Starting All Over

leelee_2008

15 years ago

Hi Everyone!

It's been a while since I posted, I recently moved and didn't really have time to garden, but now that I am settled, it's once again time to start anew.

Currently I have quite a few plants and trees growing in containers but now I want to put them down in my new yard but have a few questions and need some advice and help.

When transplanting my more than likely rootbound fruit trees, would it be okay to slash the root ball like we do with annuals and then stick them in the ground? Would it be recommended to add some bonemeal to all the new planting holes before transplant or should I wait a few weeks before adding any sort of fertilizer or additive?

Next..the veggie garden: I've been doing raised bed square foot gardening in my last house and I think I want to do the same. I did the Mel's mix last time, but was wondering if anyone thinks a combination of the Mel mix and the Tapla mix will work in a raised bed?

Also a pruning question, I would like to keep my fruit trees small, if I plant them in ground, can I just cut the tops when they get too big or should I keep them in containers if I want them to stay small?

I'm sure I'll have tons more questions later on, but this will help me get started. Thanks in advance!!

oh and Tom, I gave my everglades tomato plant to a friend who was visiting from Orlando a few months ago when I started the moving process and she says she is getting fruit and loves it, so thanks, I'll be starting a new one for my garden next.

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Comments (8)

kayjones
15 years ago
Lee, please take a look at this site, about topping trees and why you shouldn't do it:

http://www.treesaregood.com/treecare/topping.aspx
leelee_2008
Original Author
15 years ago
thanks for the info and I don't plan on topping big trees like that, most of my trees are under 7ft tall and I want to keep them between the 7-10 foot height range, I guess keeping them in containers is probably the best way to retard growth and stopping them from getting to big.
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tomncath
15 years ago
oh and Tom, I gave my everglades tomato plant to a friend who was visiting from Orlando a few months ago when I started the moving process and she says she is getting fruit and loves it, so thanks, I'll be starting a new one for my garden next.

I did grow any this summer, missed them dearly :-( That won't happen again.... I'm trying a Sara's Galapagos now but none of the fruit are ripe yet...I'll be surprised if it really is different.

Tom
Randy Ritchie
15 years ago
Welcome Leelee-
I also moved and didn't have time for gardening. Now I'm coming up for air and got the bug to play in the dirt once again. You moved from where to where? We're in Fort Lauderdale, and just moved across town.

Randy
leelee_2008
Original Author
15 years ago
Hi Randy,

moved across town too, well not technically just a few miles away in Sunrise.

anyone has thoughts on the combination of Mel's mix (Sq foot gardening guy) and Tapla's mix (container forum guy) together in a raised bed?
leelee_2008
Original Author
15 years ago
Oh and has anyone had success planting ornamentals under a mango tree and what plants work well in dappled shade?

Would bromeliads and caladiums work?

and what about miniature roses along a driveway/walkway with southern exposure and full sun all day?

thanks in advance to any answers being offered up!
alexcortez
15 years ago
One advice on topping off tree: If you want to keep them small you should probably cut the top when they are only a few inches off the ground. I first did mine when they were a couple feet and then they branched out and became so top heavy they tipped over. I noticed that the trees I bought that were topped off were cut at a few inches off the ground.

Best
katkin_gw
15 years ago
I have all kinds of plants under my mango. Yes, bromeliads work well, but so do ti, variegated cast iron, caladiums, and begonias. I even have some different copper plants in the back ground too. :o)