Square holes!

nickkrumrei

Member

• Today at 9:27 AM

• #1

I am a seasoned gardener - the son of a landscape professional. That said I try to watch observantly to others techniques. I learned that a person ought to dig a square hole when planting fig trees (theoretically ALL trees) when the soil is clay or heavy. It prevents the roots from growing in circles.

Am I the last person to know this?

 

betdempster

Well-known member

• Today at 9:43 AM

• #2

Nope! I just learned it recently too. And I have heavy clay and rock soil so I have gotten a flat shovel thing to square it off when I plant my inground trees in the spring. Oh hey hello fellow Texan!!!!

 

superdave336

Well-known member

• Today at 9:48 AM

• #3

It doesn’t have to be square but the edges need to be jagged enough the roots catch and don’t spiral around but dig in to native soil.

 

ktrain

Moderator

• Today at 10:04 AM

• #4

The holes I dig are not round, but not square either. lol

I make deep slices into the sides to avoid circling.

 

Kompakfigs

Well-known member

• Today at 10:34 AM

• #5

Similar to 4x9 tree pots, square holes prevent the circling of roots. The tree will find a way to get nutrients and moisture.

 

BucksCountyFigs

Well-known member

• 12 minutes ago

• #6

Having gardened in the clay soil of New Jersey for 14 years, jagged edges holes became the norm when I plant trees.

 

superdave336

Well-known member

• 2 minutes ago

• #7

ktrain said:

The holes I dig are not round, but not square either. lol

I make deep slices into the sides to avoid circling.

Click to expand...

That’s what I do as well.