Pine trees are sun-loving, evergreen coniferous trees. They have needles and cone-shaped slanting leaves that can adapt to snowy winters. They have a long life and can grow quickly. Pine trees are a great addition to your garden. Before you plant one, you have to know how fast do pine trees grow and how you can aid pine tree growth.
Pine trees have commercial benefits too and can be grown on a large scale. They are a great choice for the timber industry.
Having a pine tree in your backyard adds to the festive atmosphere especially in the winter months.
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How to Grow Pine Trees
Before planting a pine tree, you need to consider its growing conditions and the care it requires. A pine tree can be planted from a seed or a pine tree sapling.
Stratify the seed if you want to grow a pine tree from a seed. After that, mix them with moist cocopeat and refrigerate them for three to seven weeks.
If the seeds germinate, replant it in its position immediately.
Conifers grow better in warm summer. Therefore, the months of August and September is the ideal time to plant pine trees.
Here are a few things to consider that may ensure faster pine tree growth.
Use Fertilizer
Invest in good quality fertilizer to replenish the loss of nutrients. In case of nitrogen deficiency, apply 10-0-0 NPK fertilizer to provide nourishment for the growing pine trees.
Choose Good Quality Seeds
Before planting the seeds, examine them. A malnourished seed won’t have good pine tree growth. Hence you should select a healthy seed and give it proper food and growing conditions to ensure maximum growth rate.
Examine the Soil
Excessive dryness in the soil can hinder pine trees growth rate as they prefer moist soil. Moreover, if the soil is diseased, the pine trees growth rate gets affected.
Trim Leaves and Branches
Prune dry leaves and dead and diseased branches of your trees. This will encourage healthy growth in your trees. Pruning new shoots will produce a bushier tree.
How Fast do Pine Trees Grow
The growth of a pine tree depends on several factors. The variety of pine trees and weather conditions play an important role in the determination of pine tree growth rates. An average pine tree can grow by 1ft to 2 ft every year. Based on pine trees growth rate, they can be classified into three categories.
- Fast Growing Pine Trees: more than 3ft every year.
- Medium Growing Pine Trees: Approximately 1-2ft in one year
- Slow Growing Pine Trees: Less than 1ft per year.
- How Long do Pine Trees Take to Reach Maturity?
An average pine tree can live up to 100 to 200 years. Some species can even live for thousands of years. A pine tree can take 25 to 30 years to grow full size.
The height and weight of a pine tree at its maturity depends on the species. The dwarf species like mugo pine have an average height of 4 feet. The tall ones like white pine can grow up to around 150 feet.
Once they reach their maximum height, they start growing in girth.
Pine trees also have an extensive root system. The taproot of a pine tree can go as deep as twice its height above the ground.
What are the Tallest species of Pine Trees
Pine trees are some of the tallest plant species in the world. Among them, Sugar Pine is the tallest known species of pine trees.
Tall pine trees are mostly found in the mountains of Oregon and California. Pine trees are not only tall, but they are also wide in girth.
Listed below are some of the taller species of pine trees.
- Longleaf Pine
- Slash Pine
- White Pine
- Ponderosa Pine
Conclusion
Pine trees are very valuable and attract timber-harvesting industries. They can supply a lot of wood and can be made into boards, sliding, and furniture. Oils extracted from pines are in great demand. Plant lovers can grow pine trees in their backward. But their house should be at least at a distance of 15ft. With proper care, one can see a reasonable pine tree’s growth within a few years.