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Madrone (Arbutus menziesii) soil needs

>From: Barry_Garcia@monterey.edu (Barry Garcia)
>Sender: Barry_Garcia@monterey.edu
>To: SAOUC@UCCMVSA.UCOP.EDU
>Date: Mon, 8 Dec 1997 16:03:06 -0800
>Subject: Re: Hail
>
> Sean,
>        Do you know if a native Arbutus ( A. menziesii ) Can survive in
> maritime chapparal soils? Its strang i know but i saw two 14 foot high
> arbutus' growing amidst pitcher sage, artemesia, salvia mellifera,
> manzanita, and ceanothus. I have never seen this before. Im wondering
> are these trees tolerant of maritime chapparal soils, or is the spot
> they're in acid ( ive heard they are lime hating plants)? Is this wierd?

Hi Barry -

I believe that Madrones are not so needy of acid soil as being
rather intolerant of alkaline water.  If your local water supply is
heavily alkaline (some in the Bay Area are), then you might consider
irrigating the first year with rain collected water or some other
non-alkaline source.  If you do irrigate with moderately alkaline
water, do so sparingly (good for this native anyway) and then very
deeply to flush any accumulated salts.  Since your soil is very
sandy, I expect you will not have this salt accumulation problem
anyway, and this perfect drainage is prefered by this Arbutus sp.
(its a crime to plant them on clay!).  As with all natives, planting
now will help the tree establish the best, and perhaps need minimal
supplimental irrigation over next summer (and none the following
summer).  These are handsome trees and well worth taking trouble
over.  Be sure and place it so that you may appreciate the beautiful
bark as well as the flowers and fruit.

 Sean A. O'Hara                     sean.ohara@ucop.edu
 710 Jean Street                    (510) 987-0577
 Oakland, California 94610-1459     h o r t u l u s   a p t u s
 U.S.A.                             'a garden suited to its purpose'
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