Planting Young Mexicola Grande Avocado Tree on a Mound | Strategies for Heavy Clay Soil

Have clay soil? Avocado trees tend to have difficulty growing in heavy clay soils due to their unique need for high oxygen levels and susceptibility to root rot. Planting on a mound can significantly help the health and growth of many fruit trees, especially avocado plants, by providing better drainage. Arizona is not the only area in the US with heavy clay. Avocado farms in California face the same issue and practice planting on a mound.

In this detailed video, I explain the issues with clay soil, the benefits of planting higher off the ground, the items I use to build the mound (peat moss, sand / decomposed granite, and volcanic rock) as well as important additives like gypsum and mycorrhiza. I demonstrate planting a young Mexicola Grande avocado plant I recently received from Four Winds Growers in California.

Four Winds Growers

Amendments

peat - 1/3

decomposed granite - 1/3

all-purpose sand (an alternative to decomposed granite)

Perlite ( type of volcanic rock) - 1/3

[helnbak]

The best avocado plantng tutorial i have ever seen. I am in a similar environment in Western Australia. Much gratitude and blessings.

[franciscorico]

You’re going to love this avocado 🥑🤤🤤 everyone in Mexico and especially in my home state of Michoacan the mexicola grande avocado is like striking gold because of the rich flavor that it has lol you can just pick it off the tree and eat it. Very delicious and nutritious.

[yorkieandi]

Very well illustrated tutorial on how to plant a fruit tree in clay soil. In the past, I have used mixed potting soil, along with the native soil in the planting hole, which has ended up stunting the growth of the tree. One of the very few videos on You-Tube that correctly instructs a gardener on how to plant fruit trees in less than ideal soil.

[artgarcia]

Nice job!I did the same thing a few years back with my avocado tree. Only difference is that i put in a homemade gopher cage, made from 1/2” stainless steel wire mesh. It went in 36” deep by the width of the circular retaining wall. I made a post about it in one of the avocado groups in Facebook

[Bob-wbj]

This is how many places in Florida have to plant as well, in our soil which is basically beach sand. Otherwise the tree won't establish well, due to the water table often being so close to the surface, or as in Miami-Dade where there is simply very little soil before you hit bedrock

[kilgroee]

Always get a lot of good info watching your videos, I really enjoyed this one as I'am planting two new trees in my yard and will pass on your knowledge in my planting....you always seem to have a encyclopedia of knowledge about gardening....do you do a lot of reading, or are you just naturally smart?

[vegardno]

How did you water it in? It didn't look like you watered it before putting the tree in or even after putting the mulch.

BTW, I also used bamboo leaves as mulch for avocado 😀

[ArizonaFruitTrees]

I have some 8 to 10 foot trees in pots in native clay soil. With avacados on them. In clay soil you just water less often. They like a humid microclimate because their stems and leaves can take in water. So i find its more in the microclimate than the actual soil. Healthy plants will have healthy roots can can drink extra water. As they die back in our summers, the roots die back also because trees equalize themselves. I believe humidity is the biggest factor on people losing avacados here, high UV second, unhealthy tree to start being third

[RyansBackyardNursery]

Excellent tutorial! Self Sufficient Me on YT also has some good videos on planting avocados on mounds in clay soil. He recommends 36" mounds I believe. Why did you add the perlite though? People often add perlite to potting mix to increase aeration and decrease weight of the potting soil because moving heavy plants kinda sucks but since your planting in ground you may not heave needed to add the perlite? The sand should have plenty of aeration. Be sure to show updates on this!

[anant]

Very informative video. Since you have a persimmon tree very close by, don't you think it will tower over the avocado in a few years?

[cs]

What's sunlight conditions did you plant it in?

[gbucks]

I never knew growing avocado so complicated, I live in asia just throw the seed it will grow fine

[-ssch]

Sapote, avocado and mango they are planted too close may be less than 3 ft. Is it okay if we plant that close ? Thx

[Malachi]

Do you do consultations? Im in chandler az I would love your insight!

[Malachi]

How much do you plan on watering this guy? Also is it good to duplicate this for planting mangos?

[TheDiversifiedFarmer]

Lost my Lula because of clay.
7 years old, just made it's first crop of 50 🥑 and it died afterwards

[gabrielleyva]

Probably a waste of time and money. But extreme bragging rights if successful. Avocado's are not meant to grow in the low desert with 100 days near or above 110. Good Luck

[drillsergeant]

Why plant from seed, not gonna be true to type.