Planting A Hardwood Forest

The more the forest grows the more it generates nutrients for itself accelerating further growth.

Planting a hardwood forest.

In much of the natural longleaf range this is the typical forest condition following a total harvest if no attempt was made to reforest. The upland hardwood forests are primarily located across the ozark and ouachita divisions. During the last 10 years considerable research and effort has been expended to evaluate the various practices necessary for establishing hardwood on open sites. The photo shows an example of hand planting hardwood seedlings.

Of that total approximately 1 3 million acres 48 percent were planted by private individuals af pa 2001. The purpose of this information is to recommend hardwood establishment practices in association with crep. To regenerate naturally the current forest must produce seedlings stump sprouts and root suckers that will become the next forest following a harvest or natural disturbance. For example a mixed hardwood plantation may concentrate black walnut seedlings on the deeper soils of the lower slope and plant red and white oak seedlings on hill tops and convex shaped slopes.

The first two years primarily year 1 of a hardwood planting will dictate whether it is successful in the years to come. Most regeneration of hardwood forests occurs naturally that is without planting trees but many factors can affect forest regeneration. Planting guidelines purpose and background. Grow a 100 year old forest in your backyard in just 10 years by mimicking nature s forest building process it s possible to kickstart your own mini forest.

Mixed hardwood pine or pine hardwood forests many historical longleaf pine sites have become occupied today by forests composed of loblolly and or shortleaf pine and mixed hardwoods. Some common hand planting errors include. Some positive things to notice is only one seedling out of the container a wide planting bar seedlings with their roots protected and moist in the bucket. The plug above the planting hole to ensure the terminal bud is above the ground.

1 forest tree planting by private landowners exceeded 100 000 acres in 1999. This density also means that individual trees begin competing for sunlight another reason these forests grow so fast. The forest needs to be watered and weeded for the first two or three years at which point it becomes self sustaining. In the central hardwood region fig.