The Shields Painting Difference: Perfection with Every Brush Stroke
Many painting companies in Florida rely on flashy marketing and big promises to try and attract new clients. But when it comes time to work, they fall short of their promises. This is often due to a lack of experience, qualified painters, and a drive to overachieve. At Shields Painting, we do things a little differently than other painting companies in Citrus County. We believe that a professional paint job should be as close to perfect as possible. Our goal is to leave you 100% satisfied, whether we're touching up an old residential paint job or performing a complex commercial project. It might sound simple, but we achieve that goal through honesty, hard work, beautiful results, and reasonable pricing.
As a family-owned and operated painting company in Timber Pines, FL, we strive to provide personalized, professional, and friendly service. Shields Painting has been in business since 1968 for a good reason. Whenever possible, we go the extra mile to make sure our customers are happy. Unlike some of our competition, we want to know all about your house or business painting project: your vision, your preferences, your challenges, and your goals. When we understand your needs, we can present you with a fantastic final product - one that you're proud to show off to friends and neighbors.
At Shields Painting, we combine our extensive experience with time-tested, meticulous painting processes, resulting in the highest quality painting results around. As a painting contractor in Citrus County, we can take on a variety of residential, commercial, and industrial projects in Florida.
A few of our most popular painting services include:
- Interior Painting
- Exterior Painting
- Residential Painting
- Commercial Painting
- Cabinet Painting
- Ceiling Painting
- Fence Painting
- Sign Painting
- MUCH More!
Our commercial, industrial, and residential painting contractors take the proper steps to protect your property and belongings while we work. Our team will clean up after ourselves, so your property is left clean and free of debris when we're done. After all, we think there's only one way to do a job, and that's the right way.
Painting Services

Eco-friendly & clean work area.

PDCA Certified Member.

Your Go-To House Painting Company in Timber Pines, FL
Your home is a haven of relaxation and solitude. It is uniquely you - a place where you can express who you are through style and design. Whether you need interior touch-ups for your crown molding or a new exterior coat of paint, hiring a reliable painting contractor is the best way to get quality results.
At Shields Painting, we know how important it is to have a home that highlights your tastes and personality. That's why we offer an extensive array of residential painting services in Citrus County. As tempting as it might be to try a DIY paint job, without the proper skills and experience, there is a good chance that the results will turn out less than satisfactory.
High-quality painting requires skill, experience, and patience. If you're a homeowner who needs residential painting services but doesn't have the time, patience, or skills to handle the job, look no further than Shields Painting. We offer accuracy, precision, and longevity with each paint job we perform. Our customers choose Shields Painting for their home because they receive:
- Free Quotes with Detailed Project Breakdowns
- Affordable Pricing
- Expert Painting Contractors
- High-Quality Paint Products
- Combo of Traditional and Modern Techniques
- Well-Maintained Tools
- Unmatched Craftsmanship
- Friendly, Personalized Service
- Good Old-Fashioned Hard Work!
The majority of our house painting services come in two forms: interior and exterior.
Interior Residential Painting
As an interior painting contractor with decades of experience, our expert technicians have developed an interior painting process that maximizes quality and emphasizes customer satisfaction. We understand that interior painting goes beyond aesthetics. It protects your ceilings and walls and helps you sustain a healthier place to live for your family. When only the finest craftsmanship will do inside your home, Shields Painting is here for you.
Our seasoned team of painting experts and craftsmen is dedicated to respecting your space and providing you with the look and feel you're craving inside your home. Whether you bought a new house and want to make it your own or need minor touch-ups but have no time, Shields Painting is ready to tackle the job, no matter how small or large.
Unlike some painting companies, our interior house painters take the time to get the details right, every time. For instance, color is only one aspect of your interior paint job. The paint sheen or finish is just as important. Certain finishes are better for living rooms and bedrooms than in kitchens and bathrooms. We'll help you find the right finish and paint colors for your home, so you don't have to worry about touch-ups or repainting.
