The Benefits and Management of Close Tree Planting

1. How Close Planting Helps

• Wind Protection: Trees planted closely together absorb and break strong wind forces by leaning on and bumping into each other. As reported by New Scientist, “tight spacing helped protect the trees in the plot that wasn’t thinned by dissipating the force from the wind through collisions between branches.”

• Higher Survival Rates: According to Protect Earth, “Overstocking compensates for expected losses (e.g., drought, grazing, insects).” Planting extra young trees ensures enough survive initial environmental stress.

• Double Planting Success: As noted by Groasis, “The double planting system gives a higher probability of 100% planting success, and a positive selection of those plants with the best genetic growth capacity.”

2. Risks of Leaving Trees Too Close

• Light and Nutrient Competition: Trees planted too permanently close fight for water, soil nutrients, and sunlight, which can lead to weak, thin trunks.

• Need for Management: Foresters usually remove or thin out weaker trees after 5 to 10 years so the strongest trees have room to grow thick roots and wide canopies.