Planting Southern Pines:
A Guide to Species Selection and Planting Techniques
Mississippi landowners have made a strong
commitment to tree planting in recent years.
Additional interest has been spurred by the
Conservation Reserve Program that offers financial
incentives to encourage tree planting on marginal
As more landowners become involved with tree
planting, they learn that proper species selection
and careful handling and care of seedlings are
vitally important in the success of their reforestation
investments. Use this bulletin as a guide for
selecting the proper species and in handling
seedlings throughout all phases of tree planting.
Selecting a Proper
Species selection is the critical first step
in tree planting. Maximum growth and yield in
the plantation are possible only if you select
the right species for the particular planting
site and geographic location (Table
1). Planting the wrong species on a site
results in poor survival, poor growth, and low
product yield. Geographic location limits species
choice. For example, slash pines planted in
northern Mississippi suffer from branch and
stem breakage when glazed ice forms on needles.
Species selection also influences products
produced. Longleaf pine may be preferred if
high quality sawlogs and poles are the product
objective. If maximum fiber yield is required,
loblolly or slash pine could be favored.
Loblolly pine is usually planted, with limited
acreages of shortleaf pine, slash pine, and
longleaf pine planted on appropriate sites.
Table 1. Species-Site
||Suitable Planting Range
||Piedmont and Coastal Plain
||Best growth in Coastal Plain on soils
with poor surface drainage, a deep surface
layer with a firm subsoil (clay layer)
within 20 inches of the soil surface.
In the Piedmont, uneroded soils with a
deep surface and friable subsoil are best.
||Deep, well-drained sandy soils of the
Coastal Plain and eroded Piedmont soils
with clay subsoil exposed or near the
surface. In the Coastal Plain, productivity
decreases as surface drainage increases.
||Spodosols with depth to a clay layer
greater than 20 inches from the surface.
These are common soils of the "flatwoods."
They are characterized by light-gray to
white sands over dark sandy loam subsoils.
Hardpans or fragipans that restrict root
growth and downward water movement are
||Deep, excessively well-drained sands
and very poorly drained soils.
||Generally found on well-drained to moderately
well-drained light-colored sandy soils
that are acid and low in organic matter.
With proper weed control, longleaf is
well adapted to more productive loamy
||Growth on poorly drained and excessively
well-drained soils is slow.
||Northern Piedmont and Mountains
||Fine sandy loams or silt loams with
indistinct profile development, friable
subsoil, and good internal drainage.
||Heavy clay soils or eroded soils with
clay subsoil at or near the soil surface.
Loblolly Pine (Pinus
This pine is found throughout Mississippi and
is the most important and widely planted pine
in the South. Loblolly pine produces more than
half the total pine volume in the region. Since
it is found in a variety of areas and sites, there
has been a great deal of research into development
of breeding and seed stock.
Pine tip moth can be a problem in young stands,
damaging terminal shoot growth. However, control
is practical only in unusual cases. Older trees
are not seriously damaged by this pest. Pine
bark beetles cause excessive damage to weak,
overcrowded, slow-growing stands of loblolly
pine. Good management practices that promote
vigorous stand growth greatly reduce pine bark
The Livingston Parish loblolly source is commonly
available and has good growth and resistance
to fusiform rust. It is well suited for planting
on high hazard fusiform rust sites in the Coastal
Plain and on other loblolly pine sites. This
variety can be planted throughout most of the
Coastal Plain. However, ice glaze damage restricts
plantings to the southern two-thirds of the
Ice glaze damage may be a problem in loblolly
pine stands in the northern limits of the state,
particularly in heavily thinned, open stands.
Light, frequent thinnings minimize ice glaze
Slash Pine (Pinus elliottii Englem.)
Originally restricted to a limited natural range
of only 7 million acres, planting has greatly
extended the present range of slash pine to more
than 12 million acres at present. However, many
of these plantings were off-site and beyond the
northern limits of their natural range. These
off-site plantings suffered from ice damage and
severe fusiform rust infections.
Slash pine is sometimes planted in the Lower
Coastal Plain for pulp, sawlog, and pole productions.
Stands tend to stagnate if not thinned early
to maintain adequate crown development. If thinnings
are delayed until trees are 25 to 30 years old,
little response will be gained from the thinning.
Bark beetles attack slash pine, particularly
during extended dry spells, after stem damage
from lightning strikes, and after logging operations.
Other insect pests, such as pine tip moth, cause
only minor damage in most cases.
Slash pine is very susceptible to fusiform
rust. Trees that develop galls in the main stem
are prone to breakage and early mortality. The
fungus Fomes annosus can invade recently
thinned slash pine and loblolly pine stands.
