Planting fruit trees on pahoehoe lava?

[adias]

Want to incorporate fruit, nut and other useful species on a lot in orchidland that has a mixture on native and invasive species, without using fertilizer or herbicides. Although its a lush jungle, the property has little soil with pahoehoe lava. Want to keep the jungle but sneak in some useful trees and create a small food forest.

Like the idea growing cover crop to build soil and fertility and then plant the trees in a few years. But not clear how best to prepare the site in an environmentally responsible manner. Suggestions/advise gratefully appreciated.

[dayna]

The person that planted all our guava trees (long before we purchased the property) told us that he used a jackhammer and used that to do all 600+ guava trees. The roots broke up the lava as the tree grew larger and they are doing well with goats as fertilizer.

Dayna

www.E-Z-Caps.com

[Cagary]

At my place in Orchidland I had to use a small tractor with a hammer attachment to break up the lava. I made several holes about 6 feet wide and about 2 feet deep. Then I trucked in some good top soil material and planted lots of fruit trees. Over 2 years later, they are thriving with some producing fruit already.

I understand that you want to keep as much of the Ohia forest as you can, but you have to remember that fruit trees need as much sunlight as possible. Planting young fruit trees in the shadows of the forest will stunt them and cut down on fruit production and harm the overall health of the trees.

You don't need to use chemical fertilizers, but you will need to put down lots of animal manure around your fruit trees. The native forest trees do fine growing in the lava, but if you want to have healthy, productive fruit trees, you're going to have to feed them.

[adias]

Thank you for the excellent suggestions, if you know of anyone who has the equipment and skill to get the job done, can you please provide their contact information?

[pslamont]

when time comes and you have your holes dug, we have lots of sheep and chicken manure, well aged. I let people come get it. If you have something to "trade, barter of donate" in exchange that is cool and if not, it's yours anyway. YOU do have to bring some 5 gallon buckets t haul it out of the chicken houses and/or sheep pen and sheep barns. A couple people do it a few times a year now. Just email me through the forum.

Good luck

I want to be the kind of woman that, when my feet
hit the floor each morning, the devil says

"Oh Crap, She's up!"

[Rene Siracusa]

You didn't say which particular invasive species you have on your lot. If they are albizia, they have already contributed more than enough nitrogen,so don't add more until you have a soil test done. If they are albizia, remove them before doing anything else, because even if they are small now, by next year they will be huge and creating too much shade for your fruit trees. Once they are big it will be hard to get rid of them without damaging the good stuff.

A lot of lava land is not solid lava, but has cracks and areas that are lava free. And if you can remove the albizia (if that's what you have)you can use those holes to plant in.

[adias]

Mahalo Pam, appreciate it, if all else fails I will take up your offer (I am experimenting in building soil fertility growing green manure, to avoid getting hooked on external inputs, not clear now well thats going to go...)


Rene, no albizia, lot of strawberry guava. Soil Conversation Service is doing a survey and report, which includes soil test

[rainyjim]

how much does the survey, report, and soil test run ya Adias?

[adias]

Its a free service to encourage responsible property management, there is a long list, have'nt got to me yet, in a few weeks.

http://www.pia.nrcs.usda.gov/contact/off...ice=HiloSC

[rainyjim]

Thanks!