Anybody trying raised tree beds?

[RenoHuskerDu]

When we went to plant these fruit trees and started digging, we realized that there was less than 4 in of topsoil before hitting the Limestone that's called caliche here in Texas. So I decided to bring in 5-10 wheelbarrows of good clay loam and build up about 6 to 10 in of soil in which to plant trees. Has anybody else tried this method, and how has your success been? I realize that over time the tree's roots are going to want to spread further so we'll need to bring in more topsoil and move the rock walls out further.

 

[OhZark Biddies]

Most times it’s recomended to break out a hole in a hard pan base and fill with soil to plant trees in it... I’m not familiar with your exact hard pan base, but a quick search turned this up:

https://permies.com/t/74432/Sunken-beds-hardpan-caliche

 

[RenoHuskerDu]

Most times it’s recomended to break out a hole in a hard pan base and fill with soil to plant trees in it... I’m not familiar with your exact hard pan base, but a quick search turned this up:

https://permies.com/t/74432/Sunken-beds-hardpan-caliche

Oh yeah we broke it down a foot too, for the tap root. But as for nutrient roots, there was not enough for those. We did it by hand, didn't have an excavator at that time. Still would not want to dig too deep with that. The hole would cause a root ball at its perimeter.

 

[RenoHuskerDu]

That's an interesting forum. Thank you. Some myths about Caliche there though. It's not impermeable. It is the reason why 80% of the stock ponds around here fail. It's full of cracks. And it's high pH, he got that right. And as for raised beds losing moisture, he's right. But we have water. I guess he doesn't.