Plants which need little care

[Mr nice guy]

Aloha and Happy Friday!

I'm heading to the island in a couple weeks (ticket has been purchased) and was hoping that I might be able to get some work done on some overgrown property. The plan is to cut down some sg, poison the trunks, lay down some landscape fabric and plant a few plants which will need minimal (or zero) care in my absence. The idea is to grow things which I can use to propagate later or simply dig and relocate. If it dies, it dies. I'm not spending a lot of money and I am aware that drought periods do occur. I was thinking bananas, non-invasive bamboo, ground cover, pigeon pea and anything else which might shade the ground.

If you have any thoughts on soil preparation, particularly mulching, species, plant sources, tips, hints or clues, kindly share[]

Property is in Mountain View and at 1400'.

If you have some of these plants already rooted and are willing to sell some or trade some labor or even a combination of both, let me know. It would be nice to meet a fellow punawebber or two even though I will probably only be there a couple months this time.

Mahalo, and have a fantastic weekend!
mng

[kalakoa]

Pigs will dig up and/or eat things while you're gone. Strategies I have used:

- plant in a fissure so the pigs can't reach (some fissures also have great drainage, so work well for citrus and avocado)

- use black cinder instead of mulch or dirt (it has no smell)

- temporary pig fencing around the new plantings (4 pallets screwed together, slats horizontal not vertical)

[Mr nice guy]

Thank you for your reply, Kalakoa.

Haha, funny I didn't consider the piggies despite having seen their damage and even snaring a few.

I shall be sure to stake, wire, gather some pallets and try to hold the piggies back.

Mahalo.

[Mr nice guy]

My bad...I rediscovered the search function and have found plenty of useful tidbits.

If anybody has anything to add which might not be covered there, kindly share.

lol, thanks Kalakoa...I was preparing to make an offering to the pigs until you said something.

In the market for banana keikis, peanut grass, a couple trees, landscape fabric, friendly advice, etc.

[kalakoa]

Pigs love banana plants.

Landscape fabric: Rudy's Shade.

Everything else: Maku'u market (sigh).

Farm Supply Coop is generally worth the membership dues.

[Mr nice guy]

Thank you for all the tips.

I had no idea pigs like bananas...I've never seen them make trouble with them but maybe they had better stuff to eat.

Love makuu market.

Never hear of fsc. Going to have to look that one up. They have hot dipped fencing and wire?

[kalakoa]

I should write a resource directory.

Fencing: either Miranda's or Del's, but Miranda's has more stuff, and they do custom work.

Pigs will eat just about anything that fits in their mouths. Banana plants are full of water, so become very attractive during a drought.

[terracore]

The pigs can be brutal, but they seem less interested in non fruiting citrus and avocado. They will still root them up looking for grubs etc but the plants themselves don't seem to attract them. When older, when they do start fruiting, the trees may be big enough to survive the pig's curiosity. Avocado pits are free when you eat avocados and many of them will just grow if you toss them into the jungle. Growing from pits may not be good producers but the trees grow fast and make good shade.

[Mr nice guy]

Thank you, Terracore.

Do you think driving foot long pieces of rebar near the trunk will help keep down the rooting?

[terracore]

You didn't say where your property is, but I doubt you have 12" of soil. Pigs aren't good climbers. When we had a lot near Volcano they left everything alone that was surrounded by a rough minimal rock wall.