Urban Forestry: Planting Longleaf Pine around Your Home

Establishment/Site Selection

Grows best on sandy loam soils with a pH between 5 - 6.5. Soil amendments should be added to adjust soil to this range.
Locate an area where the tree will receive full sunlight. In colder climates, plant trees on the lee side of the house.

Site Preparation

Remove any turf grass from an area of about 3 feet in diameter from where seedling is to be planted.
Break up the soil down to a sufficient depth to reduce compaction.
Allow a few inches of water to settle soil.
Plant the tree seedling so that soil plug is flush with the ground surface.
Mulch the area with pine straw to keep down competition.

Care and Maintenance

Keep tree well watered.
Reduce any competition around the trees by either using herbicides or by mowing. Care must be taken when using nonspecific herbicides like Roundup® to not get spray the longleaf pine seedlings.
Do not fertilize trees. Heavy fertilizer can lead to excessive cankers or deformations on the tree.

When and How Much to Prune

Any season but spring.
Do not remove more then 50% of the crown per pruning.
First prune when trees are 15 to 20 feet tall prune up to 7-10 feet.
Second prune up to 17 feet when tree reaches 35-40 feet.

How to Prune

Prune branches almost flush to the tree, leaving an approximately a ¼” stub.
DO NOT cut into the tree trunk since this will cause a large scar.
Try to keep the pruning saw as vertical as possible.
Painting over pruning scar is not necessary.

Special Notes

Resist the urge to plant potted longleaf pine. These trees will be root bound and will eventually fall over.
Although longleaf pine will grow in colder climates, special care must be taken to keep heavy accumulation of snow off of branches.
In areas where wildfires are a threat, keep longleaf trees well pruned and pine needles raked.