Planting an avocado tree

The four main things I pay attention to when planting an avocado tree: drainage, depth of hole, removal from container, and watering in.
For details on planting avocado trees, see my website here: gregalder.com/...

[@laurathayer559]

The video on planting an avocado tree from a container to the ground was very helpful. Do you have a video or any advice on how to remove my SirPrize avocado tree that has been in a half-wine barrel so I can plant it in the ground? It has been in this container since May 2021.

[@jamestnguyen2165]

Just found out Gray Martin who the GEM is named after is growing dragon fruit in fallbrook lol.

[@gregalderdotcom]

Yes, he made a big switch from avocado research to being all about dragon fruit.

[@QuickCookie]

What's your opinion about Anaheim avocado?

[@gregalderdotcom]

Anaheim is a nice but mild avocado. If you like rich or strongly flavored avocados, then Anaheim might disappoint you.

[@QuickCookie]

@@gregalderdotcom I understand. Thanks for your reply!

[@glennespinoza3085]

Hi Greg, I have really bad clay soil and I keep killing my avocados. Do you have any tips? I try to monitor the water and sun but I keep killing them. Thanks in advance!

[@gregalderdotcom]

Hi Glenn, That's a tough situation. Your best chance is through planting on a mound. See info on that here: gregalder.com/yardposts/how-to-plant-and-stake-an-avocado-tree/

[@spinnordoctor]

Hi Greg! I always appreciate your videos. Looks like we both are continuing to put in as many avos as we can fit! I just put in Another Fuerte Today. Got a Bacon, Ettinger, Reed (my 5th) Gwen, Pinkerton (my second) waiting to get planted. Where did you get the GEM? That one I am fixated on getting. I think I’m Going to need to come to SD county to get one bc I never see up here in Bay Area.

[@gregalderdotcom]

Hi Pat, It's hard to stop planting! I bought that GEM at Subtropica in Fallbrook. Soon, Maddock in Fallbrook should have some GEMs available. I know that Golden Gate Palms had some GEMs grown by Subtropica earlier this year, but I don't know of another nursery in the Bay Area ever carrying GEM. Check my page here for contact info for these nurseries (and I try to keep the page up to date on nursery stock, too): gregalder.com/yardposts/where-to-buy-an-avocado-tree/

[@spinnordoctor]

Thanks for advice. Glad to know I’m not the only one who is OCD about planting! Spent part of today planting two 5gal. I’ll probably end up going to Maddock next time I’m in Vista. I did see they list GEM on their price list page.

[@raulcasas4548]

I just bought a GEM from Golden Gate Palms in Richmond.

[@espartaco2028]

This isn't a comment on you but, the land. California seems to have some really crappy, super dry but clay rich soil. The "grass" looks absolutely tortured, like "grass in hell". Obviously, fruit trees and so forth do quite well. I'm having trouble with my Pomegranates here in sand-only soil Central Florida. I'm told it's the humidity. I admire your great success!

[@kimiyemlsmallgardendream8115]

Post hole digger would work better. How old does the tree need to be before planting in ground? I have 5 trees all under 2 yrs from seed.

[@gregalderdotcom]

Sure, you could use a post-hole digger. You can plant an avocado tree any time, even from seed. It's just that small, young trees are more vulnerable to cold damage and root competition from large trees so you want to keep that in mind.

[@kimiyemlsmallgardendream8115]

@@gregalderdotcom thank you 3 of the trees are about 9 in away from one another in a raised bed. I will need to get them out ASAP, and in their own space for root competition as you stated. ❤️

[@chaidezlsx]

What type of soil do you have greg? Is that sandy loam?

[@gregalderdotcom]

Yes, it's called Fallbrook sandy loam by the USDA

[@1949b]

good job greg.was that a sub tropica 3.5 gallon bag with a gem inside it. no gopher basket thats nice...

[@mangojones7443]

Hi Greg, love all your videos. Would you happen to know what might cause leaves to droop and drop from the top half of the tree while bottom half leaves still looks lively and normal?

[@williambutler4976]

Hi Greg, thanks for the video. What variety did you plant ?

[@gregalderdotcom]

Hi William, That tree was a GEM.

[@williambutler4976]

Thank you, I kinda suspected that it might be a gem.Thanks again for all of your informative videos. I really enjoy watching them.

