Alright I had to get in on this. I live in North Houston, Kingwood area with a 9a climate, grow mangos, tamarinds, kumquats, N33E oranges, purple and banana passionfruits, key limes, calomandins, jackfruit, dragon fruit, and various others but those are my most proud plants. Let me start with this, in this area I can go and take pictures tomorrow of lemon trees growing wild in Kingwood and New Caney, then in Crosby I know of a blood orange growing wild in the woods. If you update your information you'll quickly find out that meyers lemons, Persian and Mexican limes, kumquats,calmansi/calomandin, and sour oranges are the most cold hardy. Don't water any tropical fruit plant during winter if you're in a 9a and above, even 9b is kinda skeptical. Wait until temperatures don't dip below 60 to water them. The hotter it gets, the more you water, BUT DON'T FLOOD. I do not even use fertilizers, i simply prepare a good humus, compost, sandy, and peat moss soil... All natural for my babies, haha. After 2 years take the top 6 inches off and replace it. As you water, these nutrients will reach the bottom. My key lime fruited in its' first year. During winter take them in if you're in a 9b and above. Now for the burn comment, no. We're talking about tropicals here, as long as you keep the soil moist, not soggy, you'll keep a "tropical" climate for the roots and not a desert one. Trust me, I know all too well about our "sonic cup melting" summers haha. Another thing, as long as your plant has thick leaves usually, not always, the general rule of thumb is it can handle a sun burn. Good luck to y'all and good planting.

Renee, With well-established bermuda grass, the roots can be so thick, twisted together and overgrown that they are like concrete. You have several options, and there is no easy or "quick fix". 1) You can rent a sod cutter from an equipment rental store. You set it to the depth you want and it will cut and lift squares or rectangles of sod (they will look like the pieces of grass sod you buy in stores, only thicker). I don't think the cutter will go down as deep as you need, but it would be a good start. Once you get the grass runners and stolons out, add organic material to the soil to improve boths its ability to hold water and to drain well. Plant, mulch, you're done. (You will have to watch carefully for signs of infilitration by bermuda grass or weeds.) 2) You can cover the area of future beds with very thick heavy black plastic. If I were doing it, I would get either 4mm or 6mm and lay down a double layer of it. Before laying down the black plastic, soak the ground thoroughly to get it really wet. The moisture plus the heat will start killing the grass. Leave the black plastic there for 6 months to a year, using bricks, lumber or something similar to hold it in place. It won't look very attractive, so you can cover it with a layer of bark mulch if you want. If you can't stand the sight of an empty mulched "bed" place a few large containers of flowers there. Eventually the bermuda will die under the plastic. You may still find some runners or stolons there when you lift up the plastic, but then you can hand-dig them. Then, improve the soil be adding organic material and plant. Mulch to keep weeds out. 3) Spray the bermuda grass with a non-selective herbicide like Round-up. The grass will brown out and die. Based on my experience with the bermuda grass in our yard, it can take several applications to kill all the grass. (You'll think it is dead and then, in scattered locations, it will green up and start to grow again.) This might be especially true for you since you've dug into the ground and already know it has a very dense, deep root system. Once the grass appears dead, dig up and remove all you can. Improve the soil, plant and mulch. 4.) Give up on the idea of having in-the-ground flower beds and build raised beds. If the thought of doing that seems overwhelming, plan to build one bed per year until your yard is the way you want it to be. To build a raised bed on top of bermuda grass, spray the area with Round-up. Wait a week to allow it to work and then lay down a layer of something on top of the dead-looking turf. My favorite thing to use is heavy cardboard. You also can use newspaper (I'd lay it down 30 or 40 pages thick with bermuda grass. As you are working with the newspaper, wet it down so it won't blow away.) You can use thick black plastic too. In your hot and dry part of the state, the thick black plastic would help keep the bed's moisture from draining away too quickly. Appliance boxes are ideal for this because their cardboard is thick and in large pieces. Build your bed edging, using