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Restoration & Management

HomeWhat is Longleaf?Restoration & ManagementLongleaf Regeneration

Longleaf Regeneration

With so few acres of longleaf remaining, planting to establish new stands and promoting regeneration in existing stands are both key components to ensure the future of longleaf pine.

Whether a natural recruit or a planted seedling, young longleaf pines in the “grass stage” grow best in full sunlight – in open areas or gaps in the forest. Controlling competition during this phase is critical for survival and for height initiation.

Natural Regeneration

Forest stands with existing mature longleaf in the canopy may offer the option of regenerating longleaf naturally if there is an adequate seed source and that seed source is well distributed. Natural regeneration can be a component of an even-aged management system (evenly spaced seed trees are left during a harvest and later removed after seedling recruitment) or uneven aged management system (modified shelterwood or group selection creates multiple age classes within a stand).

Prescribed fire and thinning are used to prepare the seedbed and open the canopy for new longleaf recruits. Timing with cone production is critical as not all years are good years for cone production in longleaf pine.

Artificial Regeneration

Longleaf pine planting may occur on recent harvested sites called cutovers, on former agricultural and old field sites, and even in existing forest stands for slow conversion to longleaf (underplanting) or to supplement natural recruitment. The specific steps you need to successfully establish longleaf will differ depending on your starting point – see our “Keys for Establishment” for a helpful overview.

Seedlings

Longleaf pine seedlings grown in nurseries are usually available in two forms: bareroot seedlings and container seedlings. Today most longleaf is planted as container seedlings, but bareroot seedlings are still available and preferred by some. The biggest differences between the two types are cost and survivability; bareroot seedlings are cheaper but usually have lower survival rates compared to container seedlings. Visit Nurseries for a list of our partners offering longleaf seedlings.

Ask about your seedling seed source! Planting trees from seed collected from local sources is ideal. Follow seed zone guidelines if using trees from a non-local seed source.

Once your seedlings arrive, assure proper seedling care and storage prior to getting the trees in the ground. Visually check the seedlings for quality when unboxing and planting. Find out how in this VIDEO.

Planting

Seedling planting depth greatly influences survival and growth. Adequate soil moisture is also required, which normally translates to planting in the winter months. Hire an experienced tree planter with a track record of successful longleaf plantings.

Keep an eye on planting depth! While bareroot seedlings should be planted so the terminal bud is at or slightly below the soil surface, plant container longleaf seedlings so the bud is slightly above ground level (up to 1.5 inches).

BROWSE THIS SECTION

  • The Tree
    • Life Stages
    • The Economics
    • The History
    • The Misconceptions
  • The Ecosystem
    • Built by Fire
    • Habitats
    • Species Diversity
  • Restoration & Management
    • Groundcover Restoration
    • Herbicides
    • Longleaf Regeneration
    • Prescribed Fire
  • Photo Gallery

From our feed

If you are interested in financial assistance for If you are interested in financial assistance for #longleafpine seedlings for the 2025-2026 planting season, The Longleaf Alliance is accepting project requests until June 1st.Submission details and FAQs can be found at https://longleafalliance.org/longleaf-planting-funds/Note - Most funds are available to cover the cost of SEEDLINGS ONLY and submission does not guarantee funding.📷 The Longleaf Alliance works with multiple partners to provide #longleaf seedling funds to landowners. In fiscal year 2024, The Longleaf Alliance, planted 5.8 million longleaf pine seedlings on private and public lands in collaboration with restoration partners! #restorelongleaf #longleafpines [Photo by Fort Benning, Natural Resources Management Branch]
Are you a landowner looking for comprehensive trai Are you a landowner looking for comprehensive training on sustainable forestry management? Then we've got just the opportunity for you! 🌲The Longleaf and the Landowner is a two-day Academy geared toward new, beginning and small acreage landowners. Discussion topics will include economics, estate planning, forestry, and longleaf pine management.June 5–6, 2025 | 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Tuskegee, AlabamaRegister as a landowner or a professional at longleafalliance.org > upcoming events (link in bio). Landowner registration and lodging waivers are available upon request on a first-come, first-serve basis.The event is hosted by hosted by @TheLongleafAlliance – The Nature Conservancy's Chattahoochee Fall Line Conservation Longleaf Partnership – @NWF SE Forestry and @tuskegeeuniversity
Have you registered for TLA’s Spring Online Auct Have you registered for TLA’s Spring Online Auction beginning this Friday?Here’s a sneak peek of some of the items you can bid on: + 5 Nights at Marriott’s Crystal Shores Marco Island+ Longleaf artisan goods+ Recreational items for guaranteed summer fun+ Award-winning longleaf blendsRegister for FREE at betterunite.com (link in bio). Text notifications when you are outbid make it easy to follow along from anywhere all weekend long!The online auction is an important TLA fundraiser because it allows us to target strategic priorities and focus on Growing Awareness, Understanding Longleaf, Improving Forest Health, Conserving Diverse Habitats, and Expanding Ecosystems through strong community and partner ties.
Join The Longleaf Alliance in making EVERY day an Join The Longleaf Alliance in making EVERY day an Earth Day!Save-the-date for our Spring Online Auction on May 23rd-25th. With your help, TLA aspires to collect 50+ auction items to support on-the-ground longleaf restoration and conservation efforts!Please mark your calendars and help us by sharing and/or donating. If you have something to contribute, please email lynnsey@longleafalliance.org.

Conservation partners

PCA

PCA

RMS

RMS

Whitfield

Whitfield

Bartlett

Bartlett

Enviva

Enviva

Norfolk Southern

Norfolk Southern

advantage

advantage

Blanton

Blanton

Drax

Drax

Fram

Fram

IFCO

IFCO

Kronospan

Kronospan

Manulife

Manulife

McLeod Rhodes

McLeod Rhodes

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