Should I Plant a Tree in Full Sun?

Ask a garden expert and they will tell you, some plants need full Sun. But is that true? 

Goco believes it is not true. And in fact the real answer on how much Sun a plant needs really depends on your local climate, the species of plant you are caring for, and the physical geography in your immediate area. 

You see, a plant will need different environmental considerations if you live in a hot and semi-arid climate like the South Texas region or in a more humid and wet climate like South Carolina. 

For instance, a Pecan tree, which in full maturity becomes a canopy tree in Texas, performs better under partial shade where the soil can also retain more moisture even under drought conditions. 

If a young Pecan tree is under full direct sunlight, it can survive and endure, but it is very common for the young tree to dry out. 

That same tree living in East Texas where it rains more frequently will perform much better under full sun. This can be true simply because of the difference in rainfall and the resulting sun filtration from those cloudy days. 

The clouds from the increased moisture in the atmosphere allow for the sun to be filtered. So the concept of the full sun can be a varied experience depending on your climate and geographic proximity to the equator.  

Another example.

Full sun in Monterey, California is not the same as Full sun in Palm Springs, California. So when you are going to plant a tree, it is important to take into consideration what “Full Sun” means in your ecosystem. 

A pear tree that could thrive under the full Sun in a mild northern climate could possibly burn in a drier southern climate. 

Hickory Leaves provide filtered sunlight through its canopy.

We can resolve this issue by thinking of shade the differences in the shade as a way to filter sunlight. Not all shade is created equal, some shade can boost plant health and performance. Some shade can kill or damage plant health and performance. 

More on shade in another post.

Goco