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Citrus
kcandmilo

Planted too close?

9 years ago

A friend came over yesterday and said that the 4 foot clearance I have between my newly planted dwarf Calamondin and dwarf variegated is not going to be enough! (I hadn't planned on them being so close, but I ran into drainage pipes and had to scoot each tree about a foot in towards each other.) She says uproot and move now, other friend says they won't grow very big, and I can prune the inward facing branches as they have room to grow outwards and keep in the otherwise desirable location.) Opinions? Advice?

KC

Featured Answer
  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Or you can make a citrus hedge. Your trees are pretty close at only 4' apart but they're dwarfs so it is probably still doable. Here is a good read on citrus hedging.

    http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/1832673/citrus-hedge-what-to-take-into-consideration?n=35

    Evan

    Comments (13)

    • 9 years ago

      You can also lean them a foot or 2 away from each other. I have found this to be very productive for more space when roots are forced to close together. I would not dig them up.

      6b Steve

      kcandmilo thanked poncirusguy6b452xx

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    • 9 years ago

      Evan, they are in a triangle with my old dwarf lemon, and each little tree is about 4 feet from the other. I looked at the hedge, and it seems like even if my trees are not in a straight line, it's not going to be a disaster!! Thank you! ( Also while reading that thread, it seemed like a French drain was a good thing to have in my clay soil. One of the pipes that prevented me from optimal placement was a french drain, so I think that might be a good thing? My city requires swales and french drains to refill the water table.) Now to go figure out how wide my dwarf avocado will grow, and figure out where I plant it!! And how to protect my new plantings from the 100 degree heat wave we are getting for a week! And stake the tomatoes, fret about the wasps nests...

    • 9 years ago

      Steve, you mean literally lean? Like gently point the trunks away from each other? And thank you! I wasn't looking forward to digging in this heat!

    • 9 years ago

      Yeah. The trees will straighten out and give you another foot or two of separation.


      He knows what he's talking about.

      kcandmilo thanked pip313
    • 9 years ago
      last modified: 9 years ago

      Yes I really do men lean

      This above is much better

      than

      that below

      Keep in mind that these trees dwarfs and aren't growing 60 ft tall so tipping over in wind is no risk

      6b Steve

      kcandmilo thanked poncirusguy6b452xx
    • 9 years ago

      Cool! So right now, while the soil is still uncompacted, push the trunks askew?

    • 9 years ago

      And did you just come up with that illustration! How cool can you get?

    • 9 years ago

      Kcandmilo, yes a French drain is a VERY good thing in clay soils, it will help water Perc better and let the roots breathe without getting too water logged.

      Evan

      kcandmilo thanked evdesert 9B Indio, CA
    • 9 years ago

      I just drew that. It took about 10 minutes. I'll keep it on file for future postings.

      6b Steve

      kcandmilo thanked poncirusguy6b452xx
    • 9 years ago

      I just went and leaned on the trunks! It was scary! I felt like I was ripping the roots out! I'll try to do it in gentle increments!

    • 9 years ago

      I would dig out the side you're going to lean them towards rather than just pushing them over, you could damage roots or possible the graft if the trees aren't that old.

      Evan

      kcandmilo thanked evdesert 9B Indio, CA
    • 9 years ago

      Oh thanks! I am too much of a newbie to figure this out without all your help!!

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