Underplanting Longleaf Pine: The ecology behind this regeneration technique & lessons learned from a case study in Georgia

 

Underplanting is the practice of introducing a new generation of trees under an existing overstory. This could be done to convert the stand to a different species, sometimes called “conversion with retention.” It could also be done with seedlings of the same species as the overstory, if a multi-aged stand is desired but natural regeneration is insufficient to achieve this structure.

 

Some questions to be addressed:

• – Why plant longleaf pine seedlings under an existing pine canopy?
• – Is it possible to establish a longleaf pine stand without clearcutting?
• – What preparation is needed for converting loblolly pine stands to longleaf pine dominance?
• – How does one manage an underplanted stand to reduce damage and encourage growth?

 

Presenters:
Nathan Klaus, Georgia Department of Natural Resources
Joan Walker, U.S. Forest Service Southern Research Station (Retired)

 

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