Botanically known as Pinus Elliott, slash pine is an evergreen plant. These are used mainly for decoration purposes. Most gardeners wish to have such plants that can be recognized from far away, so if you also want such plants you need to know how to plant slash pines from seeds.
These pines fulfill the very purpose of adding ornamental value to the garden, as they are very large in height and make a point from far. It attracts attention when grown. And it is easy to take care of this plant.
Slash Pine Plants
The slash pines plants are native to the southeastern United States. It produces very strong and sturdy wood. This quality makes the slash pines ideal for the areas where they are planted for industrial purposes or the areas where reforestation is done.
It is interesting to note that while finding the slash pines you might come across many names. It is known by many alternative names like swamp pine, yellow slash pine, pitch pine, southern pine, and Cuban pines. You can select any of these for your garden because you are actually selecting the slash pine.
Why Plant Slash Pine Plants?
First of all, this plant is evergreen and easy to care for. You will just have to follow some basic instructions to make the plantation successful. Once established it will be able to survive smoothly. It will become a symbol of beauty in your garden and will make you happy.
Characteristics of Slash Pines Plants
There are a lot, almost all positive aspects due to which this slash pine is being planted. Most of the time for decoration, reforestation, and timber. Besides, this plant can be planted in the USDA hardiness zones from 7 to 11. This makes it more suitable for many areas of the United States.
This plant grows 15 to 23 inches a year. Its growth is relatively fast and smooth. When mature this tree can get to the height of 75 to 100 feet. This quality makes it identical to other ornamental plants. It is attractive in shape as its shape is like pyramids or somehow oval-like.
Its branches are like shiny highly green needles arranged in bunches like brooms. These branches can reach a length of 10 to 11 inches. The seeds of slash pines are hidden in the cones which are brown in color. These cones provide a quite of sustenance to much wildlife like wild turkeys, squirrels, etc.
So, it fulfills the basic purpose of decoration and also attracts the beautiful wildlife to the garden. You will be delighted to add this plant to your garden. It is true value to money spent and effort made.
Also, Read
How to Grow Queen Palms from Seeds
How to Grow Banana Passion Fruit from Seed
Best Way Of How to Plant Slash Pines from Seeds
Most of the time the seedlings of the slash pines plants are available at the nurseries and grocery stores. These seedlings are good to grow but sometimes the roots of these seedlings get hurt, which makes the further progress of the plant difficult. So here we will learn how to plant slash pine from seeds.
This process will make sure almost 100 percent success in the plantation of slash pines.
Getting the Seeds of Slash Pines
You can get the cones from where you can extract the seeds of the slash pines. Or you can opt for getting the seeds straight. Make sure the seeds are clean. There are no weed seeds inside. And the seeds are healthy to sow such that it is not hurt or have any disease like fungus etc.
Stratification of Slash Pines Seeds
As you have to plant the seedlings in the early spring, you need to get into preparation a month and a half before. First, you will need to stratify the seeds for 24 hours in the water. Then seeds will require cold stratification for 30 days. You need to keep the seeds in a water bowl in the refrigerator.
This cold stratification will ensure the good germination and survival rate of seeds.
Getting the Soil& Container Ready for Sowing Seed
You need to get the gardening soil. Check the soil for weed seeds. Add the organic composted matter to the soil. it will make the soil soft and nutritious atmosphere for the seeds. Add the water to the soil so that enough moisture is there before sowing the seeds
Get a wide container and fill the container with soil. Make sure the container is well-drained. Because the container is constantly kept wet, it will reduce the rate of germination. Keep it moist without having gaps in watering. The well-drained container will fulfill the condition.
Sowing and Care of Slash Pine Seeds
Now you can sow the seeds in the soil which is being prepared. Sow the seeds ¼ inches deep in the soil and add a light layer of soil to it. You can also add mulch to the seeds bed so that the condition of moisture is met successfully. Water the seeds, but with care. No overwatering.
You can take a gap and allow the soil to get dry before watering again. Once seeds start germinating take good care of them. Get the weak seedlings out so that the good ones can prosper effectively.
Transplanting the Slash Pines Seedlings
Now as the seedlings have grown to the extent you can now transplant them to the location where you have to plant the trees. Timing is important. So, take care of it.
Selection and Preparation of Space for Plantation
You can select the space anywhere in the garden. This plant can tolerate many types of soils. Along with that, this plant can tolerate the wet seasons as well as the certain time period of drought. You can plant it in open space, as it has to grow longer in height. It does well in the partial shiny areas also.
As this plant can withstand many types of soil, like acidic loamy or clay-based soil. you just need to select the space and till it well so that all the weeds and debris are gone. Now dig the holes for the seedlings. The holes should be about a size that covers the root ball of the seedlings.
Transplanting the Seedlings
Now as the holes are ready you can now transplant the seedlings to the place of the plantation. Make a mound of soil beneath the roots of the seedlings. Keep the roots intact so that no root is broken. Place the seedling on the mound and add soil to it. Now add water to the plant so that the soil settles itself.
You can add more soil after the water has soaked. Gently press the soil around the plant. Make sure the soil is well minced. You need to keep the space of at least 6 feet among the slash pine trees being planted. It is because the roots system of slash pines can spread around 6 feet.
Taking care of Slash Pines Plants
Care of slash pines plant is easy. As these plants are good with many types of soils. These plants can also tolerate wet and dry conditions and can grow in shiny and shady areas.
Watering the Slash Pines Plants
At the start, you have to make the watering schedule. Because it needs to be established. Make sure there is no overwatering so that it does not result in the killing of plants. Once established you can change the frequency of watering. Don’t make the plant live with long durations of drought.
Sunshine Requirement for Slash Pines
These plants can survive effectively and smoothly if they got 3 to 4 hours of sunlight in a day. At the start, it may be difficult. But when established it will make its own way for the sunlight. So, planting in the shiny shady space is also a good option. If there is space where the sun is available for the required hours, then it is the best.
Fertilizers Requirement for Slash Pines
Fertilizing the newly planted plants will have a good impact on the growth of plants. Actually, once established it can grow faster. The general-purpose fertilizers will not burn the roots. You can add NPK fertilizers at the ratio of 10-10-10 when the plant is a couple of years old.
Harvesting the Slash Pines Cones
You can harvest the ripened cones in many ways. First, it gets brown when it is ripened. Also, the squirrels eat the ripened ones, you can collect those. One standard procedure is to check the seeds inside the cones. If the seeds are full, plump, and white but not milky, cones are ready to be harvested.
Afterward, you can store and process cones for getting seeds. This will give you chance to get the precious seeds of slash pines in-house easily.
In a nutshell, this plant will not only provide you the ornamental value along with attracting wildlife, but also you will be able to spread it by distributing the seeds. It will be a true addition to all gardens in the town.
You May Also Like
How to Plant Hummingbird Vine Seeds
HOW TO PLANT SILVER DOLLAR EUCALYPTUS
References
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/pine/planting-slash-pine-trees.htm
https://homeguides.sfgate.com/plant-slash-pine-tree-seedling-45444.html