Some of our most popular interior house painting services include:
- Ceiling Painting
- Popcorn Ceiling Removal
- Living Room Painting
- Bathroom Painting
- Basement Painting
- Color Consultations
- More

Cabinet Painting
Citrus County cabinet painting deserves its own section on this page because it requires more time, skill, and quality paint than most sections of your home. If your home's cabinets are built into its woodwork, replacing them can be obnoxiously expensive. Compared to the cost of installing new cabinets, painting your kitchen cabinets is much more affordable.
At Shields Painting, we specialize in transforming old cabinets into new, gorgeous features that are just as usable as they are beautiful. Each step of our cabinet painting process is meticulous and thorough. And we'll take care of the entire job, from cleaning, prep, and sanding to priming, painting, and reassembly. This unique service lets you enjoy a brand-new look in your kitchen without having to go into debt by replacing your cabinets.
Whether your cabinets are new, but you want to change their color or you'd like to transition wood cabinets to a painted finish, Shields Painting has the expertise and experience to give you a new look you'll love.

Exterior Residential Painting
Your home - it's a place that not only keeps your belongings safe. It protects your family and loved ones, too. It's one of your largest investments, and like anything else of value, it should be protected. However, Florida weather can take a toll on your home's structure and paint, lowering your home's value and even putting your family at risk.
While it's true that a beautiful exterior affects your house's value, it shouldn't take thousands of remodeling dollars to make a positive change to your home. There's a fine line between reasonable pricing and top-quality painting, and that sweet spot is what Shields Painting aims for. If you want to transform how your friends and neighbors see your home, never underestimate the power of a professional paint job.
Our exterior residential painting services are designed to boost curb appeal, give your home a fresh look, and help it stand up to Florida's unique weather. But we provide more than that. When you hire Shields Painting for your outdoor painting project, you will enjoy peace of mind in knowing that your home is in truly capable hands. Our goal is to exceed your expectations and help bring out the best in your property, whether you need to re-stain your deck or remove old, peeling paint from your siding.
If you're on the hunt for the very best exterior painting contractor in Timber Pines, FL, look no further than Shields Painting.
Some of our most popular exterior house painting services include:
- Vinyl Siding Painting
- Deck Painting and Staining
- Stucco Exterior Painting
- Wood Exterior Painting
- Porch Painting and Staining
- Soffit Painting
- Fascia Painting
- Window Painting
- Front Door Painting
- Thorough Painting Prep
- More

The Premier Commercial Painting Company in Timber Pines, FL
When it comes to first impressions, your businesses' appearance plays an important role. Your commercial property's paint job factors into its overall aesthetics. A great-looking, well-maintained paint job can mean the difference between a customer walking in your storefront and passing by. Conversely, an old, worn-out commercial paint job can send the wrong message to prospective customers. If you can't take the time to keep up your property's appearance, why would a customer spend their hard-earned money on your products?
The same goes for your businesses' interior paint. Would you want to do business with a company that has peeling paint or unsightly crown molding? At Shield's Painting, our goal is to create a beautiful environment that your customers and employees will love inside and out. When you work with our business painters, you can rest easy knowing we treat your business like it were our own. We always clean up after ourselves and know that operations cannot come to a halt just because we're painting. As such, we'll work with your busy schedule to ensure the job gets done right the first time without disrupting your day-to-day commitments.
With decades of commercial painting experience, we know the demands of a commercial painting project necessitate a disciplined and focused approach from the start. Our team of business painters is committed to delivering quality, on-time results on every project, every time - no excuses

We offer professional business painting services to a variety of building types, including:

01
Industrial Painting
A high level of care and finesse are required to effectively paint an industrial property. At Shields Painting, we know that industrial paint jobs involve much more than aesthetics. That's why our industrial services are customized to your specifications, using industrial-grade materials that stand up to heavy-duty operations.
02
Retail Store Painting
Our commercial painters apply effective, yet appealing interior and exterior paint that stand up to the daily rigors of busy retail environments.


03
Small Business Painting
Do you own a restaurant franchise? Have a small "mom and pop" location that needs a fresh coat of paint? Shields Painting has the resources and reliability to efficiently get the job done the first time. That way, you can focus on serving your customers, not having your business repainted.
