I'm growing in a climate with a short growing season that gets very cold in the winter, and trees don't really grow as fast as they do in warmer places. I have seen others plant their infestation phase trees at 1m apart in the row, but I'm thinking I should plant at every 30cm or 50cm, and for cost efficiency mostly use willows and balsam poplars which I have basically unlimited access to cuttings for. Would I run into issues at such a high density if I chose to prune and coppice most of the trees after 3 or 4 years so I can start planting my stabilization phase trees, or is it fine to plant an extremely high density?

As most of Europe is sizzling I'm wondering about people's opinions on irrigation, In Brittany, the region where I live, there's the reputation that it's always raining, when the last two years we have had drought during summer. This year especially there's only been 3 or 4 millimetres of rain since April. Most of the newest tree rows are completely dead, and the moisture meter readings are 2 to 3 % . It's in an area that's difficult to pump water to with any pressure and the sandy soil looses it quickly, even with the addition of compost and mulch. One interesting thing is that the Scots broom, our strongest Pioneer is almost thriving. So when I replant at the end of the season I'll use Pioneer plants and only add productive trees when I'm sure the soil is improving enough to hold moisture.

What do syntropic farmers do while they're waiting for the trees to grow? In theory as the number of rows grow so does the complexity of maintenance, propagation, and preparing of new sites. A good system should build early crops and biomass fast, followed by new planting material. Then fruit, nuts and finally timber and firewood or biochar. How can you calculate the time taken to keep a system running smoothly? I realise I'm asking hypothetical questions because my context is a original food forest, not a new syntropic system. My reason is to debate what's to come.

With several years of unpredictable weather and extremes outside of the climate we would expect. Some tree lines may suffer losses and need gaps filled, I've been thinking about annual plants that may do that job, and in this year's drought, amaranth with it's love of heat and quick growing, fleshy stems and has been and indispensable. Are there any other gap fillers that may help in needy times.?

As most of Europe crisps in record temperatures, and even in my lush oasis the grass is starting to yellow, most the trees in the syntropic lines are putting on new growth, the trees over five years old are looking very happy, and yes, the last trees planted at the end of spring have suffered losses and are wilting, although I'm sure the majority will survive,and the bonus of syntropic systems is no matter when in the day somewhere there's a shady place to put my chair.