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July 2, 2025 - Trees of Tomorrow

The value of tree succession planning on your property.

As the calendar flips to July, some residents are noticing a concerning trend in their yards: their trees, once lush and thriving, are slowly becoming less and less resilient with each year that passes. While we can identify several factors that may contribute to their gradual decline, such as recent drought conditions, pest infestations and other environmental uncertainty, the issue ultimately lies with tree age and health. 

As trees mature, their resiliency naturally decreases. Like most living organisms, it becomes more difficult with age to withstand diseases and other stressors. Reduced growth rates, decreased water and nutrient transport, and increased susceptibility to damage can make it difficult for a mature tree to recover from some disturbances. This why new challenges, such as recent spruce budworm outbreaks, can seem like they are causing significant damage as they are targeting already old and declining trees.

When the trees in your yard or shelterbelt are all the same species of a similar age, it increases the likelihood that you will see a major change in the health and aesthetics of your yard within a small timeframe. This can be extremely concerning for residents who have been meticulously caring for their prized trees for years. Therefore, it is important to be proactive when it comes to tree succession planning on your property.

It’s hard to set aside time to think about the future of your trees when we’re in the thick of summer; everyone is trying their best to take advantage of the longer days and limited hours of sunshine between rainy weather. Focus is most often placed on how to address this year’s tasks and challenges rather than on preparing for those that may arise in the future. But just as farmers, ranchers and business owners must plan for the futures of their operations, so must we plan for the future of our yards and shelterbelts.

So, what is tree succession planning? Tree succession planning involves strategically planting new trees on your property before your existing trees start to decline with age. This ensures that there are younger, already established trees which can take the place of older trees when they are damaged or eventually die. This helps lessen any gaps that can be left in your yard when you have several trees of the same age die in quick succession.

In addition to staggering tree age and health on your property, introducing species diversity with newly planted trees is also an important consideration. Having several tree species on your property can help your yard withstand pests or diseases that target specific host trees. This proactive approach will help minimize widespread tree loss and help ensure a smooth and sustainable transition of your trees for the future. 

When selecting trees to plant there are several factors that need to be considered to help ensure effective succession. Climate and soil conditions should be assessed to select trees that will thrive in your specific yard environment. Adequate spacing that accounts for tree growth, root characteristics and other already present structures or trees should be carefully planned. Shade tolerance of new trees should also be examined prior to planting between or around already established trees to prevent resource competition.

We value our trees as they provide us with an abundance of benefits, including being sources of shade on a sunny day, as windbreaks to protect us from uncertain weather and for their aesthetics and natural beauty they add to our property. Succession planning of trees helps us continually receive these benefits regardless of whether a few trees age-out.

Tree succession planning focuses on anticipating future challenges, and proactively maintaining the health and resiliency of your trees for generations to come. Taking the time to make these plans for your yards and shelterbelts can end up saving you time, money and a few headaches down the road. While everyone else will be focused on immediate gratification in their yards, the smart landowner is thinking of the long-term success of their property.