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nafex - Re: [nafex] Fruit trees -- high water table

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  • From: Road's End Farm <organic87@frontiernet.net>
  • To: mailing list at ibiblio - Northamerican Allied Fruit Experimenters <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [nafex] Fruit trees -- high water table
  • Date: Sat, 7 Jan 2017 11:20:43 -0500

If the primary problem is the acidity level, not the drainage, I actually
wouldn't be too worked up about that. It's much easier to raise pH than it is
to lower it. Lime will need to be applied from time to time, but it's
unlikely to be needed every year. Getting it worked through the soil takes
time, especially if you're not tilling; but you could probably get some of it
worked in while digging planting holes.

Get a good soil test done on the specific site -- that's how you know how
much to apply; there is definitely such a thing as too much -- and get
another one done about every three years, to check when and whether you need
more. For orchards generally you should do a subsoil sample as well as a
sample taken nearer the surface. Your county extension office should be able
to give you instructions for taking the samples, and may even be able to do
the tests.

Check what type of lime you should be applying -- some limes are high in
magnesium, for instance, and some soils are already naturally high in it also
-- you need a complete soil test, not just one for pH. And check what pH is
recommended for the particular species you're planting -- quite a lot of
fruits (and for that matter vegetables) either prefer or comfortably tolerate
a slightly acidic soil.

Composting will also help; but I wouldn't dump a lot of wood on the site and
plant shortly thereafter -- in the process of breaking down the wood will
temporarily tie up a lot of nitrogen. If you've got an area you expect to
plant in eventually but not for some years, you could spread high-cellulose
stuff over there. If you'd be living there and heating with a wood stove,
note that wood ash will also raise pH, as well as return some other nutrients
to the soil.


-- Rivka; Finger Lakes NY, Zone 6A now I think
Fresh-market organic produce, small scale








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