We'll Just Plant Trees! Like Turkey, Where 90% of 11 Million Saplings In Mass Planting Are Dead

[hatrack]

And by the way, who the FUCK plants trees in November in the Northern Hemisphere?

Up to 90% of the millions of saplings planted in Turkey as part of a record-breaking mass planting project may have died after just a few months, according to the country’s agriculture and forestry trade union. On 11 November last year, which the government declared National Forestation Day, 11 million trees were planted by volunteers in more than 2,000 sites across the country, including by the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and the parliament Speaker, Mustafa Şentop.

The government-backed programme broke the world record for the most trees planted in one hour in a single location, with 303,150 saplings planted in the northern Anatolian city of Çorum.

The head of the union claimed, however, that 90% of the saplings his teams have inspected so far have died because of insufficient water. Speaking to the Guardian, Şükrü Durmuş attributed the deaths to the saplings being planted at “the wrong time” and “not by experts”, as well as a lack of rainfall. Durmuş said the union has carried out research in six of Turkey’s 81 provinces, and further investigations are planned.

The ministry of agriculture and forestry denied the claim and said that “as of today, 95% of the more than 11 million saplings planted are healthy and continuing to grow”. The union cast doubt on the government’s claims. “Even with normal time and preparation, the success rate is between 65 and 70%,” said Durmuş. “The 95% rate given by the ministry is never true.”

EDIT

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jan/30/most-of-11m-trees-planted-in-turkish-project-may-be-dead

[sinkingfeeling]

1. How can planting saplings possibly work if there's no rain?

[CottonBear]

2. Tree planting must be done properly and at the correct time of year.

Trees must not be planted too deeply (the trunk root collar can’t be buried), must be mulched properly (don’t mound mulch around the trunk) and provided with adequate water.

Winter and fall are the best times to plant trees, especially deciduous trees, in the Eastern and Southeastern US. The trees can grow roots and get established during a time where there is plenty of rain and cool weather. It is difficult to plant trees in the hot late spring and summer, because it is a real chore to provide adequate water. The trees lose water by transpiration through leaf pores while new roots are still being established, which makes it difficult for the trees to grow and thrive.

[NickB79]

3. Fall is actually a good time to plant

I plant into October in Minnesota with good results.

[hatrack]

4. I'll rephrase that . . . who plants trees in November, and then doesn't water them?

Or whatever it was that screwed the pooch this time . . .

[NickB79]

5. Bingo

With all our snow, we never worry about a dry spring here. But I doubt Turkey gets our same continental weather.