El Niño & planting trees

Last summer (2023) El Niño started. It is a complex worldwide natural phenomena that has to do with the warming up of the vast waters of the Pacific Ocean. Although El Niño has dire consequences in the world, like extended draughts, floods and hurricanes, Europe lies in a relative quiet corner considering the phenomena. Winters in the north are generally more cold, in the south of Europe generally more wet. Summers are both in north and south Europe more dry and warmer.

But what does this have to do with your garden? Well, everything. The Iberian peninsula (Portugal, Spain) is generally very dry, but for four years there is likely to be more rain in the winter and rainy conditions, and as a consequence wetter soils, are excellent for planting trees. Here in Alentejo, Portugal, for example, trees need support for at least three years because of the dry and hot summers. For a tree to establish itself it needs additional water during the dry season that starts in May and ends in October. After three years the roots have gone so deep that additional support is no longer needed.

In order for nature to assist you in planting trees, we now have a great window of opportunity for the coming three years. This year already, in Portugal, we had much more rain than last winter. To plant your trees now, you will enhance the chance of the trees to grow strong and healthy. El Niño last for approximately four years and then the reverse will be true, the weather phenomenon called La Niña will cause dry winters and relative cool summers. But by then your trees will have found there way deep into the ground and will probably survive the dryer conditions of La Niña.

The same is true for creating a garden and landscape with a diversity of plants, shrubs and trees the next three years. Diversity in your garden and the building up of a healthy soil will help you through extended periods of draught. The healthier your garden's ecosystem, the more water it is able to store into the ground and that will help you through the dry years to come.

Working with nature is such a beautiful thing to do. As you have seen in this post, it is not only about creating a new garden but also about riding along with world wide circular weather phenomena, such as El Niño and La Niña. Mother Earth is a living being to me and she has her cycles. Being able to read the cycles means being able to adapt your work in the garden accordingly.

So, plant many trees the next three years!

Wende