wood, manufactured lumber like Trex, stacked stone (like Windsor stone), flagstone, concrete blocks, etc. Choose whatever fits your budget and gives you the look you prefer. Make your raised bed about a foot tall. If you go shorter than that, the roots may grown down through the cardboard, paper or plastic before all the bermuda grass roots are decayed. Fill your bed with purchased soil. For a large bed, you might want to order and have a dumptruck bring you a load. Or, for a smaller bed, you can purchase bagged soil, peat moss, compost, etc. from a place like Wal-Mart, Lowe's or Home Depot. Put a fabric-type cloth mulch (not the cheap plastic type that has millions of perforations to let water through--it lets weeds and bermuda through too) on the surface of your raised bed. Use landscape staples or pegs to secure it. Cut X-shaped openings in the fabric and plant your plants. Water them well. Cover the fabric with a couple of inches of bark mulch. Sit back and enjoy. If it sounds like a lot of work, it is. However, if you prepare the beds properly to begin with, you'll have 1000% less problems with bermuda grass and wees later on. As far as your soil goes, the fact that it is dark and has earthworms are both very good signs. First, I'd do the soil jar test explained in the link below. That will tell you what your soil is--clay, sandy, silt, etc. Ideal soil is sandy loam. You can turn clay, pure sand or pure silt into sandy loam by adding organic materials (compost, peat moss, finely shredded bark, manure, etc.), although improved clay will be more of a clayey-loam than a sandy loam, unless you add sand as well as organic materials. After the jar soil test, add organic materials and till them in well (or mix in well by hand). THEN it is time for a soil test. It will tell you if your soil is missing any essential elements that you need to add, or if a particular element is excessive in your soil IF the plants already grow well and seem healthy, you probably could skip the soil test. Good luck with your gardening venture and keep us posted on how it is going. Dawn Here is a link that might be useful: Soil Jar Test Article

I've never seen root rot on a jaboticaba. Mine, which are in ground of course, are in the lowest point in my entire property. There have been some multi-day rain events that have left standing water in this area for a full 10 days without any root issues. During dry season, I'll let the hose run completely flooding the area. That doesn't leave any standing water for more than a day, but I usually have to do it a day or two in a row before flowering commences. Good luck. Harry

LOL......probably not the place to post this. Aplogies to Kristy for partial hijack of this thread. Here is a quick cut and paste from an Excel list I keep of what I am growing. It is missing some new additions and it needs to be further updated....but you can kind of get the idea. ananas comosus pineapple Borneo ananas comosus pineapple Royal Hawaiian ananas comosus pineapple Smooth Cayenne ananas comosus pineapple unknown pink a. cherimola x squamosa atemoya geffner a. cherimola x squamosa atemoya geffner a. cherimola x squamosa atemoya geffner a. cherimola x squamosa atemoya Petch Pakchong a. cherimola x squamosa atemoya Petch Pakchong Annona diversifolia ilama Fairchild Annona diversifolia Ilama genova red annona mucosa rollinia seedling annona muricata soursop fiberless graft annona muricata soursop Wilson seedless annona squamosa sugar apple Green annona squamosa sugar apple Red annona squamosa sugar apple Lessard seedling annona squamosa sugar apple Kampong Mauve artocarpus heterophyllus jakfruit Red morning artocarpus heterophyllus jakfruit Bangkok Lemon artocarpus heterophyllus jakfruit Black Gold artocarpus heterophyllus jakfruit Borneo Red artocarpus heterophyllus jakfruit Borneo Red artocarpus heterophyllus jakfruit Dang Rasimi artocarpus heterophyllus jakfruit Mai 1 grafted artocarpus heterophyllus jakfruit Mai 2 graft artocarpus heterophyllus jakfruit Mai 1 seedling artocarpus heterophyllus jakfruit Mai 3 seedling artocarpus heterophyllus jakfruit Rien Baht artocarpus heterophyllus jakfruit Orange Crisp sdlg artocarpus heterophyllus jakfruit Bk Gldx Tabouey artocarpus heterophyllus jakfruit Tabouey x J30 artocarpus lingnanensis kwai muk seedling averrhoa carambola starfruit Arkin averrhoa carambola starfruit Bell averrhoa carambola starfruit Karri averrhoa carambola starfruit Thai Night averrhoa carambola starfruit Sri Kembangan averrhoa carambola starfruit Fwang Tung averrhoa carambola starfruit Hart averrhoa carambola starfruit PossomTrot averrhoa carambola starfruit sdlg of Kari bouea macrophylla