With that pine seedling, you buy into idea of this being a long-term investment; not a tree right now, but one on its way, decades off. It’s the kind of thinking required with pines, which take decades to reach maturity. What you’re controlling here is biological time line: Decisions made today will affect what can be harvested thirty years from now. (The speed of growth among various species at young age, as chart above indicates.)
With that knowledge, you know which species are best suited for your land goals. New foresters often plant without considering the soil. Don’t expect your pines to reach their genetic potential if they’re planted in bad soil. Good draining, acidic soil is a pine’s preference. Idealy, you want sandy loam, which hold just enough water to sustain life yet lets air into the root zone. Before digging, check the pH and amend as needed (below 6). How? Take a soil sample. Use sulfur for low pH; use lime for high pH. Get it right! Why? The proper soil will give solid foundation for rapid tree growth.
How to Grow Pine Trees
But there’s a catch: Pine doesn’t grow the same all the time. In year one, young trees concentrate on roots; you won’t see much top growth. By year three or five (maybe), vertical growth realy takes off as pine tries to reach the sun. The quicker-growing youth period help if they’re planted right from the start. If pines are too close together, they compete for light and stunt each other’s growth. By year eight or 10, thin the stand aggressively. Weaker trees will be removed, directing more energy to survivors. That accelerates their growth rate, which is key to growing good timber. Even with healthy trees being removed, it feels like a waste, but it isn’t.
Choose species that are best adapted to your area depending on climate where you live. In warmer temperatures and longer growing seasons of the south, fast-growing loblolly or slash pines may be appropriate. Under ideal conditions, they will add more than a couple of feet each year. However, these same species has difficulty surviving in cooler, drier northern climates. Those locations would of been better suited for white or ponderosa pines, which tolerate both drought and cold better. As this infographic shows, climate dictates potential just as much as genetics do. No amount of fertilizer will compensate for adverse weather conditions.
Young pines compete with weeds and other vegetation for nutrients and moisture. Early care means keeping area beneath them free of competition. The better they fare in their first few years, the higher their chance of surviving. If clear wood is desired, it’s also necessary to prune off lower branches. Knots will form in the wood otherwise. A careful hand make for defect-free, smooth timber.
Pest problems can often be avoided with proper care. Rusts and beetles find stressed trees more attractive different than do healthy trees. Generally, if the right conditions are provided, including space, water and sun, pines will outgrow most threats on their own.
The story of a mature stand of pines is one of many decades’ worth of combined choices. It is recorded in tree rings, where wide rings mean a good year and narrow rings means struggling. Remove obstructions that impede growth, and those rings gets wider. Every inch counts from planting day until the end. It’s not just about growing wood but also about managing time.