The fungus attacks the tree's root system, ultimately
killing the tree. Thinnings made during the
summer lessen the chance of disease. Use chemical
controls during thinning operations in high-risk
Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris Mill.)
Longleaf pine once dominated the Coastal Plain
forest of Mississippi and naturally occurs over
much of the southern and south central portions
of Mississippi. It extends north to Claiborne
County on the western border and to Kemper County
on the eastern border.
With the advent of statewide fire control
and because of its inability to tolerate weed
competitions, the longleaf pine has largely
been replaced in its native range by slash and
loblolly pine and native hardwoods. (Periodic
fires once kept competing vegetation to a point
where the more fire-resistant longleaf was easily
established and flourished.) The often prolonged
grass stage in which long-leaf seedlings may
remain for 3 to 8 years is a period in which
no height growth occurs. The delay in onset
of height growth allows competing vegetation
to occupy the site at the expense of the longleaf
seedlings. Once out of the grass stage, longleaf
grows rapidly, producing trees with straight,
clear trunks that are highly valued for lumber,
poles, and piling.
Research shows that the grass stage is shortened
and successful regeneration is possible by using
high quality seedlings developed in breeding
programs, proper planting techniques, and adequate
site preparation with herbaceous weed control
during the first growing season. Longleaf is
a good choice for dry and intermediate sites
where fusiform rust is a hazard to successful
establishment and growth of loblolly and slash
Longleaf pine is less susceptible than other
southern pines to bark beetles and other insect
pests. Fusiform rust is not a serious problem
in longleaf stands. However, in some areas,
seedlings are susceptible to brown spot needle
blight fungus. When brown spot infestations
are severe and prolonged, seedling death occurs.
Use chemical treatments and prescribed burning
to control brown spot.
Shortleaf Pine (Pinus echinata Mill.)
Few landowners plant shortleaf pine; most prefer
loblolly pine because of its superior growth.
However, on well-drained and drought-prone sites
in the northern range of loblolly pine and where
damage from glaze is severe, shortleaf pine is
an alternative if drought- and cold-resistant
sources of loblolly pine are unavailable. Shortleaf
pine resists fusiform rust, but seedlings are
damaged by pine tip moth. Southern pine beetle
and other bark beetles cause great damage to shortleaf
pine. Slow-growing stands are most readily attacked.
Maintain adequate stocking and growth rate by
timely thinning to reduce serious damage from
pine bark beetles.
Littleleaf disease is the most serious problem
with shortleaf pine management. Trees in stands
established on fine-textured soils that periodically
are excessively wet and then dry begin showing
stunted, yellowing needles when their age exceeds
30 years. Damage is caused by a fungus pathogen
that feeds on tree roots, reducing water and
nutrient uptake. Diameter growth is greatly
reduced, and mortality is very high. Control
is impractical. The recommended treatment is
to salvage the trees before they die or before
they are attacked by bark beetle, and then to
replant loblolly pine.
Table 2 provides a quick
comparison of traits of the major southern pines.
Consider characteristics of your planting site
and geographic location when evaluating these
Species selection in Mississippi is normally
an easy task since loblolly pine is preferred
on most sites. However, landowners in the Lower
Coastal Plain are faced with several alternatives
and must compare several species to determine
which is best for their site. The most common
problem is deciding between slash pine and loblolly
pine. Slash has historically been favored in
the Coastal Plain, not only for pulp and timber
production, but as a source of resin and turpentine,
along with longleaf pine. However, loblolly
pine plantings have greatly increased in the
region, and many landowners and foresters are
unsure as to the merits of loblolly versus slash
The following comparisons should help make
the slash-loblolly pine selection in the Coastal
Plain clearer. As with any tree, it is critical
to match the species to the site. Soil properties
and drainage are often used to decide between
planting slash or loblolly pine on a particular
site. General soils-site conditions and species
preference are summarized in Table
Other generalizations have been made to compare
loblolly and slash pine in the Coastal Plain:
- Slash pine is usually preferred on wet poorly
drained flatwoods sites; loblolly is favored
on moist to better-drained soils.
- Loblolly is favored on good sites where
hardwood competition is a problem because
slash pine is less tolerant of hardwood competition.
- Slash pine grows better than loblolly pine
on poorly drained sites where phosphorus is
limited (determined by soil test) if the site
is not fertilized.
- Although both slash and loblolly become
infected with fusiform rust, slash pine grows
better than loblolly pine if the site is not
- On well-drained sites with moderate incidence
of fusiform rust, improved seedlings of loblolly
and slash pine perform about the same.
- Longleaf pine and slash pine are suited
for resin and turpentine production. A slash
pine variety is available for "high gum" production
that produces up to 50 percent higher gum
yields than nursery-run slash pine.
