The vigorous sprouting of pitch pine is a liability with regards to wood production because trees often have multiple, crooked trunks and flat tops. Pitch pine is used for rough construction, pulp, crating, and fuel. Pitch pine seeds are important food for mice, squirrels, quail, and small birds. Cottontail rabbits browse pitch pine seedlings.
Pitch pine is able to thrive on both dry and wet sites and has good potential for revegetation.
Pitch pine is best regenerated under even-aged silviculture. Traditional timber management strategies include control of competing hardwoods and seedbed preparation. Pitch pine self-prunes in closed stands not damaged by fire. Mixed pine-hardwood forests can provide better wildlife habitat, and timber quality and quantity than either pure pine or pure hardwood types. Cores taken from pitch pine in the New Jersey Pine Barrens show a decrease in growth over the past 25 years.