GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post

12-03-2006, 06:01 AM posted to rec.gardens

On 12 Mar 2006 05:50:28 GMT, wrote:

I live in a small rental house with a small garden in Sunset zone 22-23. I
hae filled all the beds with flowers. I usually have no problem growing
anything but now am stumped. The ground here is heavy clay. I am on teh side
of a hill so it tends to be wet clay from people higher on the hill
watering. In the raised beds and planters no problem, but I have been trying
for years now to grow a small tree.

For the first tree, I dug a decent hole about 2-3 feet deep and 3 feet wide.
I used compost and mulch and all. It (a Meyer Lemon) drowned. The second
tree I dug the hole deeper and used more compost. It drowned. The 3rd tree -
a Mimosa seems to be officially dead. The hole has standing water. It smells
sour and mildewy. Did I mention this is Los Angeles? The desert? I know
there is no issue of underground wells, broken pipes, etc just there is
an orchard up the hill from me and all the water drains down and puddles in
my back yard. Plus I water a lot as I have roses, jasmine, fucshias,
begonias, impatiens and all kinds of water looving flowers.

So if I dig another hole - like 6 feet deep and fill it with gravel?
compost? planting soil? what? Can I then plant another mimosa and hope it
won't jsut drown as I have improved the drainage?

Any ideas?
Hilda

My idea would to not use any material other than the clay you dug out
of the hole, then you won't be building a tub that will trap water.
Throw in some gypsum if you like, it is said to release the clay
somewhat. I'm up in Ventura county, the ranchers here who grow citrus
don't amend the soil when they plant. If anything, you could mound
the soil a bit to keep water from running into the planted area, too
much water kills citrus.