- Loblolly pine is more susceptible to attack
from Southern pine beetle than slash pine.
Table 2. Pine Species
Ranking (High - 1, Low - 4)
|Fusiform Rust Resistance/Tolerance
|Susceptibility to Southern Pine Beetle
|Susceptibility to Littleleaf Disease
|Resistance to Ice Damage
|Tolerance to Poor Drainage
|Resistance to Stand Stagnation
Table 3. Coastal
Plain Soil-Site Relationships *
||Soil Horizon Description
| Very poorly to somewhat poorly drained
||No spodic ** horizon;
clay layer within 20 inches of soil surface
||Loblolly ***, slash
|Very poorly to somewhat poorly drained
||No spodic horizon; clay layer greater
than 20 inches from soil surface
||Slash, loblolly ***
|Very poorly to somewhat poorly drained
||Spodic horizon; clay layer present
||Loblolly ***, slash,
|Poorly to moderately well drained
||Spodic horizon; no clay layer present
||Slash, loblolly, longleaf ****
|Moderately well to well drained
||No spodic horizon; clay layer within
20 inches of soil surface
||Loblolly, slash, longleaf
|Moderately well to well drained
||No spodic horizon; clay layer greater
than 20 inches deep
||Slash, loblolly, longleaf
|Somewhat excessively to excessively
||No spodic horizon; clay layer may or
may not be present
|Very poorly to poorly well drained
||Organic surface (peat, muck) greater
than 20 inches thick
||Loblolly ***, slash
* Adapted from Fisher
** Spodic horizon refers
to a spodosol common in "flatwoods" areas. These
soils are characterized by a surface of a light-gray
to white sand over a darker sandy loam subsoil.
A fragipan may be present that restricts root
growth and limits downward movement of water.
*** Phosphorus may be required
for establishment of loblolly pine on very poorly
**** Use longleaf only on
the better drained soils in these groups.
Seed Source and Planting Zones
When seedling supplies are short, landowners often
buy seedlings from other states. Seedlings produced
out-of-state may or may not be appropriate for
some areas within Mississippi. The following guidelines
will help you in selecting a source for seed and
seedlings. (Refer to A Guide
to Southern Pine Seed Sources in the reference
Loess Hills planting sites -- Seedlings produced
from local seed sources or from seed sources east
or west within the region are suitable. Avoid
moving seed sources too far north.
Coastal Plain planting sites -- Fusiform rust
is often severe in the Lower Coastal Plain areas.
Seedlings from improved strains of loblolly
pine exhibiting good growth and resistance to
fusiform rust are preferred. Livingston Parish
loblolly pine seedlings are a proven rust-resistant
source suitable for planting throughout the
Lower Coastal Plain.
On sites where fusiform rust is high, plant seedlings
from sources of demonstrated rust resistance.
If such seedlings are unavailable, Livingston
Parish loblolly, other rust-resistant loblolly
sources, or longleaf pine may be used. Avoid planting
seedlings produced from South Florida seed sources.
Favor local sources. Avoid seedlings from southern
Florida and west of the Mississippi River. Seedlings
produced from seed from central gulf states should
Few private landowners plant shortleaf pine because
loblolly pine is preferred. Most planting is on
national forest lands. Where shortleaf pine is
planted, use seedlings produced from local sources
within that geographic region.
Once you select your species, order your seedlings
from the nursery. Plan ahead to allow for adequate
site preparation and to insure availability
of seedlings. Most state and private nurseries
begin taking seedling orders in mid-summer.
Place orders early so that you have enough seedlings
to meet your planting needs.
Several decisions must be made before ordering
seedlings, such as how many seedlings you need
and when they should be delivered. Information
in the preceding sections will help you select
the right species for your planting sites.
To determine the number of seedlings to order,
consider several points:
- How many acres are you going to plant? Determine
acreage by actual field measurement, or estimate
from maps, aerial photos, or other records.
- What spacing will you use? Most pine plantations
are established with 600 to 700 seedlings
per acre. More or fewer seedlings may be planted
based on the landowner's objectives. A minimum
of 600 seedlings per acre may be required
for participation in many federal assistance
programs. In some cases the forest industry
has planted seedlings at densities of up to
1,000 seedlings per acre to maximize fiber
production in short rotations for use in their
pulp mills. However, most landowners will
get better returns by planting 600 to 700
trees per acre and managing for multiple products,
such as pulpwood, chip-n-saw, sawtimber, and
Seedlings are planted at different spacings
to achieve the desired density. A general
trend is toward wider spacing between rows
for better stand access for fire control,
thinning, and harvesting equipment. Compare
various spacings by using Table
Determine the number of seedlings required
for any spacing by using this formula:
Multiply desired spacing in feet and divide
that product into the number of square feet
For example, how many seedlings would
be required to plant one acre at a spacing
of 6 by 12 feet?