04
Healthcare Location Painting
From walk-in clinics to long-term care facilities, Shields Painting is sensitive to your patients' needs. We know you must protect your patient's privacy while maintaining productivity. Our approach to healthcare location painting centers around your schedule to avoid disruptions in care.


05
Apartment Complex Painting
Erase signs of wear and make your apartment complex or multi-family building a more desirable place to live with a stunning, professional paint job.
Florida's Most Trusted Painting Contractor
Shields Painting has been in the business since 1968. In a world where so much has changed, we are proud to uphold the ideals that make us successful: hard, honest work, getting the job done right, and excellent customer service. Providing you with trustworthy, quality work will always take priority over rushing through a project to serve the next customer. That is just not the way we choose to do business.
As professionals dedicated to perfection, we strive to provide a unique painting experience for every customer - one that focuses on their needs and desires instead of our own. Whether you need residential painting for your home or commercial painting for your business, we encourage you to reach out today to speak with our customer service team. Whether you have big ideas about a new paint project or need our expertise and guidance, we look forward to hearing from you soon.

Free Consultation
Latest News in Timber Pines, FL
New ice cream parlor offers a place to keep cool this summer
Beth N. Grayhttps://www.tampabay.com/news/business/new-ice-cream-parlor-offers-a-place-to-keep-cool-this-summer/2122833/
SPRING HILLJust in the nick of time, with summer around the corner, Don and Ellyn Pulver have swung open the doors on the Sweet Spot, a multi-flavored ice cream parlor where customers can chill out.Retirees in the adjacent Timber Pines community and elsewhere likely remember the famous boast of the Howard Johnson's restaurant chain: "Twenty-eight flavors."At Sweet Spot, try 34 flavors — or perhaps put in a request from a total 150 varieties created by the parlor's supplier, "right here in Florida,&qu...
SPRING HILL
Just in the nick of time, with summer around the corner, Don and Ellyn Pulver have swung open the doors on the Sweet Spot, a multi-flavored ice cream parlor where customers can chill out.
Retirees in the adjacent Timber Pines community and elsewhere likely remember the famous boast of the Howard Johnson's restaurant chain: "Twenty-eight flavors."
At Sweet Spot, try 34 flavors — or perhaps put in a request from a total 150 varieties created by the parlor's supplier, "right here in Florida," Don Pulver noted.
"Spumoni," he mused, as he dug out a well-rounded scoop. "I've heard nobody around here has it." A regular cone: "two scoops and a little more."
Pulver, 63, retired from a career in retail administration, but not from a lifelong interest in food.
"Ice cream sounded like a fun business," he said, "so here we are."
His gesture took in the spiffy-clean surroundings, with ice cream-color decor, heroic circles of pastels replicating the commercial ice cream containers. Little tables and bentwood-style chairs of a bygone era provide a place for customers to sit.
"When you walk in, it's like an ice cream parlor," said Lauren Jolly of the Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce. "It's so cheery and so colorful."
Pulver and his wife researched suppliers online, toured the manufacturing plant of the Ice Cream Club in Boynton Beach and tasted samples.
"We said this is the one. They've won lots of awards, most recently for their chocolate," he said, pointing out a deeply dark concoction.
While chocolate may seem pedestrian, Pulver said it ranks among the top three choices of customers at the shop, joined by butter pecan and caramel caribou.
The adventuresome might order up a cone, sundae or milk shake from a tub of "garbage can." Its label explains that the vanilla ice cream base is chocked with bits of seven kinds of candy bars, plus handfuls of peanuts.
Cherry oblivion, key lime pie and blue moon flavors rank among the 24 on display. Ten more in a back-room freezer — carrot cake among them — appear on a rotation basis.
With a decorator's skill, Ellyn Pulver designs and builds the shop's ice cream cakes. She makes mini-cheesecake pops, finishing the treats-on-a-stick with a chocolate coating.
