Temperature, rainfall, and sunlight play massive roles in growing trees from infancy to healthy adulthood, and seasons are the biggest determiner of all those factors.
If you’re thinking about planting trees, you need to pay close attention to when you put them in the ground to ensure they grow quickly and healthily. We’ll look at the differences between summer, spring, winter, and autumn as they relate to tree growth and help you decide on the perfect time to grow a tree.
The Perfect Months for Tree Growth
Most tree species need prolonged sunlight and warm temperature to thrive, and the summer months offer the most of it.
Though the other three seasons offer more natural hydration than summer on top of some direct sunlight, the summer climate promotes faster tree growth for reasons we’ll explore below.
In short, any day of summer between June and August is a perfect day to plant a tree. Seedlings, and even established trees, grow the most during these three months.
Why Summer is Ideal for Tree Growth
Direct sunlight is essential for photosynthesis, the process trees use to create the energy they need to grow. Summer has the longest days of the year and rarely ever sees intense cloud coverage, especially compared to the short, often overcast days of autumn and winter.
The summer temperature is also perfect for sustained tree growth. Although it depends on the species, most trees need stable temperatures over 50 Fahrenheit degrees to live comfortably. While many autumn and winter days, and even some spring days, dip below that threshold, you’ll rarely see a summer day below 50 degrees.
Of course, trees also need water to grow, and the summer months don’t offer as much rainwater in most climates as autumn or early spring. However, you can water your trees by hand in summer to prevent dehydration; it’s much harder to replicate weather and direct sunlight in autumn.
How to Promote Healthy Tree Growth in Summer Months
Watering is the most important part of growing trees in summer. They’ll receive their other essential resources naturally through long days of sunlight and warm temperatures, so it’s up to you to give them the missing piece and steer them away from dehydration.
Since average summer temperatures are so hot, most of that water evaporates before reaching the root system if you pour water carelessly around the soil. To combat this, you can use drip irrigation systems, which slowly and delicately drop water directly onto the tree’s roots.
It’s also vital to stay mindful of where you plant your trees. Tree seeds won’t blossom automatically regardless of where you put them; they need to be in an open space with room to grow and access to valuable sunlight.
Schedule a Consultation
Our team at Empire Tree will care for your plant life so that it grows healthy through the summer and even during the challenging seasons.
Call our team today at (706) 607-5801 or reach out through our online form.