6 feet by 12 feet = 72 square
43,560 square feet per acre/
72 square feet per seedling =
605 seedlings per acre.
- Make an allowance for cull seedlings. Cull
seedlings are seedlings that are too small
or too large to plant and those that died
or were damaged before planting. Identifying
cull seedlings is covered in detail in a later
section. When ordering, allow for a 10-percent
cull factor (i.e., seedlings that you will
discard and not plant). Deduct these from
the total number of seedlings ordered. In
effect, you will be ordering 10 percent more
seedlings than you calculated you needed for
planting. This also helps to account for any
shortage in the number of seedlings actually
If you order seedlings to plant 35 acres
at 7 by 10 spacing and allow for a 10-percent
cull factor, you need to order 24,000 seedlings.
7 by 10 spacing = 622 seedlings
per acre (See Table 4.)
35 acres by 622 seedlings per acre = 21,770
10 cull factor: 21,770 x .10 = 2,177 seedlings
23,947 rounded to the next highest 1,000
= 24,000 seedlings to be ordered
Table 4. Seedlings Per
Acre by Spacing
||Number of Seedlings
||Number of Seedlings
|6 x 8
||9 x 9
|6 x 9
||9 x 10
|6 x 10
||9 x 11
|6 x 11
||9 x 12
|6 x 12
||10 x 10
|7 x 7
||10 x 11
|7 x 8
||10 x 12
|7 x 9
|7 x 10
||12 x 11
|7 x 11
||12 x 12
|7 x 12
||12 x 15
|8 x 8
||15 x 7
|8 x 9
||15 x 8
|8 x 10
||15 x 9
|8 x 11
||15 x 10
|8 x 12
||15 x 15
Planting season begins in December and should
be completed in March. The optimum period is from
late December to mid-February. Weather conditions
often force extension of the planting season,
causing problems with proper seedling storage.
Early planting before cold weather can kill
seedlings if they have not hardened off while
still in the nursery beds. Hardening-off is
a physiological process where seedlings become
acclimated to colder temperatures by reaching
a stage of dormancy where active growth is temporarily
suspended. Some nurseries use chilling hours
(temperatures between 33 °F and 40 °F)
as an indication of dormancy. Chilling hours
are monitored in the nursery, and seedlings
are lifted after 200 or more chilling hours
have accumulated. This allows seedlings to be
planted immediately or stored for no more than
two or three days. When 400 chilling hours have
accumulated, seedlings reach peak dormancy and
can be cold-stored for up to 8 weeks. When you
order seedlings, ask how the nursery determines
that seedlings are properly hardened-off and
are ready to lift.
If large acreages are to be planted or delays
expected, arrange with the nursery to split
shipments of seedlings to allow you to store
and handle a minimum number of seedlings at
Seedling Storage and Care
Pine seedlings are commonly packaged in open-end
bales, kraft-polyethylene line (K-P) bags, and
wax-coated boxes. These packages protect seedling
quality during transport and storage.
Proper storage conditions must be provided
before planting to maintain seedling quality.
It is always best to plant seedlings as soon
as possible. Do not store nondormant seedlings
lifted early or late in the planting season;
plant them immediately. Plant longleaf pine
seedlings within one week after lifting from
the nursery. These seedlings are extremely perishable
and should be planted immediately if possible.
When you accept delivery of your seedlings
from the nursery, you should be sure that they
are protected from direct sun, high temperatures,
and freezing temperatures. If you pick up your
seedlings from the nursery or distribution point,
provide cool shaded conditions for transportation
of the seedlings. Arrange to pick up seedlings
in late afternoon and schedule long-distance
hauling at night to prevent heat buildup from
the sun. If an open truck or trailer is used,
a tarp can shade the seedlings, but be sure
to allow for ventilation under the tarp and
around the seedlings to prevent heat buildup.
To prevent water loss from open-end bales,
avoid exposing the bales to wind during transport.
Avoid stacking bales or bags of seedlings over
two high without providing space between packages
for air circulation and support to prevent crushing.
Cold-storage facilities offer the best conditions
to store pine seedlings. Dormant seedlings packaged
in bales, bags, and boxes can be kept for 8
to 12 weeks in cold storage at temperatures
of 33 °F to 36 °F and high relative
humidity. If seedlings are packaged in bags,
relative humidity is less important. Baled seedlings
may require periodic watering to prevent drying
during long storage periods. Always allow excess
water to drain from the bales to prevent damage
from decay. Damage from lack of water drainage
is evidenced by discolored roots and a sour
smell when bales are opened. Seedlings in K-P
bags and boxes and seedlings with clay-coated
roots do not require watering if the packages
have been unopened and undamaged. (Roots coated
with kaolin clay are white.)
