David I live in palm bay,I could help and give you tipes.we should get together and talk.I have fought the same problems.

Dave - it could be that the soil is the culprit. Much of Florida's "soil" is sand with little organic matter. You could amend the soil before planting larger trees and palms, but smaller shrubs should do okay without any amendments.

The rule for perennials is that once in the ground, they sleep the first year, creep the second year and leap the third year. They are making roots and getting established the first two years (Yes, strange that it takes that long, but it does), and then they start growing like mad. That is my experience, anyway.

Here is a list of tipes I had to do to get things growing in my south Brevard yard,there is no water retention or organics in the soil. I added compost some I made from yard waist some is spent mushroom compost from monetary mushroom farm and some is from a guy on space coast Craig's list that gives away horse manure.I also add charcoal.next is micro nutrient,southern Ag makes a good spray on for fruit trees it is good for shot term,the best for long term I found it azomite,it volcanic soil.I get mine from the rare fruit tree club of Brevard in the spring when they do there fruit tree sale to the public.I also joined the club.you can also get azomite from ace hardware at u s 3 and 520 call first they don't always have it. Put down Epsom salt around everything.it helps plants put out new roots.and I put in water barrels.the plants don't like r well water.and I also put down 10/10/10 after all that my fruit trees finely started to grow.

I had the same thought as DG. Sleep, creep, leap,

Thank you all for the great tips!

Glenn,

I would like to dig a little deeper into your tips, if you don't mind. First, I do make and use my own compost and I even bought some spent mushroom compost (but haven't used it yet), so I feel I'm on the right track. When using these items, I would think I would dig an oversized hole for the rootball, then backfill with the compost. Is that what you would recommend? How "oversized" would you recommend the hole be dug?

I am not familiar with adding charcoal; can you tell me what type of charcoal and it's purpose? Regarding the micro nutrient from Southern Ag, this is just something that is sprayed on the foliage? I will look into the azomite immediately. Hot much/how often would you recommend I add Epsom salt?

Thanks everyone, I now have some good direction!

David, you should dig the hole three to four times the size of the root ball and fill with compost.if you have a water retention problem mound it up a couple of feet.the charcoal thing is a trick I picked up from a chemist friend.charcoal holds ten times it's wait in water so it helps with drought ,it also absorbs nitro when you fertilize locking it in place.this helps with run off and Seepage and keeps it in place for the plant to use.the tipe of charcoal I use is hard wood lump charcoal.I make my own with a fire pit in my back yard from burning oak.if you have to buy some I would use cowboy lump charcoal.the southern ag is a spray on the leaves.the Epson salt is a good hand full in the spring and fall or any time I feel it needs it.should be watered in.if you fish it's not a bad idea the throw the guts and left over parts in when you plant.ihope this helps let me know if you have any questions

I've never heard of adding charcoal. That sounds like a great idea. Does it affect PH much?

ut2nc, this is wood charcoal, not charcoal briquets. In permaculture circles it's called biochar. Here is some information on it.

Biochar FAQs

Ut2nc no it doesn't affect ph much