Planting Trees

[Rob Tucker]

I think you might want to ask your questions with:

College of Tropical Agriculture
https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/site/ExtOverview.aspx

HILO-Komohana Research and Extension CenterLocation of KREC
Phone808)969-8201
Fax: (808)981-5211
E-mail (Extension): komohana@ctahr.hawaii.edu
E-mail(Research): beaumont@ctahr.hawaii.edu
Interim County Administrator: Susan Miyasaka
Mailing address:
875 Komohana Street
Hilo, HI, 96720


If you are going to invest the time, effort and expense of fruit trees you should definitely get the best advice on how to launch.

[kalakoa]

An excavator (with a hammer) can be used with "greater precision" than a D9.

[ElysianWort]

I would be worried about holes with standing water and not enough drainage with such a method.

edited for subject clarification:

(drilling the holes that is)

[kalakoa]

holes with standing water and not enough drainage

Depends on the rock. I have lots of the soft black kind with big air pockets, the holes drain just fine. Blue rock would form a natural pond.

[ElysianWort]

Yup that's what I was talking about. I got the blue-rock everywhere here if you go down far enough. Definite natural pond.

[dan d]

Been there. My first set of citrus trees i did 2-3 foot deep holes. 7 years later those trees are about 15 ft tall. My next set of trees will have 6 foot arround 4 ft deep holes. If you do bannas u should make a 4 ft wide 3 ft deep trench, i did this on my moms in ainaloa and that was the ticket ,its expensive as here in puna u will have to hoeram a hole. Te idea of making a pocket of rocks will work but eventually the tree will max out as the tree is just growing in a rock pot and roots will only go so deep.

Surface root trees like pines,albezia etc will do fine as there roots are surface kind.
Most taproot species are going to suffer. We have been testing a type of Ohia health inhancement lately and find if u catch your grass cuttings and put them on the base of your trees ,they will thrive. A healthy ohia is more likely to be able to fight off rod(rapid ohia death)
Lots of reasources at cthar publications search
Aloha


HPP

[dan d]

Speaking of citrus trees. Im looking for someone that has some grapefruit trees,to do some cuttings. I will reciprocate by offering my Washington navels and meyers lime in trade. I also have a huge amount 15 ft.Root stock trees ,these you do an air layer and come back 3 months later,cut and plant. After the root stock recovers, we splice your favorite citrus onto it,simple. My friend in mtn view used to teach yellow ohia air layers,and would be happy to give another class ,as i would also.
2013 master gardener certified
Aloha


HPP

[soniahi]

Fingers crossed I've got that soft black rock - I'll have to find out. Maybe with that kind of rock even just mounding would suffice without drilled holes? Or as another post here mentioned, finding pukas/cracks to mound on top of? Just not sure how trees like jackfruit or breadfruit will respond to mounding without digging or ripping

Thanks Rob - will be calling that number soon!

[Rob Tucker]

...not sure how trees like jackfruit or breadfruit will respond to mounding without digging or ripping....

that's why you should contact the Ag extension service. It is free and can be very helpful.

A lot of times people assume they need a lot of dirt. Not always true.

[Lolo]

I purchased a breadfruit grafted tree from Plant It Hawaii three years ago. Dug out a few blue rocks, lava, added a little compost from my pile. Tree is about ten feet tall and producing fruit. First year, nothing, second year, fruit fell off after reaching baseball size. If you mound over blue rock once roots get to the rock, more than likely they'll cook and die from heated rock. Just
my experience. Also a Master Gardner in HPP