To prevent seedlings from drying out, store
them at a relative humidity of 85 to 95 percent.
If the relative humidity inside the storage
chamber falls below 80 percent, spray water
on the walls and floor to increase humidity.
Do not stack bales, bags, or boxes over two
high, and always allow for adequate air circulation
around all containers. This also prevents damage
Most landowners do not have access to cold-storage
facilities; therefore, when seedlings cannot
be planted immediately, landowners must rely
on shed storage where temperatures cannot be
controlled, but where seedlings can be protected
from wind and temperature extremes. Baled seedlings
can be stored for up to 8 weeks when watered
every 2 to 3 days, draining excess water from
Seedlings in bags and unopened boxes trap
heat generated from respiration. This heat buildup
within the package damages the seedlings. If
storage temperatures exceed 40 °F to 50
°F for several days, the vigor of seedlings
in bags is reduced. Because of the potential
damage from overheating, do not store seedlings
packaged in bags or boxes for more than 4 weeks
without cold storage.
Warm air temperatures may limit safe shed
storage time. Allowing storage temperatures
to reach 80 °F causes mold to develop on
the seedling roots, initiating decay. Mold may
be detected by the presence of fungal hyphae
(spider-web-like strands around the seedling
roots) and a musty smell when the packages are
If seedlings freeze, let them completely thaw
before attempting to separate and plant. Immersing
the frozen seedlings in cool water for short
periods helps to speed thawing. (Do not soak
for more than an hour.) Freeze-damaged root
systems will appear limp and discolored, and
root tips will easily slough off in handling.
Discard seedlings that have suffered freeze
damage. Longleaf pine seedlings are likely to
be killed if frozen.
You can store seedlings by removing them from
their packages and heeling them into shaded
shallow trenches. Cover roots with moist soil
and water frequently. Lift seedlings before
active root growth begins. Look for expanding
white root tips as a sign of active root growth.
Seedlings are easily damaged when removed from
the trenches as roots are stripped off.
Preparing Seedlings for Planting
Seedlings of various sizes and quality may be
in your order. Some nurseries grade seedlings
to a uniform size before packaging. Others attempt
to produce a uniform seedling in the nursery bed
to eliminate the added expense of hand grading
after lifting. Grading before planting removes
seedlings that are too large or too small to be
planted. It also removes seedlings with roots
and stems that are broken, crushed, have bark
missing, roots or needles stripped off, stem swellings
indicating fusiform rust, or that are otherwise
Seedlings can also be selected for planting
on particular sites. For example, short, stout
seedlings with dense fibrous root systems would
perform better than taller seedlings with long
root systems on sites with shallow, droughty
soils. Taller seedlings with well-developed
root systems are preferred over shorter seedlings
on sites where herbaceous competition is uncontrolled
and will quickly overtop the seedlings.
Grade the seedlings in a cool, high humidity
area protected from sun and wind before they
are taken to the field and given to the planters.
As seedlings are removed from their packages,
dip them in water, clay, or one of the synthetic
gel root dips to reduce drying of the roots.
(Check with forestry and farm chemical dealers
for gel dips.) Seedlings with roots coated with
kaolin clay can stand brief periods of exposure
with minimal damage to roots. After grading,
promptly repackage seedlings in their original
containers with sufficient moisture, or place
them in buckets or tubs with water to keep them
from drying out while being transported to the
field. Do not allow seedlings to sit in water
for more than one hour. Allowing planters to
grade during planting slows work and can result
in cull seedlings being planted.
One or two people can handle grading and any
necessary root pruning. Graders should know
the grading standards presented in Table
5 and be aware that stem length is less
important than stem root-collar diameter and
root system development. Seedlings with thick
sturdy stems 6 to 12 inches long and well-developed
root systems with 5 or more lateral roots have
the best initial survival and growth.
An optimum root system is 6 to 8 inches long
with at least 5 to 7 or more strong first order
lateral roots that are at least 3 inches long.
Use seedlings with root systems 5 to 6 inches
long with good lateral root development to plant
sites with restricted rooting zones or high
water tables. Otherwise, cull all seedlings
with root systems less than 5 to 6 inches long
and those with less than 3 strong lateral roots.
If root systems are more than 8 inches long,
the seedlings are difficult to plant correctly
without special care and supervision during
the planting operation.
Do not allow planting crew members to prune
roots during the planting operation. This results
in the roots being stripped off and leads to
poor survival. Prune roots with scissors, shears,
a hatchet, or machete. Make a single clean cut,
removing as little of the roots as necessary.
