It’s fascinating stuff. Thanks for sharing. I can attest to the fast growing conditions here the South East. When we cut down a tree in our backyard, it only takes a couple weeks (in summer) for you to get several new branches growing.
But agriculture is a challenge in the South because the insects will eat anything. Apparently the insects stay away from pine trees.
I go behind our Home Depot and rake up the pine needles — great ground cover and with long needles as opposed to the short-needled pines in the Northeast where I’m originally from.
Bttt