Benjamin Franklin once said, “Those who fail to plan, plan to fail.” While that idea applies to just about every facet of life, it rings especially true in reforestation — and in seedling production in particular. The decisions made today directly impact the success of planting seasons months, and even years, down the road.
Many of our partners are familiar with receiving a call from their ArborGen Reforestation Advisor asking about projected seedling needs for the coming season, sometimes before seedlings have even been planted for the current year. We understand that, for many, these conversations can feel like a “shot in the dark.” Still, early planning is one of the most important ways we can ensure we’re prepared to deliver the right seedlings, in the right place, at the right time for our valued partners.
Producing seedlings at a nursery is far more complex than planting a garden. It requires months, and often more than a year, of careful preparation and coordination. Rather than going all the way back to pollination and cone collection, this article focuses on the nursery preparation process that forms the foundation for those early planning calls — the ones that may cause a deep sigh or an eye roll, but ultimately serve a very important purpose.
To provide the best pine genetic families for our customers, we must thoughtfully allocate specific families to specific nurseries. With seven nurseries spanning from South Carolina to Texas, planting decisions are highly regional. For example, it simply isn’t practical to plant a Texas-adapted family in South Carolina. Every decision starts with a plan, and the strongest plans are built on detailed, accurate information.
That planning process begins with a call to you, or someone you partner with, to gather as much insight as possible about anticipated needs for the upcoming year. For consultants, this may include conversations with landowners, timber sales already completed, harvested tracts, or cost-share applications submitted for the next season. For planting contractors, it might involve forecasts from TIMOs, industrial clients, or landowners you work with year after year. No matter the role, any information you can share helps us build a better production plan.
These plans must be finalized and submitted by mid-February so nursery planting plans and bed preparation can be completed on time. From there, the process continues well before current-year seedlings are even lifted and shipped.
Before planting begins, seed is pulled from cold storage and prepared through a process called stratification — often referred to simply as “strat.” The most common form involves moisture (soaking) followed by cold storage at 32° to 40°F for a set period of time. Stratification weakens the seed coat, allowing the seed to break dormancy and begin growing when spring arrives.
This process typically takes anywhere from 30 to 90 days. Because of that timeline, the latest seed can be removed from storage is mid-March to ensure it reaches the nursery and is planted by early April. Starting later than this window can result in late planting, undersized seedlings, and potential challenges with planting performance and survival the following year.
Early planning isn’t about locking customers into exact numbers — it’s about giving ArborGen the ability to align genetics, nurseries, and production timelines so we can support your success. When you share what you know, even if it’s an estimate, you help us ensure that high-quality seedlings are available when and where you need them. At the end of the day, planning ahead allows us to do what we do best: be a reliable partner in helping you establish healthy, productive forests for the future.
Paul Jeffreys, Ph.D.
Paul Jeffreys is a South Central Reforestation Advisor with ArborGen, serving landowners across Alabama and Mississippi. He holds a B.S. in Forest Management, an M.S. in Forest Genetics, and a Ph.D. focused on bottomland hardwood growth and yield. As a timberland owner himself, Paul understands the long-term decisions landowners face and is passionate about helping families achieve both financial and conservation goals for their land. He currently serves as Chair of the Alabama Forestry Foundation and is a member of the Alabama Tree Farm Committee.
