Competition from herbaceous and woody weeds can slow the growth of pines and this can delay harvest by as much as seven years. For some pine species, experienced foresters will use fire (i. e., prescribed burns) as a way to control hardwoods. Prescribed burns may be used after harvest to prepare the site for planting and they can be used in developing stands once the pines are large enough to tolerate the fire. Some pines (e. g., Pinus palustris) are more tolerant of fire than others (e. g., Pinus glabra), so fire is only appropriate for certain pine species. The timing of fires is also important (both on an age basis and a time-of-year basis). Periodic prescribed fires are used in the southern United States to control woody vegetation and improve wildlife habitat, especially in areas where the plantation is far from residential homes.

Controlling woody weeds with herbicides is now a common practice in pine plantations throughout the world. Depending on the degree of hardwood competition, controlling all hardwoods during the first three years of stand development can result in shortening the rotation by 1-5 years (i. e., the same amount of pine volume can be harvested 1-5 years sooner). Similar gains may result when controlling all herbaceous weeds (on sites with no woody weeds). However, controlling herbaceous weeds on sites with lots of hardwood competition might not affect pine growth at harvest. This is because controlling herbaceous weeds might benefit hardwoods more than pines.

Applying herbicides after harvesting but before planting is desirable from a biological point of view. Injury to planted seedlings is less (especially when applying non-selective herbicides) and higher herbicide rates can be applied (when compared to applying herbicides soon after planting). In the United States, the tax system once favored waiting three or four years after planting before applying herbicides. The cost of herbicide application could then be expensed (instead of capitalized when applied the same year as transplanting). Effective control was less since the woody competition was larger and more resistant (when herbicide rate was comparable). Now, most landowners may deduct up to $10 000 per year in weed control costs from their income (before calculating taxes). In other countries, foresters may deduct all weed control costs in the year that it occurs.

Application of herbicides are either made from the air (often with helicopters) or from the ground. Broadcast applications are typically cost effective and are often used prior to planting seedlings. Ground equipment or hand labor is used when applying herbicides in bands (e. g. treating 50% of the area in alternating strips). Ground application may also be preferred in areas where the risk of damage by herbicide drift to adjacent landscape plantings or agricultural crops is high.