NorthEast Florida = zone 8 or 9.
My wife was given a White Grapefruit tree
and will plant it this week. Please share
some experience and advice on this.

1) With 50' trees shading the east side,
there'll be NO direct sunlight 'til 11 AM at best.
If she plants in the center of the yard, we can
improve that by an hour, but will lose perhaps
an hour late in the day. If she crowds the
tree line, she will lose another hour early,
but will gain shelter from north winds in winter.
I (the newbie) favor the most sunlight. She
(the experienced) likes the more shady area.

2) Tag says use Acid fertilizer. We know
lime would be alkali, but what is acid? The
trees include pine, which I think acidifies the
soil, such that azaleas love it. We are open
to any and all advice here.

THANKS in advance.

Scott

in article , Scott McCall at
wrote on 5/11/03 8:56 AM:

2) Tag says use Acid fertilizer. We know
lime would be alkali, but what is acid? The
trees include pine, which I think acidifies the
soil, such that azaleas love it. We are open
to any and all advice here.

I live in California, so I am not familiar with Florida conditions.
Elemental sulfur will be acid in time. Gypsum, calcium sulfate in more time
will do the same. Ammonium sulfate is acidic. Acid phosphates will be acid.
Although, I do not know for sure, this suggests using potassium dihydrogen
phosphate in order to get potassium as well. Ammonium nitrate is acid but if
you use it, you may be pegged as a terrorist.

If willing to pay more but not outrageously, Miracle-Gro makes a number of
acid fertilizers. I think that Peter or Peters makes a competing product.
The both are owned or were owned by Scott, the grass fertilizer company.

Bill

When the ancient war dogs did battle on Sun, 11 May 2003 15:56:15 GMT,
Scott McCall did speak the following bit of
wisdom:

2) Tag says use Acid fertilizer. We know
lime would be alkali, but what is acid?

Miracid by Miracle Grow is an excellent feed for acid-loving plants.
* * * * *
Karen C.
Southern CT / USDA Zone 6
Spammers be damned! I can't be emailed from this account...

"Gardeners know all the best dirt!"

On Mon, 12 May 2003 02:40:24 GMT, wrote:

Excellent help on the acid fertilizer. Thank you both.

Miracid by Miracle Grow is an excellent feed for acid-loving plants.
* * * * *
Karen C.
Southern CT / USDA Zone 6
Spammers be damned! I can't be emailed from this account...

"Gardeners know all the best dirt!"

Is FULL SUN good? Should we emphasize sun in placement?
Is partial shade a bad idea? Thanks for any further advice.

Scott

In article ,
Scott McCall wrote:

On Mon, 12 May 2003 02:40:24 GMT, wrote:

Excellent help on the acid fertilizer. Thank you both.

Miracid by Miracle Grow is an excellent feed for acid-loving plants.
* * * * *
Karen C.
Southern CT / USDA Zone 6
Spammers be damned! I can't be emailed from this account...

"Gardeners know all the best dirt!"

Is FULL SUN good? Should we emphasize sun in placement?
Is partial shade a bad idea? Thanks for any further advice.

Scott

Absolutely! Citrus needs all the sun it can get. I have
6 citrus trees most over 12 yrs old. I fertilize them monthly
in Jan., Feb, and Mar. per my citrus book.

Zone 10 - S. Cal
--
Steve O The best defense is an effective offense. Sun Tzu ca. 525 BC

AS it appears you seem to like Sun Tzu, I for one would appreciate you
quoting him correctly. Wherever you got that line - it is not Sun Tzu