Planting Seedlings

Weyerhaeuser began in 1900 and has since become a world leader in forest management. In 1941, the company started the first certified tree farm in North America. Here are the important steps to successfully reforesting Mount St. Helens.

• Prepare the site—by exposing mineral soil needed for seedling production, survival and growth; protecting the soil from erosion; and reducing the possibility of wildfire.
• Select the best seedlings—from superior-quality trees for improved production.
• Plant by hand—between 300 and 600 seedlings per acre, one by one, between January and June; survival proved to be more than 90 percent for Douglas fir, 80 percent for noble fir and 95 percent for red alder.
• Plant quickly—targeting almost every harvested area within 12 months of harvest.
• Choose species wisely—use Douglas fir and red alder in lowlands, noble fir at elevations above 2,800 feet, and western red cedar, grand fir and hemlock in selected locations.

Replanting the forest makes good business sense, since it assures that forests will be available for human use in the future. In addition, laws in Washington and Oregon have required regeneration of harvested areas on both state and private land since the early 1970s. Most forest owners began replanting logged areas long before required by law, and today most exceed legal standards.