When root pruning is necessary, keep the pruned
root system in balance with the top. Prune roots
to no less than 8 inches in length for seedlings
with tops of 8 to 12 inches.
Table 5. Grading
Standards for Southern Pine Seedlings *
|Condition of stem
|Loblolly and Slash Pine
||2's and 3's
||large, 2's, 3's free of brownspot
||2's and 3's
* Adapted from Wakely
(1954) and May (1986).
** Grade sand pine to shortleaf
Seedling Care in the Field
When transporting seedlings to the planting site,
take only as many as can be planted in a day.
If time and logistics permit, arrange to have
seedlings delivered twice a day to the planting
site. Load and transport packages carefully to
avoid damage to seedlings.
Seedling quality deteriorates quickly with
careless field storage and handling. Always
provide a shaded storage area. A tarp can be
erected as a canopy above the seedlings to keep
off direct sun. Be sure there is ample ventilation
to prevent heat buildup in the packages. Temperatures
exceeding 50 °F inside the packages quickly
reduce the quality of the seedlings.
Do not lay a tarp directly over the seedlings
during the day as temperatures inside seedling
packages can quickly exceed 50 °F on sunny
days, even when air temperatures are moderate.
Cover seedlings left overnight in the field
with a tarp to protect against freezing damage.
Repair any tears or holes to the packages with
duct tape. Repackage the seedlings as necessary.
If seedlings are to be graded at the field site,
be sure to do so in a cool shaded spot protected
from wind and sun.
When giving seedlings to the planters, open
and empty only one package at a time. Make sure
that planters carry seedlings in bags or buckets.
Never allow seedlings to be hand carried with
roots exposed while planting. Have water and
clay or synthetic gel dips available to keep
seedling roots moist. Do not leave seedling
roots in water for more than one hour, but repackage
them in their original packages.
The key to successful planting is the ability
of the root system of the newly planted seedling
to begin quickly taking up water and nutrients.
Plant seedlings in moist mineral soil where moisture
is immediately available. Newly planted seedlings
may be unable to take up moisture in dry soils
or until drainage is achieved in flooded soils.
If drainage does not occur until late March or
April, use container-grown seedlings to extend
the planting season.
Depending on the site, both hand and machine
planting are efficient and reliable planting
options. Large open tracts are more easily planted
by machine; smaller or irregularly shaped tracts,
sites with minimal site preparation, and rocky
sites are more easily planted by hand.
Show planters the correct depth to plant seedlings.
The depth will vary with soil-site conditions,
but plant seedlings no deeper than the length
of the dibble bar or planting foot on the machine.
Shallow planting results in early seedling mortality,
particularly during early spring and summer
droughts. On many "old field" sites where the
soil contains a dense traffic pan or hardpan
near the surface, subsoiling breaks up the pan
to permit deeper planting. Slash, loblolly,
and shortleaf pine can be planted up to 2 to
3 inches above the root collar, provided the
planting hole is deep enough to avoid root deformation.
Improper planting, resulting in J-rooting or
L-rooting, slows early seedling growth. In wet
soils with a high water table, plant only to
1 inch above the root collar.
Longleaf pine requires special care in planting
and great attention to planting depth. Plant
longleaf seedlings so the bud is not buried
or the root collar exposed. The large tap root
and lateral root system of high quality longleaf
seedlings require larger and deeper planting
holes than other pines. Hand planters should
use the large KBC dibble rather than the narrow
OST dibble. Machine planting is preferred when
Regardless of planting method, plant seedlings
at the correct spacing and depth so that the
roots are not deformed and the soil is firmly
packed around the roots. This eliminates air
pockets. Have a written contract that details
all planting specifications, including transport
and handling of seedlings, planting dates, packing,
and conditions when planting is to be suspended
(site too wet or dry, freezing weather, or summer-like
conditions). The contract should provide for
inspections during planting to insure that quality
standards are met before payment is made. This
is especially important when planting with assistance
of cost-share programs.
A good hand-planting crew ca n average 1,000 seedlings
per man-day; inexperienced crews average far less.
This ranges from 600 on very poor sites to 1,200
on open fields. Most planters use a dibble bar
that has a blade at least 4 inches wide and 10
inches long. Seedlings can be carried in a bucket,
but a planting bag is a more efficient way for
the planter to carry seedlings in the field. The
planting bag is strapped around the planter's
waist and will hold several hundred seedlings.
Seedlings are dipped in synthetic gel or packed
into the bags with wet moss. The bag protects
seedlings from sun and wind. The planter removes
one seedling at a time after the dibble has been
used to open the planting slit. Do not
allow planters to carry seedlings in hand while
planting, as seedlings rapidly dry out. Two minutes
of exposure to wind and sun can kill the seedlings.
