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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

Here's something to toast to 🍻 The Longleaf All Here's something to toast to 🍻 The Longleaf Alliance is Appalachian Mountain Brewery's Brewing Good partner for the month of April!Not only will our Pints for Pines partnership with AMB and their Long Leaf IPA mean longleaf pine trees in the ground, but a dollar for every pint sold on April 3rd's Pint Night will provide a direct contribution to TLA.P.S. Check out our recent collaboration with AMB and Three River Land Trust to plant 2,000 longleaf seedlings in North Carolina (link in bio).
Did you know that March 25th is National Peacock D Did you know that March 25th is National Peacock Day? No? Well now you do 😊📷 Karen Brown, Bladen County, North Carolina#longleaf #longleafpine #longleafpines #longleafpineecosystem #restorelongleaf
We loved celebrating with new and old friends at t We loved celebrating with new and old friends at the Pints for Pines Longleaf Planting day! Especially this father-son planting duo 😍The “Pints for Pines" program unites beer and nature enthusiasts to restore the longleaf pine ecosystem. Every case of @appalachianmountainbrewery Long Leaf IPA sold supports the planting of longleaf pine trees.Special thanks to @threeriverslandtrust for being gracious hosts at Cotton Creek Preserve in Mongtomery County, North Carolina. #restorelongleaf #fortheloveoflongleaf #pintsforpines
Learn & Burn workshop at Moody Forest in Georgia y Learn & Burn workshop at Moody Forest in Georgia yesterday 🔥
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