Which resources does a lodgepole pines need to survive?

Which resources does a lodgepole pines need to survive?

Lodgepole pine grows on a wide variety of soils, from water-logged organic soils to well-drained glacial outwashes. It grows best in moist soils derived from granite, shale, and coarse grained lavas.

What does a lodgepole pine need to add matter?

Growing Conditions Lodgepole pines will tolerate a variety of soils but prefer soil with a pH range of 6.2 to 7.5 that is moderately moist. The optimal soil base for the lodgepole pine is a medium-textured soil derived from granitic, shale or coarse-grained lava materials.

What pine trees grow in Yellowstone?

Lodgepole Pine. The lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) is by far the most common tree in Yellowstone.

How do you care for a lodgepole pine?

Immediate Care A young lodgepole pine needs to be watered well as soon as it has been planted. Water the tree thoroughly and deeply. Continue watering once a week throughout the first year. Deep and less frequent watering is better for the tree than frequent shallow watering, promoting deep root growth.

How long do lodgepole pines live?

150 to 200 years
The average lifespan of Rocky Mountain lodgepole pine is 150 to 200 years [37,170], though some Rocky Mountain lodgepole pine trees live more than 400 years [51,123,170,219,299].

Do lodgepole pine lose their needles?

Colorado evergreens shed their older, interior needles as part of an annual growth cycle. In Colorado, ponderosa and lodgepole pines, as well as some spruce and fir species, are the trees that are most commonly reported to be shedding needles in September and October.

Are lodgepole pines fast growing?

Growth Rate This tree grows at a slow to medium rate, with height increases of anywhere from less than 12″ to 24″ per year.

What is the most common animal in Yellowstone?

Elk
Elk. Elk are the most abundant large mammal found in Yellowstone.

What eats a lodgepole pine?

Black bear, squirrels and porcupines are known to eat the cambium layer of lodgepole pine. Quite a few mammal and bird species eat the seeds, most notably red crossbills. Beetle attacked trees are targeted by woodpeckers that go after larvae.

What affects lodgepole pines?

Lodgepole pine is also susceptible to mistletoe, rusts, and root rot. It provides food for many small mammals (e.g., snowshoe hare, vole, and squirrels) which feed on the inner bark.

What is the difference between ponderosa pine and lodgepole pine?

At lower elevations, Lodgepoles are often mixed in with Ponderosa Pines. When looking at the two trees side-by-side, Lodgepole Pines will have shorter, lighter needles, as well as a finer, darker bark when compared to the courser, orange-brown colored bark on a Ponderosa Pine.

Why do lodgepole pines grow in Yellowstone National Park?

Lodgepole pines prefer slightly acidic soil, and will grow quickly in mineral soils disturbed by fire or by humans, a road cut for example. Their roots spread out sideways and do not extend deeply—an advantage in Yellowstone where the topsoil is only about 6 to 12 inches deep, but a disadvantage in high winds.

Where to find lodgepole pine in the northwest?

Besides occupying all but the northern portion of Yellowstone National Park, lodgepole pine can be found on the Oregon coast, in the Sierra de Juarez Mountains of Baja, Mexico, and in Yukon Territory, Canada. In Washington, lodgepole pine is abundant on the east side of the Cascades at upper elevations.

How are lodgepole pine trees protected from fire?

The bark of lodgepoles is thin, which does not protect the trunks from scorching by fire. They die easily when a fire passes through. However, the serotinous cones give lodgepole pine a special advantage for spreading seeds for the next generation.

What kind of conditions do lodgepole pine seedlings need?

Lodgepole pine seeds have little need for stratification and germination depends largely upon temperature (20). At optimum temperatures and moisture, almost 100 percent of the seeds germinate rapidly. Both shading and competition inhibit germination and survival. Newly germinated seedlings are relatively insensitive to temperature extremes.