Juvenile Trees - "Grow Up! "
Are your trees growing up wild and undisciplined? Is their bad behavior due to an unruly upbringing? No... actually, in reference to trees, we’re referring to growth rates.
One of the most asked questions we get has to do with "how fast a tree will grow". That is actually a very difficult question to answer (accurately), as are growing children... granted they are completely unrelated subjects. But tree growth is a complex set of inter-related factors, influenced by its environment, similar to children and the home, but still unrelated topics...
As every tree growing situation can be highly variable, it is next to impossible to accurately guess how much a particular tree will grow over a given period of time, in a specific location, although some generalizations can be made. If the chart is visible on your screen, then it will help add some light to the growing situation.
For most trees, from a fast growing willow (like our Ameri-Willow hybrid), an oak, quaking aspen, or whatever, seedling growth starts out relatively slow. As the tree becomes established, the momentum of grow speed increases, where the juvenile years typically have the fastest growth rate. How many pairs of shoes has your kids grown out of over the past several years? There is some similarity there, as juvenile life-forms of all types have their fastest rates of growth. Now for trees, this is where the species and/or genus will largely dictate the capacity for growth speed, secondarily influenced by the growth environment. Then after they "release their wiggles", so to speak, trees reach a mature phase where the rate of growth greatly slows down.
In general, and over the broad spectrum of tree species, it is the willows and poplar trees (including the aspen) that have the fastest "capacity" for juvenile growth. Oaks and spruces, are generally slower growers during this period, but individual species like the Pin Oak and Norway Spruce have a fairly fast early growth potential. All trees will go through a growth cycle similar to the bell-shaped curve on the graph. The shape will vary as per species, but this is typical of all growing things. "To every thing, there is a season."
Given each tree species has a capacity for increasing growth rates during the juvenile years, it then becomes the growing environment that will enhance or detract from the trees ability to reach its potential (puns about our school system aside). The basic primary factors include, sunlight, water and nutrients, and climate.
Some trees grow better in full sunlight, others grow their best with some shading. A fast growing birch tree may grow three to four feet a year during juvenile its period in full sun, but with increased competition for sunlight (shading), that rate will drop significantly, even to the point of little or no growth at all. The Red Maple and Tulip Tree on the other hand, may benefit from partial shading during the early years, where their growth rates might not slow down. This is when knowing your trees and your growing conditions makes a huge difference in potential growth expectations.
Water and nutrients certainly are key factors in all trees and plants, no big surprise. Ever plant a Redwood in the desert? How about planting a pine tree in a swampy location? This is the extreme in what we refer to as "off-site" planting, but the moisture regime has a lot to do with growth rates. Too little or too much water will obviously hinder growth. Either they dry up, or they drown... The nutrients in the soil are vital to growth, and if they are limited, this too can greatly influence tree growth.
Since the climate in this country varies in every situation and to the extreme, it is easy to understand how climate will influence the tree growth rate. If your growing seasons are long, like in south Florida, then you can expect a willow to better reach its juvenile growth potential, than in Minnesota with its relatively short season. Tree growth rates are not just species related, but also time influenced. Short season, shorter period of time for a tree to get growin’. Longer seasons, longer opportunities for growth.
All of these conditions, in combination, will determine how fast a particular tree will grow in a particular location. There are a number of other factors that can influence a trees growth rates, like soil conditions, animals, string-trimmers, etc. But for a general understanding of growth rates, we hope that answers some of the tree growth questions.
Juvenile trees... "can’t live with ‘em, can’t shoot ‘em."
Written by Empire National Nursery, Your North Carolina Source for Fast Growing Trees.
Fall Tree Planting is Here!
Now is time... Finally, as our temperatures have dropped, good amount of moisture in the ground, and the trees starting to change color, we can resume lifting and shipping of many of the trees.
What is really fascinating to watch, is how the trees respond to the seasonal weather. In July, it is typically really hot and dry, with warm night time temperatures. Then comes August, also warm, but we seem to get a rash of storms which creates a flux in the 'hot-dry continuum'. This often sparks a pre-fall response of some trees like the Aspen and Birch, where some of the inner less energy-efficient leaves turn yellow and drop off. In the tree nursery, we push this by keeping the tree beds and containers drier, which tends to push the early seasonal response. Then as normal, temperature and moisture jump all around throughout August and September, which makes the trees slow down their growth.
Then somewhere between mid-September to mid-October, there is more rain, cooler night temps, dramatically so compared to the previous fluctuations, yet with warm days. Hence, we have Autumn as we know it. But watching the trees respond is interesting, as more and more of the leaves, not just the inner less productive leaves, but all of them start to turn colors. And more tree species start changing as well. As this signals the time where the last bits of sunlight-energy are being stored in the roots, trees can then be lifted and shipped in this pre-dormant or lightly dormant condition. Granted, it is always preferred to ship trees when fully leafless and dormant, but many (hardwood) tree species can be handled earlier.
Keep in mind, that Fall tree planting is not for everywhere. We like to say, in general, the northern half of the country (basically Plant Zones 1-5) should not plant in the Fall, just because the window of opportunity is short. Even planting a lightly dormant tree, although it would sit fine, it may still be frost-heaved or damaged by the forth-coming colder weather. If in doubt, wait until late-winter or early spring.
On the other side, the south half of the country (Plant Zones 7-10), we generally say - "Plant, plant, plant..." and "Plant all winter!". Zone 6, is a middle-ground, can be Ok for Fall tree planting, it depends, more of a case by case basis.
Planting trees in the Fall can work out, it really comes down to your area, the type of trees, and timing. But we are excited that many of our trees are ready or getting close to that point where general shipping can resume...
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Written by Empire National Nursery, Your North Carolina Source for Fast Growing Trees.
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