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May 29, 2015 10:30 AM CST
Name: Arlene
Southold, Long Island, NY (Zone 7a)
Region: Ukraine Dahlias I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! Houseplants Tomato Heads Garden Ideas: Level 1
Plant Identifier Photo Contest Winner: 2014 Million Pollinator Garden Challenge Celebrating Gardening: 2015
I'm impressed! I'd never be able to follow that formula.
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May 29, 2015 10:31 AM CST
Thread OP
Orange County, CA (Zone 10a)
and i should mention that the author went on to clarify as follows . . . "I just noticed a error in my previous post. (tree circumference) should have read (tree diameter). Sorry for the confusion."

but despite his correction, i still think he misspoke/typed. assuming the drip line is measured from trunk outward, it's the radius that should be squared rather than the diameter. good luck.
Avatar for Shadegardener
May 29, 2015 10:42 AM CST
Name: Cindy
Hobart, IN zone 5
aka CindyMzone5
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Plant Identifier
Oh boy. Mine is growing in a pot and my diameter is approx. 1 1/2". I think I'll go the 1T. route using rain water as soon as it rains today (rain barrels). I wonder if I can combine both epsom salts and iron chelate in the same application.
Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize that we can't eat money. Cree proverb
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May 29, 2015 12:45 PM CST
Name: Rick Corey
Everett WA 98204 (Zone 8a)
Sunset Zone 5. Koppen Csb. Eco 2f
Frugal Gardener Garden Procrastinator I helped beta test the first seed swap Plant and/or Seed Trader Seed Starter Region: Pacific Northwest
Photo Contest Winner: 2014 Avid Green Pages Reviewer Garden Ideas: Master Level Garden Sages I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! I helped plan and beta test the plant database.
Sorry, MaxC. I saw where Cindy had posted this, and didn't look at the name to see WHO said it.

>> My 5 yo potted Meyer has gone into decline ...

>> what is the easiest, most reliable way of checking ph anyway? and when you test it, should the soil be removed and mixed with water beforehand?

I would follow the instructions on the specific pH test kit, but I have read about adding a little distilled water to a soil sample taken from several spots and depths, and mixed well. If they don't mention using distilled water, consider using distilled water.

However, I'm skeptical of the kits I've seen marketed. Don;t we care about a few tenths of a pH point? How many kits are that accurate?

The easy way is to pay for a soil test done in a lab! They can also tell you about all the deficiencies or excesses the soil has.

In my signature block, this will locate local co-operative programs right near you:
Coop Extension Finder
http://nifa.usda.gov/partners-...

Scroll down and find the "Type" pull-down.
Select "Extension" and then your state.

They ought to suggest a local soil-testing lab .
Or, since you'll probably mail in your sample anyway, maybe someone on this thread knows of a good CHEAP soil-testing service.
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May 29, 2015 12:57 PM CST
Thread OP
Orange County, CA (Zone 10a)
i'm gonna do that, thanks so much
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May 29, 2015 1:17 PM CST
Name: Rick Corey
Everett WA 98204 (Zone 8a)
Sunset Zone 5. Koppen Csb. Eco 2f
Frugal Gardener Garden Procrastinator I helped beta test the first seed swap Plant and/or Seed Trader Seed Starter Region: Pacific Northwest
Photo Contest Winner: 2014 Avid Green Pages Reviewer Garden Ideas: Master Level Garden Sages I was one of the first 300 contributors to the plant database! I helped plan and beta test the plant database.
Good luck!

If you need to make the soil more acid over years, you can rake in some agricultural sulfur ("flowers of sulfur" or elemental sulfur) each year and wait for soil bacteria to gradually convert it to the acid form.
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Jun 2, 2015 5:41 AM CST
Name: Paul
Bunbury, Western Australia. (Zone 10b)
Region: Australia
My lemon tree--photo a couple days ago.

In our (Australian) main garden press, it's reported that they have more inquires about problems with lemon trees than anything else, so take heart !
Thumb of 2015-06-02/vanozzi/8fe38f
Different latitudes, different attitudes
Avatar for Shadegardener
Jun 2, 2015 7:35 AM CST
Name: Cindy
Hobart, IN zone 5
aka CindyMzone5
Celebrating Gardening: 2015 Plant Identifier
Vanozzi - thanks for that! I thought growing a potted Meyer would be pretty simple but it seems to have slightly different requirements of which I was ignorant. Now just scrambling to keep it from dying.
Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realize that we can't eat money. Cree proverb
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Jun 8, 2015 10:33 PM CST
Thread OP
Orange County, CA (Zone 10a)
i will post another shot of the tree shortly. gave it a dose of epsom salts about a week ago (and another round of fertilizer, happy frog, since then), but i still don't think anything has really changed. vanozzi - that's an epic tree you have there

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