Plantations
Cultivation
To grow pine trees, seeds are collected from “seed orchards” and raised in a nursery for nine months. Alternatively, pine seedlings can be produced by taking cuttings from selected trees chosen for their shape, small branches and rapid growth. In the planting season (between June and August for Southern Australia), when the soil is moist, the young pines are moved to the plantation. They are planted in rows, spread out evenly to provide room for growth. Protection from the invasion of competing weed species is also important and so the soil is usually sprayed with herbicides.
A similar process is used in eucalypt plantations, where eucalypt seedlings, grown in nurseries, are planted about three metres apart. This close planting forces the trees to grow tall and straight with few branches, as they seek maximum light for growth.
Plantation seedlings in nursery
Photo: Forestry SA
