Planting pine trees after timber harvest in South Carolina

[HCJtractor]

We own 300 hundred acres in upstate SC. It's mainly used for hunting deer. It's rough land, having been timbered 20 years ago, and now it's mixed pines and hardwoods. Recently we had about 70 acres timbered. Mainly pines were cut, in areas where they were predominant. Now it looks like a bomb hit, with stumps, logging debris, etc. it's pretty open now, with some small hardwoods remaining, but mostly just a rough clear cut. I think this will improve the hunting as it gets thick, and hunting is why we own it. My question is whether we should replant pines. I know it would have to be planted with bare root seedlings, and I think they are cheap. I know they grow fast. The alternative is just to let it naturally recover, like was done 20 years ago. Esthetically, I think planted pines would improve the appearance. And of course, I suppose they would add future value. As far as the hunting, deer seem to love the planted pine clear cuts when they are young.

What would you guys do? Of course, we don't want to spend much as this is just recreational land. What would planting involve? I assume a small crew could plant seedings in a few days. I wonder what costs to expect? Any advice???

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[Ed of all trades]

From a $$$$$$ stand point it would be foolish not to plant pines. You may choose not to for other reasons but planted pines make $$$$$. That is why so many are planted. The deer still love the area when young and use it when older as well. The county forester will help you set up a controlled burn to clean up the brush and with the planting crew. He will also check to see if there is any Gov. programs to help with the cost. Give him a call, it won't hurt to ask and find out what it will cost and the benefits. Ed

 

[kebo]

I would definitely replant with pines this coming winter, I think you already know the reasons why. It will give you a better return rate when you thin it out (in lieu of letting it reforest itself naturally), and will add value should you ever decide to resell the property. It will be just as thick (either method) for the first 3-10 years, and give cover for the deer. The only prob is that turkeys do not like that type of habitat. Once you thin out the pines after about 15-18 years, it will open back up for the turkeys.

However, considering that you own the property (and therefore can do as you wish with it) I would also plant several small areas with various mast and fruit bearing trees, such as sawtooth oaks, apple trees (with different species so they ripen at different times), persimmon trees, and maybe pear tree's. You might consider clearing off three or four areas of about an acre or two so you can plant the mast and fruit bearing tree's around the cleared areas, also creating an area for food plots at the same time. Most hunt clubs plant areas that were used as the loading docks for the timber. You would need to protect the young seedlings though. There used to be lots of good info on the QDMA website about planting fruit bearing trees for deer, you might check there.

Of course, all that planting costs $$$$, and you can decide how much you want to put back into it. I am sure the deer hunting will be still be good whether you add the mast & fruit bearing tree's or not, but they will help hold deer on your property and increase the deer sightings when you hunt it.

 

[smstonypoint]

I agree with Ed -- you should contact the South Carolina Forestry Commission (SCFC) forester in your area (SC County Information). He/she will provide expert advice about your alternatives.


Is your property qualified for forestry use-value assessment of property taxes? I don't know about SC, but qualification in NC requires that you follow an approved forest management plan. The SCFC forester can help.

The SCFC forester should be able to arrange for the replanting of the pines and for cost-share assistance (if available).

I had a seven-acre tract clear-cut last summer as part of a larger logging project. It took a crew of six or so workers less than two hours to replant in March.

If you haven't done so already, you should download and read the Forest Landowners Guide to the Federal Income Tax -- Forest landowners? guide to the Federal income tax | SRS Publication


Steve

 

[oosik]

I had my property(80 acres) selectively logged about 12 years ago. I have 100% Ponderosa pine. We replanted some 300 bare root pines that were obtained from the USDA for next to nothing.
I would guesstimate that maybe 10-15% of what we planted has survived to this day. The biggest & most successful "replanting" came from the cones/seeds that fell off the trees that were logged. Every year I selectively thin and chip all the excess young trees and now have a massive regrowth over the entire logged area.

Its really hard to beat the success that Mother Nature can provide.

