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+--- Thread: Planting/Site work prior to building (/showthread.php?tid=17467)
Planting/Site work prior to building - Thronester - 07-31-2016
I've done some research on this subject and have heard some different opinions. Any first hand or expert advice would be appreciated. I hope this post will adhere to the topic guide lines of farming and gardening. Here's the full story.
I've got a lot on 1st/Kaloli in HPP. Relatively flat and mainly uluhe fern and ohia. The plan is to build a house in a few years when I can save up enough money. (5-7 years)
In the meantime I would love to get a head start on any site work and plant as many fruit trees and ornamentals that may require some time to grow. I would like to cut in a driveway , house pad, install the septic system and clear some space/ drill holes deep enough for planting fruit trees in one shot. I do not wish to use a d9 and rip roll the entire lot but would rather be selective about the amount of clearing. I'd like to plant some assorted ornamental palms, avocado, banana, Samoan coconut, rombutan, lychee, citrus, guava etc. I have seen some grafted trees and some 3-4 ft tall plants for sale at nurseries for a reasonable price and craigslist for free if you dig and transport.
Is it naive of me to think that I can buy these already started trees, put them in the ground, go back to the mainland for several months and expect them to grow with minimal care? I understand that there are risks of theft, drought and overgrowth that occur when someone is not there to watch over. Does anyone have firsthand experience with this? I have this vision of planting something, getting on an airplane and coming back to a leafless stalk! Also, any recommendations for an excavator operator who can do a curved driveway, septic system and create a natural looking clearing?
RE: Planting/Site work prior to building - Ronni - 07-31-2016
It all sounds great, but remember the Albizea will take over anything and everything. Use landscaping cloth around all plants,and Driveway that you have made. When you come back it will be overgrown with the Albizea trees, they grow 7-10 FEET a year and you will have to almost start all over again. Don't worry about watering them, I live on 29th and it rains every night here without fail.
veronica moore
RE: Planting/Site work prior to building - kumarsah - 07-31-2016
Thank you for asking these questions. I am a little bit of similar boat. I am on 10th avenue - live on the mainland- want to do some work now and come back and build more in few years from now.
I am looking to come up next fall, I want to only drill holes only as big a needed (no more, no less) and plant trees. I agree with doing everything to make sure any exposed landscape around the trees/pants are covered really well. As to the other efforts, I agree with Ronni, it is probably best to do all septic, construction and driveway efforts, only when you are there. I would just save the money in the meantime.
Another alternative may be to protect the cleared areas really well and also hire a local gardener to make sure he/she sprays around the cleared areas and around the planted trees, every 30 or 60 days. That may accomplish both someone looking out over the property and take care of it at the same time while you are away.
Matter of fact, I plan to do the same ting after I plant the trees. I want to test my theory of managing in this manner by visiting 1X per year for the next 3 or 4 years. I plan to do things you are talking about at that point in time (3rd year).
Hope this helps.
Kumarsah
RE: Planting/Site work prior to building - kumarsah - 07-31-2016
Please also see discussions -"Planting Trees"- section of this forum. Other forum members have provided advice/suggestions that are very helpful. We ask, learn and share, everyone on this forum is so awesome and wonderful. I am so grateful for their contributions.
Kumarsah
RE: Planting/Site work prior to building - EightFingers - 07-31-2016
It's drier at 1st than the higher up lots. There are periods when you need to water. There aren't any albezia trees in that area. Still lots get overgrown pretty quick. In a year, you'll have lots of tall grass and trash trees over 6ft tall. They'll definitely compete with your newly planted trees.
Citrus trees can get aphids bad and the fire ants "farm" the aphids and spread them around. Still, if you get some trees cheap, it might be worth taking a chance.
RE: Planting/Site work prior to building - bananahead - 07-31-2016
1st and Kaloli on a lot with natural uluhe and Ohia is going to be dry unless you bring in alot of soil.. fruit trees usually like more water and good soil..., check out whats growing nearby to the lot you have.... I know of one home on 1st there between Kololi and Paradise... they have good fruit trees but they also have alot of soil and thick water retaining lawns etc, its an older home.... the raw lots around it are infested with Autograph trees.. the Autograph trees can be a prob at times as the birds bring in the seeds and the trees often start in the crotch of an Ohia...
maybe try mango, avos, etc. the prob is if you are not there to water them in a drought, you may lose them, even a few years in when you think they are established, a good long drought can get them...
ps.
if you ever want native trees bushes or groundcover, these all naturally grow in that type of area.... Hala, Hala Pepe, 'Ohe makai, Maiden's Loulu, Ko‘oko‘olau (B.hawaiensis is native to Puna), Nehe, Kipuakai, Maiapilo, Pohuehue, Pa'uohi'iaka, Lama, 'Akoko, 'Awikiwiki, Wiliwili, Ka'e'e, 'Ohai, Naupaka kai, 'Ala'ala wai nui (Plectranthus parviflorus), Ko'oloa 'ula, Ma'o, Ma'o hau hele, 'Ilima, Naio papa, Pua kala, 'Ilie'e, 'Ulei, 'Akia, Alahe'e, 'Ili'ahi (Santalum ellipticum), 'Ala'a, 'Õhelo kai, etc.
******************************************************************
save our indigenous and endemic Hawaiian Plants... learn about them, grow them, and plant them on your property, ....instead of all that invasive non-native garbage I see in most yards... aloha
RE: Planting/Site work prior to building - Thronester - 08-01-2016
quote:
Originally posted by bananahead
1st and Kaloli on a lot with natural uluhe and Ohia is going to be dry unless you bring in alot of soil.. fruit trees usually like more water and good soil..., check out whats growing nearby to the lot you have.... I know of one home on 1st there between Kololi and Paradise... they have good fruit trees but they also have alot of soil and thick water retaining lawns etc, its an older home.... the raw lots around it are infested with Autograph trees.. the Autograph trees can be a prob at times as the birds bring in the seeds and the trees often start in the crotch of an Ohia...
maybe try mango, avos, etc. the prob is if you are not there to water them in a drought, you may lose them, even a few years in when you think they are established, a good long drought can get them...
ps.
if you ever want native trees bushes or groundcover, these all naturally grow in that type of area.... Hala, Hala Pepe, 'Ohe makai, Maiden's Loulu, Ko‘oko‘olau (B.hawaiensis is native to Puna), Nehe, Kipuakai, Maiapilo, Pohuehue, Pa'uohi'iaka, Lama, 'Akoko, 'Awikiwiki, Wiliwili, Ka'e'e, 'Ohai, Naupaka kai, 'Ala'ala wai nui (Plectranthus parviflorus), Ko'oloa 'ula, Ma'o, Ma'o hau hele, 'Ilima, Naio papa, Pua kala, 'Ilie'e, 'Ulei, 'Akia, Alahe'e, 'Ili'ahi (Santalum ellipticum), 'Ala'a, 'Õhelo kai, etc.
******************************************************************
save our indigenous and endemic Hawaiian Plants... learn about them, grow them, and plant them on your property, ....instead of all that invasive non-native garbage I see in most yards... aloha
Thank you for your insight. I'm going to rethink my plan a bit. It may be worth the wait. Droughts are something to be concerned about for sure. How much cinder soil do you feel would be adequate? I've heard of drilling a 4' deep hole or puka planting for an established tree