The 70-year-old loblolly pine stands that dominated the landscape at the LSU AgCenter’s Hammond Research Station took a beating from Hurricane Katrina. We lost half of the large pines in the shade garden and are still loosing them. So we have embarked on a tree-planting program starting last fall and so far have planted close to 1,000 trees that represent more than 40 species of native large and small trees and shrubs. Half of the 1,000 trees are longleaf pine seedlings that were planted on 5 acres in the back corner of the station. We also have planted an assortment of large deciduous trees around the station to reforest the landscape.
The shade garden area has been planted with loblolly pine and hardwoods to replace the canopy or overstory, and we have planted a number of understory trees and shrubs that grow well in the shade of larger trees. We also have an urban forestry plot where 115 trees of 42 species are planted for future research, demonstration and education purposes. Other plantings include a hurricane buffer planting across the back or west side of the property.
This planting was funded by a hurricane recovery grant from the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry. With all these plantings of native trees and shrubs, we hope to demonstrate the wise use of natives and in the future provide demonstrations of the superior performance of native trees for South Louisiana landscapes -- especially where hurricanes occur.