I need some more help you guys...
I had my soil (sand) tested it needs to be sweetened??? I tilled 14/50# bags of lime, and have all the dehydrated manure I can shovel.... My trees are due in this friday, they will be in 7gal size pots? I was told they are 3-4 yr olds.. I asked about are they grafted? the girl could not tell me for sure until they come in????? now my questions are this... does the GA3 go in the hole before planting? and do I need to steak my trees? and if i do how do i steak citrus trees? All suggestions are needed... I'll have temp drip lines going to all the trees. thanks again for all your input,,jv

GA3 is not applied, nor used, either in the hole or root zone, when transplanting 7 gallon citrus trees.. The usual use of GA3 is used to "pollinate" blooms, and for various post harvest fruit activities. Normally, a 3/4 inch square four feet long stake is used on small recently budded trees that have been lopped, to keep the bud growth straight upward as the bud grows. If your trees are quality 3 - 4 year old nursery grown trees, already in 7 gallon containers, they probably do not require staking. However, if you wish to stake your trees, place the stake adjacent to the tree at the time of planting. - Millet (1,090-)

thanks millet, should i put anything else in the hole to help the roots get established, besides loosing up the root ball if it is pot bound?

the only thing you put back into the hole when plant a citrus tree, is the very same dirt that you dug out when making the hole. No organic amendments are added. After planting, make a ring around the trunk to hold water. The best to you and your tree. - Millet (1,091-)

thanks millet.... but i'm sure i'm gonna smell like mineral ice by the end of friday, i need to rent a gopher...lol the lime is already down the manure i filled up 1 trash can full... and water every day for one hour i've been told... thanks again jv

Unless your are going to be watering your trees with a drip system, watering for one hour is applying WAY TO MUCH WATER . The proper method of planting a citrus tree is:... when setting the tree in the hole keep the graft union above soil level to avoid foot rot. Place a long board, rake or hoe over the center of the hole with each end extending over undisturbed soil. This helps determine proper planting depth by showing exactly were the soil line should be. Since the soil and tree are likely to settle after planting, set the sol line of the young tree several inches higher than the bottom of the board or hoe handle (in other words plant the tree a little higher than it was in the container . Next backfill around the plant to half-fill the hole and press the soil down to remove air pockets. Water the hole thoroughly and allow the soil to settle. Backfill, again, to near the top of the hole, firm the soil around the tree and form a water basin that will hold 7 to 10 gallons of water. Slowly add more water. As the tree root system is small, water enough to keep the root system moist. You can begin to fertilize lightly about 2-3 weeks after planting but be careful to avoid burning the roots of the young tree. - Millet (1,091-)

WOW that seems like a bunch of lime!
You did not mention the ph of your soil test. After all of that lime, you should test it again. Citrus grow well in your area without much fuss, so I wonder if you might be "lovin' them to death" before they have even been planted.
Scott

Scott,
I lived in columbia SC for about 18 months loved the history of SC. I havwe not had the soil tested again as of yet i'ms still enriching it???? My neighbor has a mini tractor and he's breaking everything up and turning the lime and manure under... he's got some type of bug powder that suppose to keep some worms/bugs from eating the roots of anything, and something else for the fire ants that i have millions ans millions of, free to anyone i'll ship!!!
I do have an irrigation system its attached to the new well. but! I have to wait until the trees are in so they can cut the lines and run the drip rings 3 ft around the trees not to get the trunk wet... this is a seperate line from the rain heads that water my weeds... a jerzey gril transplanting to florida someday...soon

Seriously, you should get a new soil test...before one tree goes into the soil. Too much lime can kill a tree of any kind. Don't risk losing your valuable trees and the time spent planting and pampering them.

I think you are way over thinking this. All you really need to do is dig a hole, break up the roots a little if the tree is rootbound, stick the tree in and water well until established. As long as you don't plant it too deep your tree will do fine. Any ammendments are pretty much a waste of time and money IMO.