DEVELOPMENT OF A WHITE PINE UNDERPLANTATION IN THINNED AND UNTHINNED ASPEN

Abstract

In 1936, part of a dense 12-year-old aspen sucker stand was thinned. In the following year thinned and unthinned portions of the stand were underplanted with 2-2 white pine stock.By 1950, most seedlings were still small and slow-growing. Mortality among these individuals was high in the following 10 years but mortality was fairly light among seedlings of taller height classes. Height growth of seedlings continued to be poor so long as the crowns were below the shrub layer.White pine planted beneath young aspen stands require care at least until they are about 4 feet tall, especially on moist sites. The underbrush must be controlled, otherwise excessively high mortality and poor growth of the survivors will result.