The Pulvers recently expanded their sandwich menu, originally limited to homemade sloppy joes and hot dogs with six topping choices. New are egg salad and chicken salad fillings, along with meatball, sausage and eggplant subs, the mainstays all ladled with Ellyn's homemade tomato sauce and blanketed in Parmesan cheese.
The next treat she has in mind: individual cheesecakes.
Don Pulver is trying to perfect a pizza dough and sauce.
"But until I get it right," he said, "I'm not going to bring it out."
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Beth Gray can be contacted at graybethn@earthlink.net.
New GM at Sea Oaks brings love of arts to the community
Casey Stavenhagenhttps://veronews.com/2023/03/23/new-gm-at-sea-oaks-brings-love-of-arts-to-the-community/
As one highly regarded general manager retires from Sea Oaks Beach & Tennis Club after 37 years of service, the barrier island membership community welcomes a distinguished and innovative replacement in Kevin Sibbring.The incoming general manager and COO brings a stellar 17-year track record to Sea Oaks from Lakeside, Ohio, and the 1,400-acre Timber Pines club community north of Tampa to fill the shoes of longtime leader Pamela Dawson.Originally from Columbus, Ohio, and now in his second career, Sibbring, 62, got his start ...
As one highly regarded general manager retires from Sea Oaks Beach & Tennis Club after 37 years of service, the barrier island membership community welcomes a distinguished and innovative replacement in Kevin Sibbring.
The incoming general manager and COO brings a stellar 17-year track record to Sea Oaks from Lakeside, Ohio, and the 1,400-acre Timber Pines club community north of Tampa to fill the shoes of longtime leader Pamela Dawson.
Originally from Columbus, Ohio, and now in his second career, Sibbring, 62, got his start in community management in 2006 after serving as president of The Lakeside Association in Ohio, a historic, year-round Chautauqua community. That’s where Sibbring honed his skills in programming and hospitality, or what Sibbring refers to as servant leadership to his community.
“We produced a 12-week program focused on arts and education and recreation.
Chautauquas were kind of a mind, body, spirit thing before the term ‘wellness’ was ever created,” Sibbring said. “It was 85 nights of evening entertainment. I’m passionate about the arts and that’s what really excites me about moving to Vero Beach.”
Sibbring’s transition into community leadership came after an early career in the tech industry. Sibbring had worked his way up to vice president of global marketing for the business communications software firm Sterling Commerce before the company was sold to SBC.
In 2005, Sibbring met Dr. Robert A. Brymer, a Lakeside resident who taught in Florida State University’s hospitality school. Brymer mentored Sibbring personally and handed down his knowledge of the hotel industry.
“I knew that Lakeside, at the time, was in need of new leadership that had a new vision for the community,” Brymer said. “I felt that Kevin would be the right person to do that and I that I might lend some assistance in establishing a real emphasis on service and service quality for the residents and guests. I can’t take credit for instilling that in Kevin; that’s who he is. It defines him as part of his character.”
Sibbring’s “civic-mindedness,” as Brymer referred to it, has been foundational in what he provides to communities. One such example was Sibbring’s service to the Lake Erie Foundation, a body of water that is a veritable “poster child” for algal blooms – a malady that also plagues the Indian River Lagoon.
“Lake Erie looked like you just poured green antifreeze into the lake,” Sibbring said. “I did a lot of state and national lobbying on behalf of the Great Lakes, so I bring that sensibility to Vero Beach.”
Alongside the arts, education and community programming as displayed at the chautauqua, his passion for the natural world, such as hobby birding, nature photography and gardening has also served residents.
“Along with Bird Watcher’s Digest, we produced the Midwest Birding Symposium and brought in about 2,500 people from all over the world,” Sibbring said.
Brymer said Sibbring also took the arts programming at Lakeside and “put it on steroids.”
“Kevin is the kind of person that will get involved with volunteering and get involved with the local arts of Sea Oaks, but also the local community around there,” Brymer said.
Sibbring’s predecessor at Sea Oaks, Dawson, worked her way up through community’s organization, taking over as general manager in 2009. As property manager, she had guided the community through the hurricanes of 2004, and has overseen major renovations and modernizations to the community.
