When do I build the soil banks?

Can I use Compost as a soil bank?

Darkman,

I just banked a few days ago since we had our first frosts. I think compost should be fine as you want a substance that would be moist to keep warmth.

I don't bank until we are about to get a hard freeze, but then I usually have time to deal with preparing the day before a hard freeze. I use a bag or 2 of composted cow manure (and I leave it in the bag) to bank my trees--it makes it really easy to apply and easy to remove. I do not plan to provide any protection for the current cold spell, but will cover whenever predictions go below 30 (just in case they miss a couple degrees)--otherwise I expect the trees to do OK down to 28F.

Thanks GT,

I think so to as long as it isn't soggy wet when I pile it up although I guess it would drain out.

Hi Skeet,

Good to here from you. I was going to give you a call. I was doing some figuring and with about thirty trees and two bags per tree at $5.00 a bag at HD that comes up to $300.00.

All,

That is why I was considering using the FREE well aged horse manure compost without the bag. I could pile it higher too. HD has the C7 clear lights now and I'll be getting some of them. Most of my trees are fairly hardy but they being young trees I don't want to take chances. I'm trying to source some cheap sheets and blankets to cover the tops. Thinking about going to the Salvation Army and Waterfront Missions to see if they have some they cannot sell in their thrift stores.

Anyone have any other ideals.

Darkman,

we have Harbor freight store in town and they have really cheap tarp. With a coupon, a 7+ by 9+ blue tarp is 3.50 and one coupon is good up to 9 pieces...
So, I have a blue booth in place of my young Navel.

Another idea regarding soil banks... If you have bunch of pots with plants that can withstand cold, you may place them around your citrus and fill gaps by soil/manure/stuff.

Good luck!

Walmart cow manure is just a little over $1/bag--one bag should do for your smaller trees--you can just wrap it around the trunk. I use sheets and blankets first, then tarps. I also use buckets of water under the covers. My lemon and the calamondin are the only varieties to have much damage over the past 2 hard winters. Hopefully we are due an easy one.

With as many trees as you have, you should probably put in the water spray system like the have at the experiment station over in Fairhope.

Hopefully I do not need soil banks down here in deep south Florida. It was 85 F today and felt like summer out there! Too bad my water well was leaking and did not have water until 6 PM today. Finally fixed the leaks but it was a lot of work. I have more work to do on the well but should have it fixed next week.


The lowest temperature so far this fall/winter is 53F. I have NEVER been so warm on Christmas eve in my life until today.

Digging is very difficult here with bedrock just beneath the soil. I bent my shovel digging to reach the pipe to the water well.

We hit 35 one day and if that is as low as it gets this Winter I'm cool with that. Last week or so has been 45 - 65 with lots of overcast and a good bit of rain. Maybe too much it might have washed some of my garden seeds away.

We have some cool air coming down to south Florida next week! Lows are expected to dip into the mid 40sF and the high forecast for Tuesday only
67 F.


No need for worry though as this coming cold spell is normal for this time of year. The citrus should be OK.


When you bank your citrus trees use as much soil as possible and bank as high as possible. In really extreme cold spells damage can occur as deep as 6 inches below the bank. You only must save the graft though so even if the tree does freeze back a little under the bank, it will most likely survive. When banking with soil, I use as much soil as necessary to cover the trunk at least 10 inches above the graft union.

I have banked already and I believe that I have each graft covered by 10". So far the winter has not been bad but it is still way early for any kind of victory declaration. I'd love to see a non or just barely freezing winter. I still have Banana bunches hanging and one P-stem has just started bloomig.