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Forestry · Establishment · Stand

Seedling survival

92% established

The proportion of planted seedlings that survive the vulnerable first two summers and establish into the closed stand. It sets the effective stocking that every later growth and yield figure is built on.

Worked example · Stocking retained vs planted
Target 90% 100% planted 92% plant yr 2 yr 10
Stocking retained vs planted
The benchmark

A well-managed blue gum establishment holds 85–95% of planted stems through to canopy closure; below ~80% the stand carries gaps that cost final volume.

Forest Products Commission WA ↗
What it signals

Early losses are rarely random — they cluster around planting quality, weed competition and the first dry summer. Catching a survival shortfall in the first year is the only window to blank-plant economically before the gap is locked in for a decade.

Data required to calculate
Seedlings plantedno.Live stems at year 2 surveyno.

Silo pulls each of these from the sources the operation already uses, and keeps the figure current automatically.

How to improve it
01

Plant into a clean, well-prepared bed with a full pre-plant knockdown.

02

Match provenance and seedling grade to the site’s rainfall and soil depth.

03

Survey at 6 and 18 months so any blank-planting happens in the first winter.

Questions & answers

What is seedling survival?

The proportion of planted seedlings that survive the vulnerable first two summers and establish into the closed stand. It sets the effective stocking that every later growth and yield figure is built on.

What data do you need to calculate seedling survival?

You need: Seedlings planted (no.), Live stems at year 2 survey (no.). Silo pulls each of these from the sources the operation already uses and keeps the figure current automatically.

What is a good seedling survival benchmark?

A well-managed blue gum establishment holds 85–95% of planted stems through to canopy closure; below ~80% the stand carries gaps that cost final volume.

How do you improve seedling survival?

Plant into a clean, well-prepared bed with a full pre-plant knockdown. Match provenance and seedling grade to the site’s rainfall and soil depth. Survey at 6 and 18 months so any blank-planting happens in the first winter.

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