Agree 100% about the value of planting in a raised bed or a mound. We have a lot of clay soil here in the Central Valley, and planting in a mound or raised bed lets you plant in a well draining planting medium like basic topsoil or DG. Because the roots are above ground level and the planting medium is well draining, you don’t need to worry about the roots getting waterlogged during our winters. Another benefit of raised beds or mounds is that they raise the tree canopy a foot or two (not a big deal for most gardeners, but if you live outside the city limits and have deer like I do, getting that canopy above their reach is a big deal). You mentioned gypsum as a good amendment for clay soil, and it certainly is. But another great amendment is arborist wood chips - when used as a mulch and not mixed into the planting medium. When I plant larger trees, I don’t even bother digging a hole. I just rough up the soil where I want the tree to go, sit the tree on top of this, and then plant se topsoil to build a mound around the roots. I cover the mound with wood chips to prevent erosion. Has worked well for me, and allows me to plant larger trees during the summer when my clay soil is to hard to dig a 3 foot hole.
Great video, Jeff. According to my thermometer, it reached a very chilly 7.4°C (18.7°F) last night! That's quite unusual even for my location. I used incandescent lights and wrapped my avocado and clementine trees in frost jackets. It seems like it was able to keep them above freezing underneath. Thankfully it looks like it should start to warm up by the start of next week🤞
I plant a few avo trees in Fresno county in Dec/Jan and true it still cold and avo don't grow, but I hate them being in pots long at all more chance of developing rootrot if too much rain or I over water I think getting in ground is the lessor of 2 evils with so much better drainage.Though ideal months late Feb or march.
@@TropicalGardenGuy yes it's kinda of trade off ,pots in garage when rains hit would be good, I never thought about pots being colder but it makes sense esp the sides of the pot.
What’s your soil mix in the pots? I have some going on their 4th year in 25g grow bags and they are doing great. Soil is Top Pot. I don’t worry about overwatering at all.
Agree 100% about the value of planting in a raised bed or a mound. We have a lot of clay soil here in the Central Valley, and planting in a mound or raised bed lets you plant in a well draining planting medium like basic topsoil or DG. Because the roots are above ground level and the planting medium is well draining, you don’t need to worry about the roots getting waterlogged during our winters. Another benefit of raised beds or mounds is that they raise the tree canopy a foot or two (not a big deal for most gardeners, but if you live outside the city limits and have deer like I do, getting that canopy above their reach is a big deal).
You mentioned gypsum as a good amendment for clay soil, and it certainly is. But another great amendment is arborist wood chips - when used as a mulch and not mixed into the planting medium. When I plant larger trees, I don’t even bother digging a hole. I just rough up the soil where I want the tree to go, sit the tree on top of this, and then plant se topsoil to build a mound around the roots. I cover the mound with wood chips to prevent erosion. Has worked well for me, and allows me to plant larger trees during the summer when my clay soil is to hard to dig a 3 foot hole.
Agreed.
Wood chip mulch is great
Great video, Jeff. According to my thermometer, it reached a very chilly 7.4°C (18.7°F) last night! That's quite unusual even for my location. I used incandescent lights and wrapped my avocado and clementine trees in frost jackets. It seems like it was able to keep them above freezing underneath. Thankfully it looks like it should start to warm up by the start of next week🤞
Oh wow!
I’ve only gotten that cold once 35 years ago
Lol Jeff I'm not sure the soil would hit 60f here until around June 😂
I hear ya.
We are in a warm spell right now… 60’s everyday … though chilly 39f at night
@@TropicalGardenGuy haha we rocketed up to 40f today, just as well as I had to clean a car outside for a few hours 🤣
@@lyonheart84 We barely reached 1°C yesterday lol 😂
What did you graph the avocado tree onto?
Mex grande
I plant a few avo trees in Fresno county in Dec/Jan and true it still cold and avo don't grow, but I hate them being in pots long at all more chance of developing rootrot if too much rain or I over water I think getting in ground is the lessor of 2 evils with so much better drainage.Though ideal months late Feb or march.
Agreed though I have had issues if the rootball broke up at planting.
Once in the ground the rootball is actually warmer than being in a pot
I planted 3 avocados trees three weeks ago and another one today on a mound. No protection in zone 9a Paso Robles.
@@TropicalGardenGuy yes it's kinda of trade off ,pots in garage when rains hit would be good, I never thought about pots being colder but it makes sense esp the sides of the pot.
What’s your soil mix in the pots? I have some going on their 4th year in 25g grow bags and they are doing great. Soil is Top Pot. I don’t worry about overwatering at all.
@@GrowsGoneWildtop pot is great and my choice for long term planting
Fair to say soil temperature is equivalent to average air temperature for a given week?
Pretty close, but a soil thermometer will tell you for sure.
How deep in the ground do you check the temperature?@@TropicalGardenGuy
20 years ago
Yup, but plant a tree this year on a mound or raised bed, you’ll be getting more avocados than you can eat in 5 or 6 years
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😎🌴👍