Sibbring said he has immense respect for what Dawson built in the Sea Oaks community.
“She’s been there 37 years … so she leaves quite a legacy,” Sibbring said.
Sibbring said Sea Oaks – which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year – is characterized by its good people with philanthropic spirits. Those elements, on top of the breathtaking scenery, were prime attractors to the area for Sibbring.
“I guess I’m kind of ready to settle down. Moving to Vero Beach is going to be my last move,” Sibbring said. “I’d like to serve Sea Oaks here for the next decade. I’d love to retire in Vero Beach, it feels very much like home to me.”
39 Majestic Trees Native to Florida
Heather Hallhttps://a-z-animals.com/blog/13-majestic-trees-native-to-florida/
When it comes to choosing trees for your landscape, native Florida species are a great option. They look beautiful and are well-adapted to the climate and soil of the state. Smaller trees like redbuds or red maples will make any yard pop in the spring with their bright pink or red flowers, while larger options like bald cypresses or live oaks will provide shade and help create a statement piece in your landscape. It’s important to research each tree you’re considering so you know its exact needs when it comes to light, water, and...
When it comes to choosing trees for your landscape, native Florida species are a great option. They look beautiful and are well-adapted to the climate and soil of the state. Smaller trees like redbuds or red maples will make any yard pop in the spring with their bright pink or red flowers, while larger options like bald cypresses or live oaks will provide shade and help create a statement piece in your landscape. It’s important to research each tree you’re considering so you know its exact needs when it comes to light, water, and soil requirements; this is true even if you choose a native species. Some of our favorite native Florida trees include cypress, elm, and pines – all of which feature unique foliage that can add texture and interest to any garden!
Native Cypress Trees
Two types of cypress trees are native to Florida. These trees are important for the state’s economy and ecology. Cypress trees often grow in large, circular patches called cypress domes. In the middle of these cypress patches is usually a pond. There are also areas of marshland known as cypress savannas, which are mostly made up of pond cypress trees that grow in poor soil.
Native Oak Trees
There are many species of oak trees native to Florida, many of which are common and attractive. These trees provide valuable habitat and food for wildlife, and some offer showy autumn foliage. Oaks are typically strong and durable, and when pruned properly, many of them are fairly hurricane-resistant. Here are 11 of our favorite Florida oak trees.
Native Fruit Trees
There are many types of fruit trees native to Florida. There are also berries, vines, palms, and nuts that are edible and grow throughout the state. Many native plant species in Florida could potentially be domesticated and cultivated as new types of fruits and vegetables. These plants are resilient against pests and pathogens and can withstand extreme weather conditions, making these fruit trees ideal for Florida gardeners. Here are a few of our favorite fruit trees in Florida.
Native Pine Trees
Florida is home to seven species of native pines, which are part of the larger pine family of cone-bearing plants (conifers). These trees and shrubs are known for their diversity and hardiness, and they are evergreen, meaning they keep their leaves all year round. Although most pines are better adapted to cooler climates, the species that grow in Florida are able to thrive in warm weather.
The slash pine is one of the most iconic trees in Florida, growing in every climate zone from 7A to 11. This tree grows in the cooler half of Florida and up into the Smokey Mountains. Slash pines are extremely fast-growing and self-pruning, with a mature height that ranges between 75 – 100 feet tall.
The sand pine is a species of tree found in sandy areas throughout Florida. It can be identified by its zone range (7A through 10B) and size (15-40 feet tall). Sand pines have short needles 2-3 inches long and often have twisted trunks and branches.
Longleaf pines are native to Florida, and they prefer warm climates. They grow in USDA Hardiness Zones 7A through 10A, which encompass most of Florida. Longleaf pines are well-named. they have the longest needles of all pine species found in Florida. Some can reach a whopping 14 inches long.
Loblolly pine is a common choice for pine plantations in Florida. This tree often reaches between 50 and 80 feet tall but can grow up to 100 feet with a spreading crown. This pine does best in loamy soil and is almost never found in wet ground or sandy areas. Because loblolly quickly takes over unused fields, it is also called “old field pine.”
