Clay soil + figs - what would you do differently?

cdh said:
Excavators, cranes, small-scale blasting operations.....these are all well-known firms of minor homeowner landscaping modalities.
Click to expand...

I literally don't understand... Sorry, it's just so alien to me. Is this to say landscaping can be done, but you can't do it yourself?
 
TorontoJoe said:
I literally don't understand... Sorry, it's just so alien to me. Is this to say landscaping can be done, but you can't do it yourself?
Click to expand...
I had planned to do this with a contractor - but they threw the rulebook at me. Complying with every rule and sub rule made the project unviable due to the timeline and cost to comply.
 
TheInvertedFlower said:
@TorontoJoe I consider myself lucky - as my friend had to uproot all his fig trees cause his HOA rules do not allow any fruit trees!

View attachment 19693
Click to expand...

It's not my intention to be judgy.... and I ask this sincerely because I want to understand and this is foreign territory for me... I assume there must be an upside? Why would anyone want to pay a lot of money for a property with these restrictions on what they can do?
 
TorontoJoe said:
It's not my intention to be judgy.... and I ask this sincerely because I want to understand and this is foreign territory for me... I assume there must be an upside? Why would anyone want to pay a lot of money for a property with these restrictions on what they can do?
Click to expand...
I told my wife that my #1 requirement when we house shop is NO hoa. Not being an HOA type of property helps with many of my other wants.
#1 - no hoa
#2 - 2 acres plus
 
TheInvertedFlower said:
I’m getting ready to put about 40 trees in the ground.

- Soil is heavy, poorly draining compacted clay. The sticky kind.
- Drip irrigation is going in now.
- Another 100–150 will stay in pots.

Right now I’m thinking individual raised beds, roughly 3x3x1 ft per tree.

Fill would likely be sandy river loam + compost, maybe some grit mixed in.

A few things I’d really appreciate input from folks who know more about growing figs than me (pretty much everyone here)
  • If you’ve planted figs in heavy clay, would you do 3x3x1 or something else?
  • What has actually worked for you as a soil mix? Obviously can't buy bagged for this volume...
  • I have trees rooted this Dec/Jan - would you plant them out this spring or let them grow in pots another year?
  • Anything you wish you’d done differently when you first planted in ground?
Click to expand...
I live in North Texas and have the worst clay and rocky 'soil' there is. My method is to dig out a hole larger than the root ball. Deeper and wider. In the bottom of the hole I place 4 to 6 inches of compost. Place the ball in the hole and backfill with compost and good potting soil. Water in well. When signs of growth appear, I feed with fish emulsion. Mulch as well. This method works well for me.
 
TorontoJoe said:
It's not my intention to be judgy.... and I ask this sincerely because I want to understand and this is foreign territory for me... I assume there must be an upside? Why would anyone want to pay a lot of money for a property with these restrictions on what they can do?
Click to expand...
I think the purported benefits are mostly aesthetic. No broke-down cars parked in the grass, weird paint jobs, junk lying around. Your HOA fees typically go to whole-neighborhood landscaping, lawnmowing, and upkeep, and sometimes there are community amenities like pools, tennis courts, etc. Not my cup of tea but I see why people go for it.
 
TheInvertedFlower said:
I’m getting ready to put about 40 trees in the ground.

- Soil is heavy, poorly draining compacted clay. The sticky kind.
- Drip irrigation is going in now.
- Another 100–150 will stay in pots.

Right now I’m thinking individual raised beds, roughly 3x3x1 ft per tree.

Fill would likely be sandy river loam + compost, maybe some grit mixed in.

A few things I’d really appreciate input from folks who know more about growing figs than me (pretty much everyone here)
  • If you’ve planted figs in heavy clay, would you do 3x3x1 or something else?
  • What has actually worked for you as a soil mix? Obviously can't buy bagged for this volume...
  • I have trees rooted this Dec/Jan - would you plant them out this spring or let them grow in pots another year?
  • Anything you wish you’d done differently when you first planted in ground?
Click to expand...
One thing I like using is soil conditioner from Lowes. About $5 per bag and would help with compaction and drainage IMO.
 
paupau said:
Dont forget community pools, parks, and playgrounds!

I realize not all HOAs have these things but I know I put up with mine because of the amenities plus the good location.
Click to expand...
I definitely wouldn't consider a residence with an hoa and 0 benefits besides location. Otherwise yeah not worth the fees IMO
 
paupau said:
I definitely wouldn't consider a residence with an hoa and 0 benefits besides location. Otherwise yeah not worth the fees IMO
Click to expand...

I'm learning a lot. They just don't exist here or in Italy so it's good to have perspectives. Things like community pools and playgrounds here are all municipal. Interesting to see the differences on how things are done.
 
TorontoJoe said:
I'm learning a lot. They just don't exist here or in Italy so it's good to have perspectives. Things like community pools and playgrounds here are all municipal. Interesting to see the differences on how things are done.
Click to expand...
We also have municipal ones. But the pools you still have to pay to use. The ones in neighborhoods are also naturally smaller but at least you can walk to them.
 
TorontoJoe said:
I'm learning a lot. They just don't exist here or in Italy so it's good to have perspectives. Things like community pools and playgrounds here are all municipal. Interesting to see the differences on how things are done.
Click to expand...
Yes the nice pool, the gated community and other amenities definitely helped seal the deal. @TorontoJoe I'm surprised that you don't have them in Canada..

But it's definitely not fun to have to ask permission for any and every thing. But my kid loved this school so that limited our options...
 
TheInvertedFlower said:
Yes the nice pool, the gated community and other amenities definitely helped seal the deal. @TorontoJoe I'm surprised that you don't have them in Canada..

But it's definitely not fun to have to ask permission for any and every thing. But my kid loved this school so that limited our options...
Click to expand...

They may exist but I've never heard of own. That's not to say there aren't rules, but the rules are municipal. And there's no fee other than property taxes. I don't need to get permission to do anything but if someone complains about an overgrown lawn and you don't comply with a city order to deal with it, fines can be added to property taxes... and if you can imagine, I'm not allowed to raise chickens or let a sheep graze on my front lawn.... But I can put trees up and down my driveway despite being in what I consider to be a nice neighbourhood. I think open crop gardening is becoming more accepted... especially if everything is kept neat. I don't want to see a bathtub on my neighbours front lawn.... but I think it's becoming bad form to tell someone that they can't grow food.

If your kid is loving a school that's reason enough to be flexible. That's really important.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top