Where do you live? What kind of weather will you get for the next few days? Do you have pics? I am just glad you are ok. I am sure your trees will be ok. They will do just fine)

I'm sorry to hear that. I hope they will be ok!

I live in Colorado in a zone 6. The weather should be mid-70s (Fahrenheit) and possibly more rain. I have pics but I was having trouble connecting them to the post, but now I figured it out and here is the damage:

I hate hail. We have not had a hail storm for over --------------april 3 1974. It came with an f 5 tornado.

I am so sorry for this...((

They will come back, but even stronger and better and grow to their full potential if you open up the mix now while you can)

That means you use a much more porous mix, one that provides oxygen to the roots and one that allows you to water freely, without fear of rot. Without the fear of tons of rain..You can watch them grow to their FULL potential and not just struggle along...

Mike

We got 5 inches of rain in that 24 hour period of storms. That is a surprising amount of rain considering I live at an elevation of 6,277 feet in Colorado Springs, and in this area of Colorado the climate is an alpine desert, so 5 inches of rain in 24 hours is a lot of rain in that short period of time. I don't think those poor trees have ever gotten that much water all at one, so my question is should I change the soil they are in since I know it is waterlogged? If I should change the soil, should I change it to that 5-1-1 mixture, and if so, what are the ingredients for it?

no need to change the soil. The excess water draind out the bottom and your trees just had a good flushing. Carry on as normal.

6b Steve Cincinnati, Oh

Charles, didn't you read the post I wrote you after you did on Monday?

If you want to grow VERY HEALTHY trees to their full potential, I would absolutely change the soil mix, and not carry on as usual That soil mix looks way to dense and will be the demise of your trees in time...Sorry Steve)

The easy way out is to carry on as usual.. I am sorry, but for your area, those trees look like they could do a whole lot better looking at the leaves that have not been affected by the hail)

Mike

I'll agree with Mike on this. I had forgoten that you had a box mix soil

If I do need to change the soil, please tell me what to change it to and where to get it or how to make it. Recently, I did change the fertilizer to Foliage Pro and a bit of vinegar to adjust the pH levels. I am new to citrus, so I would appreciate suggestions for bettering the trees.

Search for 5-1-1 or gritty mix. I like the 5-1-1 better because it is much lighter and I also find the ingredients easy to find. I totally agree...change the mix and your trees will thank you!

My version of Al Tapla's 5-1-1 Mix

· 5
parts pine bark mulch (remove ½” pieces through 1/2 inch screen)

(Some people use Repti Bark instead of
mulch. This does not require screening but may require more frequent watering.)
Be sure to soak the bark overnight.

· 1
part sphagnum peat

· 1
part perlite (coarse, if you can get it)

· 1 Tb garden
lime /gal 5-1-1 mix (measure the 5-1-1 mix)

· Osmocote
plus (follow manufacturer’s instructions

Moisten well and wait at least 2 days before using

Vladimir, do you just have a document you use for the 5-1-1 recipe...you are always the one to be nice enough to post it. I think I will create a note with your recipe and post it whenever necessary (with credit of course ;-)

Laura, yes I do have a Word doc that has soil mix, fertilizer and watering recommendations I keep on my desk top.

Do I have to use the Osmocote plus, or will the Foliage Pro work just as well as a fertilizer?

Thank you for the previous suggestions.

Osmocote is used as a backup. I believe most people on this forum use it but it is certainly optional.

Yep...as Vladimir says, I like to stir it in because it if I don't have time to fertilize (or if it rains a lot and the FP washes out), then that is there to provide nutrition.

How much time do the citrus trees have in their waterlogged soil until they start to decline? I bought the ingredients for the Al Tapla's 5-1-1 mix yesterday and soaked the pine bark overnight, but we will, apparently, receive more hail today with strong to severe storms, so I cannot mix the ingredients together outside because it will be hailing soon. Do any of you have suggestions on how to do this with little to no mess inside instead of mixing all the components outside in the hail? Living in the hail capital of the world really complicates things and makes gardening harder.

Charles, I leave my reptibark sitting out in a big bin for days...no damage there. I then scoop up the dripping bark and mix it with the rest of the ingredients. Ideally, you should mix, then leave moist for a couple of days to let the lime begin to react, but I do not. As far as how long before they deteriorate, you should be fine...a few days will not hurt much. Just wait till the storm passes. Make sure you put in the lime. I am also a lover of Oscomote plus since I sometimes do not have time to feed with FP. Plus, we get lots of rain here sometimes, and I feel reassured that the rain is releasing the additional nutrients.

Laura..PERiECT advice!! That is what I do with my repti-bark..Make a HUGE difference in holding water capacity...

Charles, I hear you, check out my hail thread from earlier this summer. Brutal!!

http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/4077271/so-im-pretty-sure-hail-isnt-good-for-citrus?n=25