As Indian summers grow hotter, communities, schools and organisations across the country are increasingly turning to tree plantation drives as a way to cool cities and build climate resilience.

The science supports this instinct. Trees provide shade, reduce surface temperatures and release moisture into the air, making neighbourhoods cooler and more liveable.

Studies show that a dense tree canopy can block up to 90 percent of incoming solar radiation, while transpiration — the release of water vapour from leaves — can lower local temperatures by several degrees.

But for trees to deliver these benefits in the future, they first need the right conditions to survive and thrive. According to experts, choosing the right time to plant can make all the difference.

In many parts of North and Central India, June is marked by intense heat, dry winds and uncertain rainfall. While tree-planting campaigns often peak around Environment Day, experts suggest that giving saplings slightly more favourable conditions can significantly improve their chances of survival.

The question, then, is not whether India should plant more trees. It is how to ensure the trees planted today grow into the cooling canopies communities need tomorrow.

1. Heatwaves can make establishment difficult for young saplings

Unlike mature trees, newly planted........

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