Always provide planting bags or buckets and insist
that seedlings be kept moist at all times.
Have a supervisor at the site to insure that
planting proceeds smoothly and properly. The
supervisor should watch for poor practices,
such as planters' stripping off roots to make
planting of large seedlings easier, slow planters'
discarding seedlings to "catch up" with the
faster planters, shallow planting, loose packing,
and carrying seedlings in hand during planting.
To insure correct spacing, frequently check
distances of planted seedlings within and between
rows. Proper packing is necessary to eliminate
air pockets around the roots. Check by grasping
several needles at the tip of the seedling between
thumb and forefinger and gently try to pull
the seedling from the soil. The needles should
break if the seedling is firmly packed. A shovel
can be used to dig around seedlings to check
Show your planting crew the correct dibble
- Insert the dibble straight down into the
soil to full depth of the blade and pull back
on the handle to open the planting slit. (DO
NOT rock the dibble back and forth, as this
causes soil in the planting slit to be compacted,
hindering root growth.)
- Remove the dibble and push the seedling
roots deep into the planting slit. Pull the
seedling back up to the correct planting depth
(1 to 3 inches above the roots to fall straight
inside the planting slit). DO NOT twist or
spin the seedling into the planting slit or
leave the roots "J-rooted."
- Place the dibble several inches in front
of the seedling and push the blade halfway
in the soil. Twist and push the handle forward
to close the top of the slit to hold the seedling
- Push down to the full depth of the blade
and pull back on the handle, closing the bottom
of the planting slit, and then push forward
to close the top, eliminating air pockets
around the roots.
- Remove the dibble, and close and firm up
the opening with your heel.
When machines are correctly matched to the site
and operators are trained and supervised, 7,000
to 9,000 or more seedlings can be planted per
day. The condition of the planting site is important
in selecting the proper size of machine. Plant
old fields and cropland with light duty planters
pulled by wheeled tractors of 20 to 100 hp. Rough
sites require the use of heavy duty planters pulled
by large farm tractors or crawler tractors of
50 to 350 hp.
Seedlings are planted with machines using
two systems: a manual system, where the seedling
is placed into the trench by hand, or an automated
system, where seedlings are placed in "fingers"
that then place the seedling into the planting
Frequently check planting performance to insure
proper planting, particularly when soil type,
texture, moisture, or amount of harvest debris
changes on the site. Maintain proper adjustment
by carefully checking planting performance under
actual site conditions. Adjust packing wheels
to close completely the planting trench from
top to bottom. Be sure seedlings are planted
straight and at the proper depth. Follow the
planter and use a shovel to open the planting
trench to judge root placement. "L-rooting"
is a common problem with machine planting. Adjust
the planter to open the trench to maximum depth
and make sure the seedlings are placed at the
proper depth and released quickly so the roots
are not dragged along the trench.
Carefully check the site and environmental conditions
at planting time. Planting on bright, sunny, windy
days in dry soil can result in dead seedlings.
Dry soil is difficult to pack around the seedling.
When soils are too wet, especially clay soils,
machine planting can result in soil compaction
around the seedling and other site damage.
The best planting conditions are when temperatures
are between 35 °F and 60 °F with relative
humidity greater than 40 percent and wind speeds
less than 10 mph. When air temperatures are
in the 70's and low 80's with low humidity (less
than 40 percent) and wind speeds of 10 mph or
greater, plant cautiously, as seedlings can
quickly dry out after planting. If the situation
allows, delay planting until conditions improve,
or plant in the afternoon hours when seedlings
will be exposed to less environmental stress.
If planting must continue under these conditions,
have planters carry fewer seedlings in the field
and take more care to prevent them from drying
out. Do not plant in freezing weather or summer-like
conditions when temperatures are below 32 °F
or above 85 °F.
Seedlings produced in containers are becoming
increasingly available in the South. Their use
was originally developed in the Scandinavian countries
and Canada where operational planting of container-grown
stock has long been common. Container-grown stock
offers the advantage of extending the planting
season over bareroot stock. Early season planting
in the South can begin in October, allowing seedlings
to become established before freezing weather
occurs. Planting can extend into late spring and
even summer on sites that may be too wet to plant
during the fall or winter with bareroot seedlings.
The protected root systems of container-grown
seedlings reduce seedling damage associated with
the lifting, storage, and planting of bareroot
Seedlings are best stored in their containers
where they are protected from root damage and
drying out. Protect them from freezing, as the
root plugs can easily freeze. The limited soil
volume of the container makes the seedlings
susceptible to drying out in sunny and windy
conditions. Store in partial shade, and water
frequently to maintain adequate moisture throughout
storage and planting.