The pond pine is a type of tree found in North and Central Florida. These trees tend to grow in poorly drained areas, such as flatwoods or near ponds. Pond pines are often confused with loblolly pines because they have similar-looking needles. Both types of trees have needles that are 5-6 inches long and come in bundles of three (or sometimes two or four). However, pond pine cones are smaller, only 2-3 inches, and more egg-shaped.
Spruce pines are a species of evergreen trees native to the southeastern United States. Named for their silver-gray bark, reminding naturalists of spruce trees, they are one of Florida’s least common pines. Their location is in zones 8A through 9B. They can be found growing among loblollies and hardwood trees because they are the most shade-tolerant out of all the other types of pines in Florida.
Shortleaf pines are a species of coniferous tree native to only North Florida, west of the Suwannee River. While they occupy the same range and habitat as spruce pine, looking at the bark of mature trees is the best to tell them apart. Shortleaf pines have reddish-brown bark, while spruce pine has silvery gray bark. Additionally, shortleaf pines are identifiable by their cones. The cones are considerably smaller than those of other Florida pine species; with an average length ranging from 1.5 to 2.5 inches in length. They make for some of the smallest found in all varieties of Florida’s native pines.
Native Palm Trees
Are palm trees native to Florida? Although there are 12 palm trees native to Florida, only two of them are endemic. Florida is the only place you will find them. You can find the other ten palm trees native to Florida in other locations outside of Florida. Here are the 12 palm trees native to Florida:
Florida Elm
The Florida elm is a great choice for a long-living shade tree. It is fast-growing and can reach up to 80 feet tall. The leaves are dark green and fade to yellow in the fall. It also produces small green flowers in the spring. The Florida elm is moderately tolerant of drought and salt spray and is also used for making furniture and canoes.
Florida elm is an important part of the ecology in Florida. It provides food and shelter for wildlife, as well as shade from the hot summer sun. The seeds provide a valuable source of nutrition to many species of birds, including cardinals and mockingbirds. Rabbits, deer, and other small mammals eat its bark. In addition to providing food, the tree’s dense canopy creates a safe haven for animals such as squirrels or opossums seeking refuge from predators or inclement weather.
Florida Maple
The Florida maple is a beautiful tree that can reach up to 60 feet in height. It is known for its stunning fall colors, which can range from muted yellows to oranges. Older trees also have very attractive gray bark. This maple tree is ideal for use as an ornamental or shade tree in Florida due to its higher heat tolerance.
The Florida maple is an important tree for wildlife, providing an early spring source of nectar for bees and a home for birds and squirrels. Pollinators visit its flowers, and songbirds, bluejays, and mockingbirds eat its seeds.
Summary of 39 Trees Native to Florida
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About the Author
I am a freelance writer with 22 years of experience. I live in the Pacific Northwest and am surrounded by nature. When I go for my daily runs I often see herds of elk, deer, and bald eagles. I am owned by two dogs who take me on hikes in the mountains where we see coyotes, black bears, and wild turkeys.
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
How are cypress trees grown in Florida?
Cypress trees are important for the state’s economy and ecology. Cypress trees often grow in large, circular patches called cypress domes. In the middle of these cypress patches is usually a pond. There are also areas of marshland known as cypress savannas, which are mostly made up of pond cypress trees that grow in poor soil.
What is a conifer?
A cone-bearing plant.
Florida is home to seven species of native pines, which are part of the larger pine family of cone-bearing plants (conifers).
Why is the Florida elm an important part of its ecology?
Florida elm is an important part of the ecology in Florida. It provides food and shelter for wildlife, as well as shade from the hot summer sun. The seeds provide a valuable source of nutrition to many species of birds, including cardinals and mockingbirds. Rabbits, deer, and other small mammals eat its bark. In addition to providing food, the tree’s dense canopy creates a safe haven for animals such as squirrels or opossums seeking refuge from predators or inclement weather.