[@frankyancy1347]

Lucky bum, always fun to plant a new baby. Some advocate a larger square hole, , but I plant like you small round hole a couple inches or so wider than root ball. Thx for the great videos. 😊 how many avos now? I'm up to 18, 16 varities.

[@gregalderdotcom]

So true, Frank. There's always a thrill of hope in planting a new baby avocado tree. I don't see anything wrong in digging a larger hole, except that in many cases it's an unnecessary waste of time and energy. I don't have that many trees that are bearing, really. I have a handful of mature, bearing trees, and a bunch of small young ones. I just love trying out new varieties and rootstocks and density and pruning styles.

[@GrowingSanDiego]

Great educational video. Do you have an “after planting” video on Avocados?

[@gregalderdotcom]

Try this playlist: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zqizk2mXopKXpbc

[@josr777]

Hi Greg great video. I want to plant my Hass grafted with Fuerte and Sharwill now in middle of May. I have sandy soil only in San Fernando Valley. I fertilize trees with rabbit manure. Do you think I should wait or ok to plant thank you

[@gregalderdotcom]

Hi Jose, Plant now, I say. Just be sure to water frequently if we get a heat wave in the next month or so.

[@frankyancy1347]

I've noticed when I buy the best avo at a nursery, and plant it, when I go back to the nursery, the avos I didn't pick often have grown better than the one I selected. I attribute this to transplant shock, better aeration in a pot, roots in pot warmer than in ground. What do you think? As a test my latest buy, Wurtz, I transplanted from #5 pot to #15 to see how it grows out.

[@gregalderdotcom]

I like your experiment. You might be on to something. It probably depends on many factors, including your soil, how well you water, the root competition from surrounding plants, etc. I will pot up a small avocado I have and see how well it grows through winter compared to the similar-sized trees I've just planted.

[@Sam-mc2dk]

Hi Greg, I really enjoy your videos. I live in Orange County California and I was wondering if it is ok to plant an avocado tree in the fall when it's cold? Thanks for all your work.

[@gregalderdotcom]

Hi Sam, Thanks. I can't think of any part of Orange County where it would be very risky to plant an avocado during fall or even winter. There's always the chance of a ten-year storm and temperatures dropping well below freezing even in Orange County. But such temperatures could still be mitigated with a little protection. If you do plant now, see my post about protecting avocados from cold just so you can be ready: gregalder.com/yardposts/protecting-avocado-trees-from-cold/

[@davidweber3658]

Hi Greg: I dug a big hole about 15" deep then filled it up with water. The first 15" is DG and sandy loam so it drains nicely - but underneath that is clay which does not drain. The water drains through the first 15" great then sits on top of the clay layer. I'm leaning towards planting on a mound. I would love to avoid the mound method, however. Thanks in advance for any advice.

[@gregalderdotcom]

Glad you did the digging and drainage test. You could dig into the clay to see if it's not very thick. If you can get through it, then you might be able to break it up and improve drainage in that spot to reduce the required mounding.

[@davidweber3658]

@@gregalderdotcom thank you. Planted the Lamb on level ground as a control. Next, two Reed and a Pinkerton on mounds.

[@organicgardening5989]

How do you water your avocados in summer months. Thanks

[@gregalderdotcom]

gregalder.com/yardposts/how-much-and-how-often-to-water-avocado-trees-in-california/

[@Mumin.Gardens]

Hey Greg how I’ve been watching your videos on avocados and I recently got a Gwen tree. In my front yard my soil after the first 3 inches is clay, I was thinking of making a raised bed 4x4 12inch or 24inch high and planting the tree in that. Is that okay would you recommend anything better? Thanks in advance

[@gregalderdotcom]

Hi Sam, That sounds good. I'd go 24 inches if you can.

[@Mumin.Gardens]

@@gregalderdotcom thanks I will do that this week. but one last question the tree won’t become root bound right, will the roots eventually work they’re way to the bottom clay soil?

[@gregalderdotcom]

The roots will eventually fill the space and make it down to the clay, but if you give them enough volume of happy soil they should be fine at least for a while.

[@Mumin.Gardens]

@@gregalderdotcom thanks for the information Greg, can’t wait to plant my Gwen avocado. I know you have one also, have you had a problem with the leaves falling off during the winter ?

[@gregalderdotcom]

No, but just like all other varieties, Gwen does drop many old leaves as it grows new ones this time of year.

[@laurathayer559]

I submitted a comment through your YardPosts but perhaps I should have asked for your advice through KZbin?