Container-grown seedlings may be machine or
hand planted, but whichever method is used,
it is critical that the planting hole be deep
enough so that the top of the root plug can
be completely covered with soil. If the top
of the root plug is not covered with soil, it
will rapidly dry out, and the seedling will
die. (This also reduces first heaving of fall-planted
seedlings.) Take special care when planting
container-grown longleaf pine seedlings. If
planted too deep, the bud is covered; if planted
too shallow, the root plug is exposed, which
rapidly dries out the rooting media.
Evaluating Planted Stands
Survival and stocking are two important factors
in evaluating the success of your planting effort.
Survival is the number of planted seedlings alive
at a given time. It is best estimated by establishing
permanently marked plots soon after outplanting.
Seedlings are then counted at the end of the first
field season and compared to the initial number
of seedlings in the plots. Ten to twenty well-distributed
plots are usually sufficient for survival estimates.
Stocking represents the number and distribution
of living seedlings over the plantation. This
information is used to determine whether replanting
a portion or the entire stand is necessary.
A systematic sampling system is the best way
to sample stocking. The number of live trees
is counted in fixed-area plots, usually circular
plots. These plots are uniformly spaced across
the plantation. Plots of 1/50 acre to 1/100
acre in size are convenient. Larger plots are
time- and labor-consuming, while the larger
number of plots smaller than 1/100 acre required
to give an accurate estimate may be prohibitive.
You need 40 to 60 plots to get accurate estimates
of first year stocking, regardless of plantation
size. Orient sample plots on lines that cross
the planting rows throughout the entire plantation.
If the survey reveals that at least 300 seedlings
per acre are evenly distributed over the plantation
at the end of the first growing season, replanting
or interplanting the skips will not be necessary.
If there are large areas with poor stocking, these
areas can be replanted. Some additional site preparation
may be required.
Avoid interplanting the skips within rows.
Newly planted seedlings do not compete favorably
with established 1-year-old seedlings. Interplants
seldom add to the volume production at harvest,
and the added investment for the seedlings and
planting cost will not be recovered. If you
attempt interplanting, plant no closer than
20 feet to an established seedling. Interplanting
may be required in stands established under
federal incentive programs to meet minimum stocking
requirements. If so, spot herbicide treatments
for weed control around the interplants may
aid their survival and growth.
Balmer, W.E., and H.L. Williston. 1974. Guide
for Planting the Southern Pines. USDA For.
Ser., Southeastern Area State and Private Forestry
Ezell, A.W. 1987. "Hand vs. Machine Planting."
Forest Farmer, 47(1).
Fisher, R.F. 1981. "Soils Interpretations
for Silviculture on the Southeastern Coastal
Plain," Proceedings of the First Biennial
Southern Silvicultural Research Conference.
USDA For. Ser. GTR SO-34.
Jefferies, K.F. 1982. "Operational Guidelines
for Handling Seedlings," Proceedings: 1982
Southern Nursery Conference. USDA For. Serv.,
Lantz, C.W. 1987. "Which Southern Pine Species
Is Best For Your Site?" Forest Farmer,
Lantz, C.W., and J.F.
Kraus. 1987. A Guide to Southern Pine Seed
Sources. USDA For. Ser., GTR SE-43.
May, J.T. 1986. "Seedling Quality, Grading,
Culling, and Counting," Southern Pine Nursery
Handbook. USDA For. Ser., Southern Region
Cooperative Forestry Publ.
May, J.T. 1986. "Packing, Storage, and Shipping,"
Southern Pine Nursery Handbook. USDA
For. Ser. Southern Region Cooperative Forestry
South, D.B. and J.G. Mexal. 1984. Growing
the "Best" Seedling for Reforestation Success.
Forestry Dept. Series No. 12. Alabama Agricultural
Experiment Station, Auburn University.
Wakely, P.C. 1954. Planting the Southern
Pines. USDA For. Ser. Agri. Monograph 18.
Xydias, G.K., R.D. Sage, J.D. Hodges, and
D.M. Moehring. 1983. "Establishment, Survival,
and Tending of Slash Pine," The Managed Slash
Pine Ecosystem. School of Forest Resources
and Conservation, Univ. Florida. Gainesville,
By Dr. Andrew
W. Ezell, Extension Forestry Specialist, Mississippi State University,
and Dr. David J. Moorhead, Extension Forestry Specialist, University
State University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color,
religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, or veteran status.
Extension Service of Mississippi State University,
cooperating with U.S.
Department of Agriculture. Published in
furtherance of Acts of Congress, May 8 and June
30, 1914. Ronald A. Brown, Director