Article: Chestnut trees grow best when grown in direct sunlight. For best results, choose a location that receives six or more hours of direct sunlight each days during the growing season. If possible, consider planting the tree at the top of a slight slope, as well. Doing so can help drain excess water and prevent the roots from getting soggy. Never plant chestnuts at the bottom of a slope. The best soil for chestnut trees be well-draining and slightly acidic. Chestnut trees thrive in deep, sandy loam soils. Soils that contain rocks and gravel are also acceptable. Avoid heavy clay soils. The only way a chestnut tree can survive in a clay soil is if it is planted at the top of a downward slope. Ideally, the soil should have a pH between 4.5 and 6.5. Avoid limestone soils, since the pH is often too alkaline for a chestnut tree to survive. Make sure that each chestnut tree you plant has 40 feet (12.2m) (12 m) of free soil space in all directions to allow for adequate growing room. If you want to rush large harvests of chestnuts, you can plant multiple chestnut trees at half that distance, roughly 20 feet (6m) (6 m) apart, so that they start to crowd each other out and pollinate quicker. A single chestnut tree on its own will never produce any chestnuts. If you want the tree to produce nuts, there needs to be a second tree within 200 feet (60 m). Plant two different chestnut varieties to promote cross-pollination. Check around with your neighbors. If a next-door neighbor has a chestnut tree growing in their yard, that might be sufficient for yours.
What is a summary of what this article is about?
Pick a sunny spot. Pay attention to soil quality. Give the tree plenty of space. Plant at least two trees.