care and health maint for fruit trees

[Cappy]

Wringing wet with sweat on the way to pick up another sack of fert. it's amazing how the nieghborhood hole puncher gets heavier and heavier each year. Me and Peg got it about half done and its already break time. good thing we ran outa stuff cause it was high time for a break. While working in teh yard the boat batteries ARE CHARGING UP, it is also time to check on the sacs.

[keakar]

please tell me if this is a bad idea

I was thinking about making a hole in the plastic lid of a 5 gallon bucket and cut a slot in it so I can slip it around the trunk laying flat on the ground under my fruit trees instead of mulch. I was wondering if that might be a moisture trap and create a mold or root rot issue.

[Cappy]

I would not do it. 1. citrus trees once roots set grow fast. 2. As mentioned beffore ya gotta be very careful with fruit trees not to snick the bark. What ya talking about would be small and have sharp edges. just p;ile up grass cuttings leaves hey what ever ya got if ya dont wanna buy mulch natural is best anyways. Once they get big grass dont grow under them anyways. [/B]

[keakar]

I tried pulling out the grass but it takes 3-4 inches of soil with it and im afraid to disturb and replace soil that is that close to the roots.

its not a big issue and what I do now is cut within a few inches of the trunk then get on my knees to pull out the rest around the trunk itself down to the roots of the grass.

I guess its best to leave well enough alone and just let the mulch kill the grass instead of trying to get rid of the grass first.

does the mulch have anything in it that kills the grass or does it just deprive it of sunlight so it dies?

see post below for more questions

[keakar]

part 2 of above post:

I saw cappy mentioned he uses cypress mulch, is that the best one? what do you other guys use?

I never knew there were so many different types of mulch to choose from lol.

how much should I buy for each tree? half a bag each or a whole bag per tree?

having never mulched anything before I need instruction on how to do it, how thick should I put it around the trunk and how far out from the trunk?

[swamp snorkler]

Buy whatever mulch is cheapest and form a 2' diameter circle up about 8-10" around the base of the tree.

[Cappy]

Cappy did not mention cypress mulch somebody else did. I use hey, grass cuttings from the mower, leaves, pine needles etc. In short what ever is around. Ya aint gotta buy mulch. What mulch does is block sunlight but if ya use natural stuff it will also compost and hold moisture. It's main purpose is to kill grass close to teh tree that is dangerous to cut or weed eat. You can also use ground cover. like monkey grass or something edible like mint.

[keakar]

thanks for all your help guys, think i'll try the grass clippings since they are free and readily available

[Cappy]

I was out this morning picking some grapefruit and I notices the tree as well as other citrus in the yard was full of buds on te verge of bustin'out in bloomage. I guess spring really is here.