Lemon and Peach Trees Advice for Newbie Fruit Grower

14 years ago

This year is my first year growing fruit trees in my garden. I understand that lemon and peach trees need well drained soil. The soil in my yard is clay, very sticky and hard to dig. Would the tree be ok if I dig a large hole around the root ball and replacing it with good soil before planting my barren tree in it?

Other options I have might be to keep them in large containers or plant the tree above ground (like a raised bed).

Which method would give me a higher success rate?

Method#1- dig large hole, replace with good soil

Method#2- plant in container or raised bed

Thanks!

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Comments (5)

rasputinj
14 years ago
Grow them in a raised bed is one option. The second thing is to see how bad your clay soil is dig a hole fill with water and see how long it takes to drain. I have clay soil but have added Gypsum over the last few years and do some basic amendments on it. I try to control the water on the trees and at least in the last 6 years it has done well.
jean001
14 years ago
Gypsum doesn't help clay unless the problem is excess sodium. To determine that, get a professional soil test done.

Filling a hole with different soil is a pending disaster.

Test your drainage as suggested. then consider planting on a mound -- mound your existing soil soil. Or use a raised bed.
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softmentor
14 years ago
Just because a soil is heavy, doesn't mean you can't grow these trees. They can still do well in heavy soil, you just need to control your water a little more.
first, option 1 is a very bad idea. The surrounding native soil will act like a pot and the amended soil will stay soaked and sour, while the water fails to migrate out into the heaver soil.
Just plant in the native soil, back fill the hole with native soil. set the tree about half and inch to one inch higher than the soil level in the container, so that the root balls stays high. then add a nice mulch about 6 inches thick over the soil, out 3 feet in every direction from the tree. after a few months, get some earth worms and put them under the mulch and they will become your little tilling factory, keeping the soil well worked. Just renew the mulch as needed so there is always at least 2 inches of mulch. Also don't drown the worms by saturating the soil with too much water, the will come to the surface and crawl away. Water moves very slowly through heavy soil, so drip irrigation can be a really good solution.
calistoga_al ca 15 usda 9
14 years ago
If your soil fails the percolation test, I would spread the roots out on top of the existing soil(you will need someone to hold the tree upright)dig up the native soil from beyond the roots and pile it over the roots. Pile the soil to the same level as it was in the growing field. Sprinkle the soil to wet it without washing it away. You may need to stake the tree for the first year, depending on the amount of foliage present and the wind expected. The lemon will be in a container and the root ball can be just set on the native soil and the root ball loosened, before piling the native soil around and over it, again keeping the soil the same level as in the container. The lemon will need to be staked for the first year. For the first year you will need to water directly on the roots carefully maintaining the mound of soil Al
bejay9_10
14 years ago
The type of soil you describe is fairly common in Ca. When I plant a tree, I dig the hole, fill with water. If it percolates within a day's time, I plant it. Citrus especially, can tolerate lots of water - and is extremely hardy here.

Bejay

Lemon and Peach Trees Advice for Newbie Fruit Grower

Comments (5)

rasputinj

jean001

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