 

[HCJtractor]

I would definitely replant with pines this coming winter, I think you already know the reasons why. It will give you a better return rate when you thin it out (in lieu of letting it reforest itself naturally), and will add value should you ever decide to resell the property. It will be just as thick (either method) for the first 3-10 years, and give cover for the deer. The only prob is that turkeys do not like that type of habitat. Once you thin out the pines after about 15-18 years, it will open back up for the turkeys. However, considering that you own the property (and therefore can do as you wish with it) I would also plant several small areas with various mast and fruit bearing trees, such as sawtooth oaks, apple trees (with different species so they ripen at different times), persimmon trees, and maybe pear tree's. You might consider clearing off three or four areas of about an acre or two so you can plant the mast and fruit bearing tree's around the cleared areas, also creating an area for food plots at the same time. Most hunt clubs plant areas that were used as the loading docks for the timber. You would need to protect the young seedlings though. There used to be lots of good info on the QDMA website about planting fruit bearing trees for deer, you might check there. Of course, all that planting costs $$$$, and you can decide how much you want to put back into it. I am sure the deer hunting will be still be good whether you add the mast & fruit bearing tree's or not, but they will help hold deer on your property and increase the deer sightings when you hunt it.

Thanks Kebo. Any wild guess on approximate cost to plant pine seedlings? I agree that planting fruit or hardwoods would be beneficial, but frankly, my cheap co owners probably won't go for that. And at my age of 62, they won't benefit my hunting very much. We already have areas of white oaks, and numerous food plots scattered about. Of course, our food plots made great loading docks, so we have some work to do. Or I should say, I have work to do. My co owners not only are cheap, but they only seem to have spare time in October or November.

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[hutchman]

I'll second the advice of contacting your local forester. I went that route and got financial assistance for the replant after cutting the trees that were there and they help advise you on what to plant etc.

They planted Elite loblolly pine on our tract back in March and they look like they are doing fine. They are engineered (natural selection, not genetic) to grow in your area. They will also assist with any sprays that may need to happen.

 

[JD15302155870]

We planted 18 acres in pines in 2013. I contacted the GA Forestry agent for my county. I knew absolutely nothing about the proper techniques. My agent shared all the proper techniques for preparing the site and the sequence for preparing to plant. He also came by periodically to check on the progress of the preparations. I was most impressed by the grants he found for me paid by various agencies and companies. We did the preparation ourselves and the planting. I rented a planter from the Forestry Commission and called my son and two sons-in-law to participate in a three day working party. It turned out to be only two days and we planted 11,000 seedlings. End Result when the grant money came in I spent $345 out of pocket. I recommend contacting the Forestry commission first.

 

[boggen]

if rough land. might suggest a 3pt hitch PHD (post hole digger) of all things. generally the PHD crumble the dirt up vs large chunks that you need to break up. and with a few swipes of a foot nock most of the stuff back into the hole and around the roots. if ground is dry / hard. i might suggest a "down force kit" for the PHD. if you will be going through a lot of roots then perhaps a "hydrualic PHD" so you can reverse the auger if you get hung up on tree root. skid steers generally have hydrualic PHD. you can get them for 3pt hitch hydrualic PHD, and ones that attach to FEL for regular tractors as well but come at a cost over a 3pt hitch generic version of a PHD. you can also get a PHD for a backhoe / excavator, can be a bit more handy.

there is also a "tree transplanter" (how ever it is spelled) it is a 3pt hitch equipment. normally has a "seat" for someone to set down on behind the tractor as it is moving. there is a V shape blade, that opens up the ground, kinda like a bottom plow / muldboard plow. the person on the seat drops a tree down between the V. and just behind the V there is a couple "closing discs / wheels" that bring the dirt back together in the center. and then a couple wheels to compact the dirt some. this for mass planting lots of stuff in rows. but "shrugs" 70 acres is a lot of area. and might allow you to actually create rows of trees and spread them far enough apart per row. so you can get in there to mow / trim / keep branches and like cleaned up. to deal with any sort of fire that may go through there.

i doubt i would use a backhoe. granted i have a couple times. but it creates a big old mess. and large chunks of dirt that need to be busted up before putting back into the hole. ya it keeps manual labor down. but still time consuming vs the other 2 notations above.

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if ya have my familys luck. some seedlings / saplings going to die. and need to replace them. and still might suggest a tree transplanter along with a phd so you can make quicker work of stuff.

have had to use "red / orangish" little flags to identify were i have planted stuff before. so i do not end up mowing over things. *woops* the flags some lasted some did not (depended on wind storms) but seemed to help.

 

[boggen]

would suggest doing something about the stumps.... more so if you ride / drive / mow anything through area. give it 1 or 3 years and you will forget and BAM! you just tore something up. it does not take much for weeds to grow up and cover stuff up and hide it from you.