maprang/gandaria Kai butia capitata pindo palm jelly palm carica papaya papaya seedling carica papaya papaya seedling casimiroa edulis white sapote Redland casimiroa edulis white sapote Sue Belle casimiroa edulis white sapote Younghan's gold cereus peruvianus Pitaya Puerto Rican cereus peruvianus Pitaya ? chrysophylium cainito starapple color? citrus aurantium orange BLOOD citrus aurantium orange BLOOD citrus aurantium orange Florida Navel citrus aurantium orange Florida Navel citrus aurantium orange Red Navel citrus grandis pummelo hirado buntan citrus grandis pummelo chinese white citrus limon lemon Meyers citrus paradisi grapefruit Marsh Pink citrus paradisi grapefruit Rita's Pink citrus reticulata Satsuma Mandarin Owari Owari c. reticulata x paradisi tangelo x mandar. Page c. reticulata x paradisi tangelo Ugli c. reticulata x paradisi tangelo Ugli coffea arabica coffee seedling diospyros digyna black sapote grafted durio zibethinus durian seedling erybotria japonica loquat Bradenton erybotria japonica loquat Christmas diospyros digyna black sapote Joyner's everbear. eugenia braziliensis grumichama seedling eugenia braziliensis grumichama seedling eugemia cassioides monos plum seedling eugenia uniflora surinam cherry Zill Black euphoria longana longan Biew Kiew euphoria longana longan Kohala euphoria longana longan See Champoo euphoria longana longan E Daw euphoria longana longan Daigleman euphoria longana longan Tommy Wong euphoria longana longan rolling leaf euphoria longana longan seedling feijoa sellowiana feijoa or pineapple guava seedling guava Cooliidge ficus carica fig Celeste garcinia livingstonei Imbe seedling female garcinia mangostana mangosteen Grafted hylocereus ? Dragon Fruit Giant Vietnamese hylocereus ? Dragon Fruit Thai Red hylocereus guatamalensis Dragon Fruit American Beauty hylocereus polyrhizus Dragon Fruit Zamorano h. polyrhizus x undatus Dragon Fruit Delight h. polyrhizus x undatus Dragon Fruit Hailey's Comet h. polyrhizus x undatus Dragon Fruit Physical Graffiti hylocereus undatus Dragon Fruit Dark Star hylocereus undatus Dragon Fruit David Bowie hylocereus undatus Dragon Fruit Purple Haze litchi chinensis lychee Bengal litchi chinensis lychee Bosworth litchi chinensis lychee Bosworth 3 litchi chinensis lychee Bosworth 3 litchi chinensis lychee Brewster litchi chinensis lychee Brewster litchi chinensis lychee Emperor litchi chinensis lychee Emperor sdlg litchi chinensis lychee Farwell Farms litchi chinensis lychee Garnet litchi chinensis lychee Groff litchi chinensis lychee Hak Ip litchi chinensis lychee Hak Ip litchi chinensis lychee Hak Ip litchi chinensis lychee Kaimana litchi chinensis lychee Kaimana litchi chinensis lychee Kwai Mai Pink litchi chinensis lychee Kwai Mai Pink litchi chinensis lychee Kwai Mai Pink litchi chinensis lychee Large Early Red litchi chinensis lychee Mauritius litchi chinensis lychee Mauritius litchi chinensis lychee Ohia litchi chinensis lychee Ohia litchi chinensis lychee Red Ohia litchi chinensis lychee Peerless litchi chinensis lychee Pink Ohia litchi chinensis lychee Seymour litchi chinensis lychee Sweetheart litchi chinensis lychee Sweetheart macadamia integrifolia macadamia nut Dana White malus spiecies apple Fuji mammea americana mamey apple Kay Sweeny mangifera indica mango Angie mangifera indica mango AllampurBaneshanFairchild Gardens mangifera indica mango Alphonso mangifera indica mango Bailey's Marvel mangifera indica mango Beverly mangifera indica mango Bombay mangifera indica mango Brahm Kai Mea mangifera indica mango Brahm Kai Mea mangifera indica mango Carabao seedling mangifera indica mango Carabao seedling mangifera indica mango Carrie mangifera indica mango Carrie, seedling mangifera indica mango Chou Anon mangifera indica mango Coconut Cream mangifera indica mango Cogshall mango mangifera indica mango Cogshall mango mangifera indica mango Cushman mangifera indica mango Cushman mangifera indica mango Cushman mangifera indica mango Dian guaw mangifera indica mango Dot mangifera indica mango Dot mangifera indica mango Duncan mangifera indica mango East Indian mangifera indica mango Edward mangifera indica mango Edward mangifera indica mango Edward mangifera indica mango Edward mangifera indica mango Emerald mangifera indica mango Eweis mangifera indica mango Excalibur mangifera indica mango Extrema mangifera indica mango Fairchild mangifera indica mango Falang mangifera indica mango Florigon mangifera indica mango Gary mangifera indica mango Glenn mangifera indica mango Golden Lippens mangifera indica mango Graham mangifera indica mango Golden Nugget mangifera indica mango Haden mangifera indica mango Hatcher mangifera indica mango