Man shapes himself through decisions that shape his environment. -Rene Dubos

Moving a tree isn’t easy and cutting one down to plant the same type of tree somewhere else because you made a bad location decision can slow the progress of food production down by years.

That’s why picking the right place to plant your trees is so important. Unlike an annual vegetable garden that is established and goes away every year, a tree is a long term commitment, and like any such commitment it must be carefully thought about.

So how do you pick the right place? Here are a few things to consider.

A Place With The Right Amount Of Sunlight

Your tree may survive in a place with less sunlight, but it may not be as productive, so to get the most from your tree give it the sunlight that the tree does best in. Most trees do best in full sun, but many can thrive in less, so research the tree you’re considering to give it the best chance to be productive for your homestead.

Don’t just consider the sunlight the tree gets right now but try to think about future changes that can happen in that location also. Will there be future building projects on the property that could cast shade over this location? Was a faster growing, potentially taller tree planted near this tree that may shade it out in the future? Sometimes it’s hard to think about what will be instead of what is, but it’s something to consider, especially on smaller, more compact homesteads that will be planted intensely.

A Place Where The Tree Won’t Cause Any Damage As It Grows (Roots, Tree Limbs, Falling Fruit, Leaves)

 We’ve all seen it, a tree that has been planted somewhere that years later, as it matures, it causes damage to things around it. Roots can reach out to destroy concrete sidewalks, blacktop parking lots, septic systems, roads, or even foundations on houses if planted too closely.

Many houses have been damaged after a strong wind because a tree was planted too closely decades ago and a large limb fell into a roof. You always have to consider the future and how big your tree will get, and the potential damage it can cause in any location.

Also, consider the messes that trees can make from falling fruit near buildings or driveways. Large fruit can dent vehicles when it falls, and even smaller fruit can stain and harm paint.

A Place Where The Shade From The Tree Will Be An Asset Rather Than A Burden

Everyone enjoys sitting under the shade of a large tree on a hot summer day, but the shade isn’t always good everywhere. You must consider the future canopy of your tree and the shade it will cast.

Will the tree one day shade out another growing area that will lessen the production of that area? This is something that has to be considered when picking a good location.

However, shade, even can over a growing area, isn’t always bad. Years ago I planted a garden area along the south side of my house, because the house worked as a heat sink and there was no break in direct sunlight all day long, plants struggled in that area. So I planted a few pear trees to the south of the area to provide dappled shade breaks throughout the day.

This did wonders for the production of that garden…and I got pears, win-win.

A Place That’s Convenient If Possible

If you plan on visiting your trees often for watering or harvesting, then plant them in a place with easy and often access. It has been my experience that out of site means out of mind so having your tree in a place that you frequent often can make a difference on how the tree is cared for.

Also, just having a tree in the right place can save you time and work. Carrying watering buckets to a far off location during a dry period to keep a young tree alive may be more work than you think and can certainly take some out of your day.

In permaculture we take into consideration zones. Zoning is all about practicality and time management. It begins with the simple premise that the elements on a site that we visit most often should be the ones closest to the center of operations.

Permaculture designers generally define up to five zones on any site, though extremely small scale sites can include only two or three of these zones. Zones spread out in sequence with the higher numbered zones used to designate areas visited less frequently, though the zones don’t have to be placed strictly in order moving out from the center. Some areas closer to your home but less accessible may belong to a higher zone.

Download: Picking The Best Place To Grow A Tree Checklist PDF