One of the most common questions we get from households wanting to plant a tree in their own compound isn't about species, it's about timing. Nairobi's two rainy seasons, roughly March to May and October to December, matter more to a seedling's survival than almost any other single decision a household makes.
Why timing outweighs almost everything else
A seedling planted at the start of a rainy season gets weeks of consistent natural watering while its root system establishes, which is precisely the period when a young tree is most vulnerable to drying out. Plant the same seedling in July or January, in the middle of a dry spell, and it depends entirely on manual watering to survive that same establishment period, watering that, realistically, gets missed often enough to explain a large share of the seedling losses we've seen over the years, including our own early plantings back in 2022.
We now plan our major community planting days deliberately around the onset of the long rains and, to a lesser extent, the short rains, rather than around volunteer availability or convenience. It's a small scheduling discipline that has measurably improved our own survival rates.
What this means for a household planting on its own
If you're planning to plant in your own compound outside one of our organised planting days, the same logic applies: aim for the first few weeks of the rains rather than squeezing it in whenever it's convenient. If timing genuinely can't align with the rains, commit to watering the seedling consistently for at least six to eight weeks afterward, and mulch around the base to slow how quickly the soil dries out between waterings.
We supply indigenous seedlings and basic planting guidance to Donholm households through our nursery at no cost, and we're happy to advise on timing for your specific compound if you reach out ahead of the next rainy season.