Ice cream mango mangifera indica mango Imam Pasand mangifera indica mango Irwin mandifera indica mango Ivory mangifera indica mango Jakarta mangifera indica mango Jean Ellen mangifera indica mango Jamaican Black mangifera indica mango Julie mangifera indica mango Kau Dwarf mangifera indica mango Keitt mangifera indica mango Kensington Pride mangifera indica mango Keow Savoy mangifera indica mango Kent mangifera indica mango Lancetilla mangifera indica mango Langra Benarsi mangifera indica mango Lemon Zest mangifera indica mango Madame Blanc mangifera indica mango Madame Francis mangifera indica mangi Malindi mangifera indica mango Mallika mangifera indica mango Mallika seedling mangifera indica mango Maha Chanook mangifera indica mango Maha Chanook mangifera indica mango Maha Chanook mangifera indica mango Maha chanook seedling (my seed) mangifera indica mango Maha chanook seedling (my seed) mangifera indica mango Maha chanook seedling (my seed) mangifera indica mango Martinez (Wolf) mangifera indica mango Martinez (Wolf) mangifera indica mango Mystery mangifera indica mango Nam Doc Mai mangifera indica mango Nam Doc Mai mangifera indica mango Nam Doc Mai See Tong..Bruce Livingston mangifera indica mango Neelum mangifera indica mango Nong Sang mangifera indica mango Okrong mangifera indica mango Okrong Pi Kun Tong Bruce Livingston mangifera indica mango Palmer mangifera indica mango Pettigrew mangifera indica mango Phillippine mangifera indica mango Pickering mangifera indica mango Pim Sen Mung mangifera indica mango Pim Sen Mung mangifera indica mango Piniero mangifera indica mango Po Pyo Kalay mangifera indica mango Rapoza mangifera indica mango Rataul mangifera indica mango Rhett Tong mangifera indica mango Rosigold mangifera indica mango San Felipe mangifera indica mango Sia Tong mangifera indica mango Springfels mangifera indica mango Southern Blush mangifera indica mango Spirit of 76 mangifera indica mango ST. Maui mangifera indica mango Tebow (ed x kent) mangifera indica mango Ta Rob Nok mangifera indica mango Tommy Atkins mangifera indica mango Tog Bi Con mangifera indica mango Tong Dam mangifera indica mango Thai Everbearing mangifera indica mango Thai Everbearing x Cushman (my seed) mangifera indica mango Valencia Pride mangifera indica mango Unknown seedling mangifera indica mango Vallanato mangifera indica mango Van Dyke mangifera indica mango Zill mangifera indica mango Zebda manilkara zapota sapodilla Alano manilkara zapota sapodilla Hasya manilkara zapota sapodilla Hasya manilkara zapota sapodilla Molix manilkara zapota sapodilla Oxcutzcab Melicoccus bijugatus mamoncillo PuertoRican melicoccus bijugatus mamoncillo PuertoRican monstera deliciosa monstera corm morus nigra mullberry Pakistani musa hybrids banana apple musa hybrids banana Goldfinger musa hybrids banana Brazilian musa hybrids banana ice cream musa hybrids banana Jamaican Red myciaria glomerata yellow jaboticaba seedling myrciaria cauliflora jaboticaba seedling myrciaria cauliflora jaboticaba seedling myrciaria cauliflora jaboticaba seedling myristica fragrans nutmeg seedling pachira aquatica malibar chestnut seedling passiflora quadrangularis granadilla cutting persea americana avocado Brogdan persea americana avocado Choquette persea americana avocado Doni persea americana avocado Miguel persea americana avocado Oasis persea americana avocado October persea americana avocado Russell persea americana avocado Pollack persea americana avocado sdlg flood resist. phoenix dactylifera date seedling phoenix dactylifera date seedling pouteria caimito abiu seedling pouteria caimito abiu seedling pouteria campechiana canistel Bruce pouteria Ross Sapote pouteria sapota mamey sapote Magana pouteria viridis green sapote grafted pyrus communis pear Hood pyrus communis pear Hood rheedia aristata same seedling rubus hybrid blackberry arapaho selinicereus megalanthus Dragon Fruit orange sk/pink fsh selinicereus megalanthus Dragon Fruit yellow selinicereus megalanthus Dragon Fruit yellow spondias dulcis ambarella seedling spondias dulcis dwarf ambarella seedling synsepalum dulcificum miracle fruit seedling syzygium javanica wax jambu Kun Klao syzygium javanica wax jambu Pink syzygium malaccensis Malay Apple seedling Tamerindus indica Tamarind seedling Tamerindus indica Tamrind Sweet (not) theobroma cacao Cocoa/Chocolate Red theobroma cacao Cocoa/Chocolate Green theobroma cacao Cocoa/Chocolate Yellow theobroma cacao Cocoa/Chocolate unknown pink vitus hybrid grape Tari's Burgundy Bunch Tari, Naples FL zyzyphus mauritiana Indian jujubee rootstock-thorny zyzyphus mauritiana Indian jujubee large sweet Other than these, I am not growing too much. Harry