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| Here in southern California, is it best to wait until fall to plant a 15 gal. Chitalpa tree? The hole which was dug to place the tree is way too deep 3 1/2 feet, is that going to be an issue for development of the root system? Also, I've gotten different opinions on adding any amendments to the clay soil, any suggestions would be appreciated. |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by ricksample 6 (My Page) on Sun, Aug 26, 12 at 13:47
| I'd wait till fall... When the temps cool. How hot is it there now? A lot of people say not to add anything to clay soil, but I always do for my own person reasons. It just makes the clay easier to work with and your able to get more dirt around the plant instead of clumps. If the hole is to deep, make sure to fill it back in. Here to get better drainage in our clay, I always plant the to p of the root ball slightly higher than ground level. This helps water run away from the tree so it isn't sitting in water after hard rains. You never want to put your own dirt around the trunk of the tree. |
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| Temps now are between 75-80 here at the coast, but recently had much hotter than normal temperatures. This tree will be replacement for an 50 yr.+ coral tree in which the stump was thoroughly ground. I would like to plant the tree on a mound and also add succulents, is there any special mix I should use for the mound? |
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- Posted by ricksample 6 (My Page) on Sun, Aug 26, 12 at 14:18
| I plan to start planting here (Ohio) mid to the end of September depending on weather. I usually plant when temps are 70-75 for the high. Some say to plant when it's fully dormant, but I can't plant when it's that cold. I would just use native soil for the mound. I wouldn't make the mound to high. Maybe inclinded an inch or so that will allow for the water to run away from the tree. I don't see anything wrong with adding admendments, but others do. Like I said before, I don't do it for the trees benefits, I do it for my own. Whenever I plant 1 gallon trees, I always dig the soil from the hole then mix in a small handfull of black topsoil. It just allows me to get a more workable soil which will then allow the soil to be compacted around the rootball. Those that dig in clay soil know it's hard to break apart and to work with. |
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- Posted by gardengal48 PNW zone 8 (My Page) on Sun, Aug 26, 12 at 14:26
| As long as you are able to supply sufficient water, go ahead and plant any time you want. West coast planting practices tend to differ greatly from elsewhere in the country :-) A wide, but quite shallow planting hole is best for working with clay so make sure that deep hole is filled in properly and widened (3X the diameter of the rootball at least). No amendments. Place the rootball so that 1/3-1/2 of it is above grade and mound the removed soil up to the surface, firming it around the sides of the rootball. If you want to create a larger mound, fill in the planting hole entirely. You can then either place the rootball of the new tree entirely above grade and mound (as above) or create a higher, larger mound with imported soil. Just as long as the soil mix is very freely draining, you should be fine. Ideally the chitalpa and any surrounding plants should share the same water needs, both now through establishment and then down the road :-) |
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| Thank you very much for the information you provided! It's very helpful and I'm so happy to have found this website. |
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- Posted by ilovemytrees 6a Western NY (My Page) on Sun, Aug 26, 12 at 21:57
| I planted a Forsythia Bush a few days ago and it's as happy as a Lark! As long as you give it plenty of water (as was suggested above), the tree will be just fine. I totally agree with digging a wide hole. My poor husband. He, just for me, made the hole wide enough so that each root from the bush could be stretched out to it's fullest. lol I couldn't bare the thought of any root being curled up at the ends because the hole wasn't wide enough. But enough of my goofiness, yes, go ahead and plant now if you like. Just take good care of the tree, and mulch it and it'll be fine. |
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| I've been planting lots of things in my yard, and it's been around 95� the whole time. They're doing fine, just takes a lot of water until they're established. I've planted poinciana, Texas Olive, several crape myrtles, two Tecoma stans, several hibiscus, and smaller things. No problems with any of them. I'm the one that can't take the heat! And digging a large hole is better than a small hole. Just separate the roots a bit and don't plant it below the ground level. |
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