[lazide]

Also, even native plants aren’t adapted to what many people consider ‘native soil’ - if there is no existing native vegetation, the soil itself is far different from what a typical seed would deal with from that same plant natively.

And when you think about it, it’s normal - you’d never end up with a giant 100% consistent group of plants in a native area anyway. You’d have variable concentrations all over the place, with some devoid of one species, others overpopulated with it, all based on suitability of the local env. and and variations in the soil, water, shade, and competing plants nearby.

As humans, we just think we can point to a spot and it should comply and grow amazingly I guess, and we get flustered if that isn’t what happens.

[jandrese]

Also, even in nature most saplings don't make it. It's easy to forget that trees release hundreds or thousands of seeds every year and only a small handful will even germinate, and few of those will make it to maturity. Most every plant takes a quantity over quality approach. Exceptions may include stonefruit trees, but even those produce a lot of fruit, but only dozens instead of thousands.

[clairity]

yah, good soil is an ecosystem of living things, not an inert medium. urban soil tends to be more depleted and polluted than average, so needs even more attention to get trees to grow. i'm not really a gardener type, but i do love me some trees and shade!