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Sources
What pine to plant? A case for Longleaf
ECB Publishing, Inc.https://ecbpublishing.com/what-pine-to-plant-a-case-for-longleaf/
Arlo Kane/Contributor Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation CommissionYou have just harvested your timber stand, and now have at least 20 acres cleared. What do you do next? If you are going to replant pines in your cutover, you have two basic options here in Florida. You can plant longleaf pine or you can plant slash or loblolly pines. I combine loblolly and slash because the decision-making process is similar for those species, yet different for longleaf. If you have drier sandy soils, then longleaf is your best ...
Arlo Kane/Contributor Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
You have just harvested your timber stand, and now have at least 20 acres cleared. What do you do next? If you are going to replant pines in your cutover, you have two basic options here in Florida. You can plant longleaf pine or you can plant slash or loblolly pines. I combine loblolly and slash because the decision-making process is similar for those species, yet different for longleaf. If you have drier sandy soils, then longleaf is your best choice. It grows better than any other pine in sandy soils with the exception of sand pine. Sand pine though is not a great choice for commercial stands because it’s only used for pulpwood, the lowest value product. If you have wet soils, then you would look to slash or loblolly pines and a forester can help you decide which is best for your land. If you have good loamy soil that is not frequently flooded or ponded, then you could reasonably plant any of the three main commercial species. So how do you decide when soil is not an issue? Well, longleaf is usually planted using containerized plugs that cost around $200 thousand. Slash and loblolly are usually planted using bare-root seedlings that cost around $60/thousand. But factor in your chances of receiving cost-share money to help establish a stand and the cost of longleaf comes way down. Longleaf pine is the focus of most state and federal cost-share programs and you are much more likely to get a contract to plant longleaf than you are to plant slash or loblolly. Although longleaf can cost more on the front end to establish, it recoups the cost all along the way. A longleaf forest can be leased to hunters for more money because it makes better wildlife habitat. Longleaf has a more open structure to its branches that allow more sunlight on the ground and that allows more herbaceous ground cover, which means more food and more nesting cover. It can be burned as early as one year after planting, which reduces competition from brush. So whether you are leasing your land for deer, turkey or quail, a longleaf pine forest can command a higher fee. Longleaf pine straw is also the most preferred pine straw used for landscaping and commands a higher price. Landowners can be paid twice as much for longleaf pine straw compared to slash and three times more than loblolly pine straw, which is the lowest grade. When harvest time comes you are likely to have many more poles and saw timber with longleaf than slash or loblolly. I am partial to longleaf because you have so many more options than with the other species. Landowners often focus on the upfront cost and how fast slash and loblolly grow in the first 10 years. But you never know what the market will look like 10 or 20 years down the road and longleaf will catch up to slash and loblolly by age 20. Longleaf is more disease resistant, aesthetically pleasing, wildlife-friendly, hurricane resistant and therefore is a better tree for reducing financial risk. So if you can produce more valuable products, and have the flexibility to let the timber ride out bad markets, then longleaf is a better choice. There are several organizations can help you establish, restore and manage longleaf pine. A variety of programs are also available to help improve wildlife habitat on your forest: • The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has several programs that supply financial and technical assistance to plant longleaf pine in Florida. The Longleaf Pine Initiative is available to forest owners in select counties and Working Lands for Wildlife is for enhancing habitat for the gopher tortoise. Landowners apply through NRCS’s Environmental Quality Incentive Program. A district conservationist at your local USDA service center will help guide you through the application process. • Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has a Landowner Assistance Program biologists provide technical assistance to manage and restore longleaf pine and manage wildlife habitat. They can also provide information about cost-share opportunities. • Florida Forest Service can give county foresters technical assistance in managing their stands. • The Longleaf Alliance website offers a comprehensive source of information, history, education, workshops and management information for restoring the longleaf pine ecosystem. • America’s Longleaf website also provides a comprehensive resource, including workshops and reports for timber farmers.
