Even though gingko trees are among the oldest trees in the garden, their rate of growth is not particularly rapid. Since the days of the dinosaurs, Ginkgo biloba (Ginkgo biloba) has been a beautiful and resilient specimen. It’s possible for them to grow up to 2 feet per year as they mature.
Ginkgo trees have a history that few other trees can match (Ginkgo biloba). The tall, graceful trees are hardy in USDA plant hardiness zones 3 through 8, and they were thought to exist only as fossils until a few hundred years ago. A living ginkgo tree was discovered in China in 1691 and exported to other countries, including the United States. Although their name is a little difficult to pronounce and is often misspelled as ginko or gingko, providing these trees with the conditions they need to grow at their optimum rate isn’t too difficult.
Growth of the Ginkgo Tree
In order to grow properly, ginkgo trees need at least four hours of direct sunlight each day, but they aren’t bothered if they get more. A sandy, moist, well-drained soil is ideal for ginkgo trees. They can grow in a variety of soil types, including acidic and alkaline soils. Additionally, these trees are able to withstand periods of wet and dryness. As a result, they’re best suited to temperate regions.
As long as they are at least three or four years old, don’t worry about their lack of growth. Ginkgos are perfectly fine with a slow growth rate when they are just starting out. If the conditions are right, they can reach 13 to 24 inches in height per year after the first few years of growth. These trees can grow to a height of 50 to 80 feet and spread out to a width of 30 to 40 feet.
Size and Rate of Growth.
Species ginkgoes are tall trees, reaching 90 feet in height and 60 feet in spread. A dwarf cultivar is what you need if you want a tree that grows to be more of a shrub than a tree. Trees can live for hundreds of years, and some that are still standing today are more than a thousand. The growth rate fluctuates over that long period of time. It’s safe to say that the ginkgo has a slow growth rate of between 1 and 2 feet per year when compared to other landscape trees.
- Garden trees are overused when using the term “unique,” but ginkgoes are an exception.
- The ginkgo’s annual growth rate is modest when compared to other landscape trees, growing an average of 1 to 2 feet per year.
Ginkgo Tree Care: What to Feed and What to Water
However, fertilizer is not necessary for newly planted ginkgo trees because they require regular irrigation but do not benefit from it. Growing young ginkgos with nitrogen fertilizer can actually slow their growth. For the first week, water newly planted ginkgos once a day, then gradually reduce the frequency of watering until at four to six weeks after planting the trees receive water every week to ten days. During the growing season, young trees require regular watering for the first one or two years.
It is unlikely that established ginkgo trees will need fertilizer unless a soil test indicates that the soil is deficient in essential plant nutrients. Ginkgoes that seem to be lacking in nutrients can be tested for at an extension office near you. When the soil around the roots of established gingko trees is completely dry, water them to a depth of 6 to 9 inches. Precisely beneath the tree’s canopy, dig a hole with a trowel, being careful not to damage any large roots. Then, reach down and feel the soil.
Fruit from the Ginkgo Biloba
The seeds of ginkgo trees have a fruit-like coating that gives them a tan-colored plum appearance. A split in the coating occurs when the seeds are dropped. Female ginkgo trees, which produce fruit, are generally discouraged from being grown because of their messy and odiferous nature. Nursery-sold cultivars of ginkgo trees are typically male and fruitless.
In order to tell whether you have male or female trees, you’ll need to wait for at least two decades after planting. In order to produce fruit, female ginkgos must wait at least a decade before they do. Ginkgo biloba ‘Autumn Gold’ and ‘Fastigiata’ are two male, non-fruiting cultivars that are hardy in USDA zones 3 through 8. “Autumn Gold” gets its name from the tree’s bright yellow fall foliage, while “Fastigiata” is a ginkgo variety with a narrow, upright habit.
Stress-Free Ginkgoes Grow the Fastest.
Proper growing conditions without stress allow Ginkgoes to grow the fastest and live the longest. They prefer to grow in full sun in neutral to slightly acidic soil that is warm, moist, and well-drained. Despite claims that the species is tolerant of urban pollution, the trees grow fastest in clean air, soil and water. Ginkgoes, despite their reputation for being drought-resistant, grow more quickly when they have regular water access during the growing season.
