North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Leslie Moyer <unschooler@lrec.org>]

My serviceberries are growing slowly, too, but I planted them 2 years ago and 
since then I've been planting all of my trees and shrubs with a dusting (to 
the roots) of mycorrhizae spores and watering them in with humic acid.  It 
seems to really make a big difference--everything takes off so much faster 
and puts on new growth like crazy.  This is something you can add now by 
mixing them in a water solution and watering it in around the root zone of 
the tree.  It won't work as well as putting it directly on the root ball, but 
it's probably better than nothing.  You can read some about it (and see some 
comparative photos) here: http://www.fungi.com/mycogrow/index.html  His (Paul 
Staments) books have more info, too.  

Giving it plenty of water (you didn't say where you lived--if you live in a 
drier area they'll definitely appreciate supplemental water) and mulching 
around the root zone with leaf compost would help, too, if you haven't done 
that yet.  (The leaf compost will give the mycorrhizae something to feed 
upon, too, and will likely introduce its own natural supply of mycorrhizae 
spores.)  Other mulches work, too, but either leaf compost or ramial wood 
mulch (mulch made from small diameter branches and other bark) works best if 
you have it available.  

I'm putting mine on a drip tape and adding lots of leaf compost this year in 
the hopes it will spur faster growth. Good luck to us both!  :-)

Leslie Moyer
unschooler@lrec.org



On Jun 17, 2011, at 9:10 PM, Dan Nave wrote:

> I bought one of the Serviceberries from Gurneys last year and planted it in 
> my garden.  It said is 
> was Shadbush Serviceberry, I believe.
> 
> It is growing but is still quite a tiny plant probably not more than a foot 
> high in it's second 
> year.  It doesn't get a lot of direct sun because it's so damned small.  I 
> thought it would grow a 
> lot faster and outgrow the day-lilies that grow around it...
> 
> Anyone have any suggestions?
> 
> Dan
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