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As to the size of holes for trees, are there recommended dimensions ('x' feet deep, and 'y' feet wide) - for big trees(i.e. 30 ft canopy), med size (15 ft canopy) and small (i.e. palm trees etc.).
Electric jack hammers, how does one hire people to do the work, you mentioned that you can rent the hammer at the rental place, how do you find/contract for the guys that will do the work and are reliable? Is it recommended to hire the worker per day? per hour, etc? or are there companies that specifically contract to do the job?
Thank you.
Kumarsah
Kumarsah
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Fence guys do a lot of jack hammering, maybe one of them will do a side job for you.
Otherwise, you can rent a decent size one for about $120/day from Home Depot. If you do it yourself, get the chisel not the point. The point just drives into the rock and gets stuck.
Puna: Our roosters crow first
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Excellent suggestion. Thank you.
Kumarsah
Kumarsah
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How about Coconuts? I was amazed to see in Kalpana the whole coconuts were placed in seemingly hard fairly smooth surface of the lava rocks, and they seemed to have sprouted into a little tree and somehow gotten its roots to go down into those rocks. Does anyone understand how that even happens?
Kumarsah
Kumarsah
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EightFingers, how big (feet wide/deep) would you recommend I have it dug?
-- for big trees(i.e. 30 ft canopy)
-- med size (15 ft canopy)
-- small (i.e. palm trees etc.)
Kumarsah
Kumarsah
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Coconut trees, ohia trees and probably several others can squeeze their roots into the smallest cracks. Inching their way down to moisture and nutrients that settle in these areas. The roots feed the tree, the tree grows, and the roots grow proportionally. It is quite amazing how these trees can survive on a barren field but the forest has to start somehow. Also the roots are so powerful that over time they can bust through the rock with expansion and force. You've seen trees roots ruin parking lot areas before.
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If you need the certainty of specific dimensions, it might be best to hire a landscape architect.
Otherwise ... dig what holes you can, plant the trees you want. If conditions aren't ideal, maybe the trees are slow to grow, or don't reach their maximum size -- and this might even be the right answer on a smaller lot.
Another approach: flood the lot with black cinder and mulch to about 18-24" deep, then plant anywhere...
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Kumarsah,
I didn't dig holes, brought in a LOT of dirt and cinders. By a lot I mean 12 dump truck loads. Made it easier to plant trees anywhere I want. I put rings of rocks around them and put some mulch in the rocks.
Puna: Our roosters crow first
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I planted a few coconuts on my lot. Planted them in some loose lava not very thick maybe a few inches... They took off and did great,.. however one did blow over in a windstorm. I thought I'd have to cut it up into pieces and plant another, but to my surprise, in 2-3 weeks, it started to grow upright again. Now it's growing just as good as the rest of the trees and even the last wind storm it made it ok.
I want to plant some lemon trees that I started from seeds, and my plan is to make 3x3 planters out of old scrap 2x4 and some old plywood (about 3' hight). Fill with topsoil ... Let the plant take off, and hopefully it will dig down in time breaking up and getting it roots into some of the cracks in the lava. Dunno how well my idea will work but, probably better than using old tires.
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Does anyone know of someone I can hire to drill planting holes? Does this method yield fruit trees as strong as those on a ripped lot?
