Re: Planting leucadendrons

Hi Melissa-

I agree with everything David has laid out below, additionally would like to
pick up on a comcern about the ph of dg mentioned in an earlier thread. In
our area (NE Los Angeles),  the ph of the claiche tends to be low rather
than high, so you might want to use amendments and mulches that would not
exacerbate that, since the leucodendrons prefer a bit of acidity.

Let us know how it goes!

LC


on 1/29/03 10:03 AM, david feix at davidfeix@yahoo.com wrote:

> Hi Melissa,
> 
> I hope you don't mind also sending this to
> medit-plants as a continuation of your thread...
> 
> I haven't actually used dg pathway fines as a soil
> amendment with planting out Proteacae plants, but I
> would be concerned that there is the possibility of
> creating cement with your proportions as used, the dg
> could act like sand, and combine with the clay
> particles to become cement-like over time.  This is
> why it is generally recommended to use a coarser grade
> when amending.  It is not so much that the dg compacts
> over time, but that it can combine with the clay to
> become less permeable to drainage.
> 
> Replanting on slightly raised mounds along with humus
> and perlite certainly wouldn't hurt.  I'd also suggest
> doing a drainage test to see if mounding up will be
> necessary.  Roughing up the plant pits at the edges
> will also be good advice, and making the planting pits
> extra wide(3x to 4x root ball) and same depth as root
> ball is also good general practice with sensitive
> plants.  Adding gypsum(or lime, depending on your soil
> ph), as recommended can also help with getting clay
> soils to form aggregates, and give better drainage.
> 
> Working with clay soils when they are relatively moist
> is also much preferable to digging when too dry or
> wet, as they can be almost impossible under either
> condition, and actually be worsened if compacted while
> too wet.  Problems with roots not penetrating into
> surrounding clay soils are often worsened if the soil
> was further compacted under too wet conditions.
> 
> Hope this helps some.
> 
> Regards,
> David Feix 
> 
> 
> --- Stuart Swezey <ssamok@yahoo.com> wrote:
>> Hello
>> 
>> Thank you so much for your response to my mother's
>> call (on my behalf) for information regarding
>> leucadendrons and decomposed granite.
>> 
>> Unfortunately, at the time of her email, we had
>> already planted the leucs (about 3 weeks prior)
>> using
>> decomposed granite, at the strong recommendation of
>> someone we trusted. The DG is the kind used for
>> making
>> paths. Some of the plants are on a gentle slope,
>> some
>> not. We are very concerned now due to a lot of
>> things
>> we heard that the DG will compact and kill the
>> plants
>> in a couple of years.
>> 
>> I would like to ask you, if you have a minute: What
>> is
>> your experience with path-grade DG as a soil
>> amendment? (Basically we planted with 2/3 native
>> soil
>> and 1/3 DG -UGH.) We are considering digging them up
>> and replanting with a little composted bark and
>> pumice. Have you heard that DG compacts and causes
>> problems?
>> 
>> Thanks so much for your time.
>> 
>> Melissa Hoffs
> 
> 
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