Four steps of secondary succession, from disturbed soil to hardwoods

Step One

1st year after forest fire, flood, or farmer abandons a field: Weeds grow, usually crabgrass.

Step Two

2nd year: Seeds blown in or carried in by animals become new weedy plants, such as horseweed.

Step Three

5 to 15 years: Small pines begin growing in the area, gradually become a pine forest

Step Four

As older pines die hardwoods succeed them if the climate supports them.

Secoundary Succession

Ecological succession that begins where an ecosystem was disturbed by an event such as fire, flood, or farming, leaving behind intact soil.