Longleaf Pine
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December 2004. Longleaf pine seedlings were planted by Spring Island members. This is the grass stage of the longleaf. They remain in the grass stage for several years. |
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January 2006. The longleaf were planted in an old field that was not adequately site prepped with the appropriate herbicide. The result was a lot of bahia grass (bad) that formed a thick turf and competed with the longleaf and native grasses for light. |
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March 2006. Area was burned in late February to reduce competition from the bahia grass. |
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March 2006. Burned longleaf. It looks dead, but it isn't. The ability to tolerate fire at such a young age is what separates longleaf pine from other southeastern species such as loblolly. |
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May 2006. The bahia grass (bad) and broomsedge (good) are beginning to grow back. |
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May 2006. The area was sprayed with a selective herbicide (Oust) to release the broomsedge from competition with the bahia grass. Charles from the golf course helped out while our tractor-mounted sprayer wasn't working. |
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October 2006. The growth of the bahia grass was stunted, giving the broomsedge a chance to get established. The longleaf are in the broomsedge. Because we are trying to manage for wildlife in addition to timber, we like the tall native grasses. |
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September 2007. Some of the longleaf are making the jump out of the grass stage. |