Underplanting Longleaf Pine: the Ecology Behind this Regeneration Technique & Lessons Learned from a Case Study in Georgia
Underplanting is the practice of introducing a new generation of trees under an existing overstory. This could be done to convert the stand to a different species, sometimes called “conversion with retention.” It can also be done with seedlings of the same species as the overstory if a multi-aged stand is desired, but natural regeneration is insufficient to achieve this structure. Some questions to be addressed: Why plant longleaf pine seedlings under an existing pine canopy? Is it possible to establish a longleaf pine stand without clearcutting? What preparation is needed for converting loblolly pine stands to longleaf pine dominance? How does one manage an underplanted stand to reduce damage and encourage growth?
