Maintenance and Follow-up after Planting Longleaf Pine Bill Pickens Pine Silvicultralist

Follow-up Ø Survival wEnd of 1st growing season ? wEnd of the 2nd growing season? wOnce height growth initiates ?

Follow-up § Survival § Free -to Grow § Competition

Survival § Minimum number ? § per acre § landowner objectives §Distribution § evenly distributed? §Replanting - interplant pro’s and con’s

Competition Vegetative Competition Grasses a problem early Woody species later on Hardwoods Loblolly

Competition Control § Herbicides § Prescribed Burn § Mechanical

Herbicides The best time to treat competitive vegetation is prior to planting

Herbicides Herbicide rates are higher on clay sites and sites with high organic matter. Higher rates needed for effective control may be toxic to young LL seedlings pH increases the efficacy of OUST TM. Decrease to 1oz. Per acre if pH is > 6.0

Herbicides High quality sites, especially those with grass component, will require one maybe two release treatments

Herbicides Herbicides are generally less effective in drought conditions Stressed LL seedlings more susceptible to toxic effects (Don’t apply unless 3-4 inches of new root growth is present) Fall planted seedlings may be less susceptible Application timing is critical

Prescribed Burn LL fire -resistant in the grass stage minimum 1/2 RCD Susceptibility increases after height initiation Fire resistance increases for trees greater than 4 feet high and greater than 3” ground line diameter Low-intensity fire

Prescribed Burn Loblolly susceptible up to sapling size Repeated prescribed burns needed to control hardwoods Growing season burns more effective Good for Wildlife, good ecologically Repeated burns will effect growth and thus yield

Mechanical Drum Chopper- between the rows Chainsaws, brush saws, machetes, etc Labor intensive environmental friendly

Pest Control §Less susceptible than other SYP § Fusiform rust - rarely a problem § Pitch Canker - locally somewhat § Brown spot needle blight - major disease, not as severe in NC § SPB- does not infest severely § Ips Beetle -after lightning § Turpentine Beetle following fire §Pales Weevil

Brown Spot Needle Blight Effects Needles and slows growth Prolongs grass-stage Continued severe infestation causes mortality Controlled by prescribed burn

Pales weevil damage on Longleaf seedling

Web worm damage to a three year old LL sapling

Defoliation by Red-headed sawfly

Other Damaging Agents Lighting Windthrow Ice Storms Flooding