Reforestation remains one of the most important aspects of the forest management process. The most important part of the reforestation process is understanding the landowners objectives of the future timber stand. Other considerations are the species of tree harvested from the site, site quality, soil type, and competing vegetation.

Reforestation Prescriptions

Regeneration practices are divided into two general categories: natural regeneration methods and artificial regeneration methods. Natural methods rely on natural sources to begin the next stand. Artificial methods involve planting the desired species in the harvested area. This allows the use of genetically improved planting stock and systematic spacing of the seedlings to insure stocking levels that maximize the growth potential of the whole stand.

Reforestation prescription decisions on whether to use natural or artificial regeneration methods are most often made prior to the harvest of the existing stand of timber. Other reforestation prescriptions, such as site preparation techniques, are normally made during or after the timber harvest is complete. Site preparation techniques include some or all of the following activities:

• Chemical site preparation of the area to kill competing species before planting
• Mechanical site preparation to remove competing vegetation and logging debris before planting
• Prescribed burning of the site to remove logging debris, improve access by planting crews to the site, improve seedling survival, and control natural regeneration
• Bedding of wet-natured sites
• Fertilization
• Disking or sub-soiling sites with excessive logging damage to soil quality
• Planting genetically improved seedlings matched to the site location
• Applying herbaceous weed control after planting to release seedlings from unwanted competition

Techniques used are dependent upon such factors as the time of year the harvest of the previous stand is completed, make-up of the previous stand, weather conditions, location, species to be reforested, and timber budget constraints.

Let Cape Fear Timber Company offers assistance in growing your next forest.