Slash pines have commercial uses
Chronicle Onlinehttps://www.chronicleonline.com/news/real_estate/slash-pines-have-commercial-uses/article_f4013c82-ab02-11e7-b943-6f72c05388dd.html
Slash Pine, Pinus eliottii, and the naturally-occurring variety called South Florida Slash Pine, P. eliottii var densa, are fast-growing, native, evergreen Florida pines of great commercial importance. Original Slash Pine grows in cold hardiness zones 8 to 10 in inland and coastal flatwoods from South Carolina south to southern Peninsular Florida and west to Louisiana along the coastal plain. South Florida Slash Pine is best suited to warmer South Florida zones 10 and 11. Both like well-drained but moist, sandy soil that is slightly acidic w...
Slash Pine, Pinus eliottii, and the naturally-occurring variety called South Florida Slash Pine, P. eliottii var densa, are fast-growing, native, evergreen Florida pines of great commercial importance. Original Slash Pine grows in cold hardiness zones 8 to 10 in inland and coastal flatwoods from South Carolina south to southern Peninsular Florida and west to Louisiana along the coastal plain. South Florida Slash Pine is best suited to warmer South Florida zones 10 and 11. Both like well-drained but moist, sandy soil that is slightly acidic with a pH from 5 to 7. Sand Pines offer food, cover and nesting sites for birds and small animals.
Fast-growing Slash Pine has a 18- to 30-foot-tall single trunk at about 20 years old and a canopy spread of more than 20 feet in diameter. If given room to grow as a lawn specimen or in a small grove, it will grow sturdy, spreading branches quite low and also high on the trunk and have an oval-shaped crown. This species is commercially planted 5 to 10 feet between trees in straight rows about 10 feet apart as a harvestable forest product tree. Because the trees are crowded closely together they grow straight and tall reaching for sunlight and naturally shed their small-diameter lower branches quickly as they grow skyward. This forced growth pattern yields straight timber with fewer and smaller knots than uncrowded specimen trees. The trees can be harvested in just 20 years for pulp and paper. Sometimes every other tree is removed to allow the other half to grow wider in diameter for later harvest as timber and milled lumber products.
Improved varieties of Slash Pines are more resistant to known pests like fusiform rust and insects like pine tip moths and colaspis beetles. Pines stressed by construction root disturbance, bark damage or drought are more susceptible to these pests. Male pines have pollen in the spring and spray it into the air for wind-borne pollination onto female flowers, which will then produce cones with viable seeds. Pine and oak tree pollen are significant allergens in spring.
Shiny brown Slash Pine cones are 3 to 6 inches long, much smaller than Longleaf, P. palustris, cones. Slash cones have thin scales with fine prickles. Wood of both these pines is strong, straight and relatively hard for pines. Thick bark plates flaking on Slash Pine trunks are smaller than on the Longleaf. Slash trunks can grow 24 inches in diameter. The Slash’s moderate taproot is much shallower than the Longleaf’s. Slash Pine needles are held in fascicles of two or three and are up to 12 inches long.
For garden top mulch, pine “straw” needles can be raked for free beneath either pine species in many neighborhoods. Some parks, churches and golf courses will allow neighbors to remove piles of unwanted pine straw if you ask the right person politely. Commercial forest plantations are carefully spaced for mechanical harvesting of pine needles these days. While the Slash Pines take years to grow to harvestable size, they shed their needles mainly twice a year (from my personal observations).
It is interesting to see both methods of needle gathering in forests nearby. Nowadays, small tractors efficiently rake the needles into windrows and a second machine follows to bale them into long rolls and tie them for easy transportation to market. Similar in size to the newer rolls, a 13 x 14 x 27 inch square bale of sustainable pine straw weighs about 20 pounds and covers 25 square feet at 3.5 inches thick.
A roll or bale covers twice as much ground as a bag of traditional pine bark or blended cypress mulch, which involves killing trees. If just top dressing old pine needles, a new bale or roll will cover twice as much area.
Jane Weber is a professional gardener and consultant. Semi-retired, she grows thousands of native plants. Visitors are welcome to her Dunnellon, Marion County, garden. Contact her at jweber12385@gmail.com or phone 352-249-6899.
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