How to Care for a Longan Tree

Grow the longan tree in full sun in the warmest, driest area of the garden.

Water the young longan tree regularly to keep the soil moist. When the tree begins bearing fruit, it only requires a regular irrigation schedule while it is in flower and bearing fruit. Withhold water in September and October.

Maintain a grass- and weed-free area around the trunk of the longan tree. Apply a 4-inch layer of mulch, 8 inches from the tree's trunk and spread out to the dripline. Mulch helps discourage weed growth.

Fertilize the first-year longan tree with 1/4 lb. of 6-6-6 fertilizer every eight weeks. Increase the amount of fertilizer to 1/2 lb. in the second year but decrease the frequency of applications to four, split evenly throughout the year. Follow this same schedule in the third year, increasing the amount of fertilizer to 1 lb. Mature longan trees require 5 lbs. of fertilizer just before the tree blooms in late spring and again before harvest. Spread the granular fertilizer on the soil beneath the tree, 5 inches from the trunk, and spread it out 1 foot beyond the dripline. Water well after applying.

Apply an iron chelate soil drench around the tree in July, according to the manufacturer's instructions. Reapply at the same rate in early September.

Inspect the longan tree periodically for pests. Contact your county cooperative extension service to find out approved control methods.

Prune the longan tree to keep it to a manageable size. Agriculturists with the University of Florida suggest that the tree be kept no taller than 15 feet high and 30 feet wide. Cutting 1 to 2 inches from the tips of new shoots on the young longan tree during the spring and summer will help keep the tree compact.

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How to Propagate a Longan Fruit Tree in a Pot

Wait until the potted longan tree develops fruit, which occurs between August and September in the United States. When the fruits reach 1/2 to 1 inch in diameter, pick them off the tree.

Fill a bowl half full of water. Peel away the outer rind and pulp from one of the longan berries. Rinse the inner black seed in the bowl of water and lay it on a paper towel. Repeat the process to clean the other longan seeds from the fruit.

Place the paper towel in a room-temperature location and allow them to sit undisturbed for four days to dry.

Fill a plant pot 2/3 full of a mix of equal parts potting soil and sand. Place one to two longan seeds on top of the soil and cover them with an additional 3/4 inch of soil.

Water the soil well until it is completely moist. Set the pot on a windowsill and wait until the seeds germinate, which can take between seven and 10 days.

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How to Plant Longan

The longan tree, native to China can grow to a height of 40 feet. Longan trees bear fruit best after cool, but not freezing, winters.

Choose the right location. Longan trees like a lot of sunlight and prefer warm temperatures.

Prepare the soil. Longan trees like sandy loam. If you do not have naturally sandy soil, mix a lot of sand into your soil. In fact, longan trees can grow in pure sand, as long as it is moderately acidic. Longan trees also grow well in limestone.

Dig a hole as deep as the root ball and twice as wide as the root base. Then, place the tree in the hole. The sandy soil will probably collapse around the tree rather quickly. Fill the hole in completely around the root ball.

Tamp down the soil around the tree, and water it well. Keep the soil moist. Longan trees do not tolerate dry soil very well.

Support a young longan tree by tying it to a stake driven into the ground next to the trunk. Many saplings need added support, especially in windy areas.

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Fruit Trees for Small Spaces

By Andrew M Kelly

We are continually being told, in the media and by our doctors, that we should all lead healthier lifestyles, eating more fresh fruit and taking more regular exercise. One of the best ways to do this is to grow our own produce but it is often difficult to grow fruit and vegetables in small spaces. This article takes a look at growing fruit trees in small spaces.

Fruit trees can look spectacular in any garden, as well as the incredible blooms of blossom you, of course, benefit from the annual production of fruit. By growing your own fruit it is possible to grow it organically (by not using artificial chemicals and fertilizers) which could save you a large amount of cash. Furthermore the fruit can be picked at the exact moment you wish to eat it. Fruit this fresh is far better for you as stored fruit tends to lose it's flavor and the vitamins and minerals can degrade over time.

For the health conscious amongst us you should be aware that gardening is one of the best ways to make sure that you get some regular exercise and the garden can be the perfect place to enjoy other energetic pastimes. Unfortunately most modern, urban backyards are only small spaces. Sometimes the backyard has barely enough space to have a small patio and a tiny lawn with a few flower borders. However, with a little time and effort, it is possible to create a fantastic garden design for the very smallest of backyards.

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Unfortunately trees are not always the most suitable plants to grow in small spaces. In general trees tend to grow extremely large and the spreading branches and roots can end up causing some serious damage to nearby buildings and pools. Having a large mature tree in a small space can become a nightmare as the restricted space can cause problems when attempting to remove such a tree. Obviously it is far better to plant only suitable trees and shrubs in the first place.

Happily the increasing demand for smaller species of trees and shrubs has led to the development of some very interesting varieties and a fantastic selection of dwarf or compact fruit tree varieties have been created. Usually the fruit tree has its growth restricted by grafting it onto specially grown dwarfing root stock such as M9. Although the dwarf M27 root stock was once very popular the M9 stock has proved far more reliable and it has the bonus of increased yields of fruit.


You will be able to find a dwarf or compact fruit tree which grows as small as 1m but unusually they grow from between 1.5m to 1.8m. If you find that this size is still a little too large for your small backyard then you can further restrict growth by planting the fruit trees in containers. Such trees can be places on patios or sunny balconies and size can be even further reduced by careful annual pruning.

For those of us with really tiny backyards one of the most exciting developments in the horticultural world is the development of dual fruit trees. A dual fruit tree is really two different species which have been grafted onto a single dwarfing root stock. Another thrilling variety of compact fruit tree is the "midget fruit tree" which is so called because the tree has an extremely upright and non-spreading habit. The finest examples are those types are the Spur Apples which have an extreme upright habit which appears to be covered in fruit. Some types of tree can be trained to grow right up against walls and other surfaces saving even more space.

As well as compact apple trees it is possible to find dwarf compact varieties of many other types of fruit tree such as plums, pears and cherries. Other fruits include peaches and nectarines and even hazelnuts, Kiwi fruit and figs can be purchased in dwarf varieties. Even in a really small backyard it is possible to grow a large selection of fruit which not only tastes great but looks fantastic too.

If you are looking to discover more about fruit trees for small spaces visit http://www.landscapinginfo4u.com/trees/compact-fruit-trees-for-small-spaces.php http://www.landscapinginfo4u.com/ is dedicated to providing quality information about all aspects of landscape gardening. The author, Andrew Kelly, has been a keen gardener since his childhood and, now retired, he spends most of his spare time enjoying the hobby and writing about it.

How to Buy Citrus Trees

Citrus trees aren't really trees, they're shrubs. Reaching a height of 25 feet, they may be the ideal plants for your yard. But there are tricks to purchasing a good citrus tree.

Buy field-grown citrus trees whenever possible, identifiable by its burlap-wrapped rootball. Such trees are more costly, but healthier.Consider container citrus trees that are not overgrown. This puts the health of the plant into question.

Purchase small citrus trees that take to the ground faster. A big tree takes as long as a small tree to produce fruit.
Look for consistently dark-colored leaves. The uniform color is an indication of a healthy, disease-free plant.

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Ensure that the graft union is approximately 2 inches above the ground. Many citrus trees are grafted. A graft union is a dog-legged bend in the trunk. If the bend is too close to or below the soil it can rot or grow fungus.

Investigate the trunk for mars. Marring leaves a citrus tree trunk damaged and might indicate a weak or injured tree. You want to buy the healthiest citrus tree possible.

Assess the variety of citrus trees available before you buy. Citrus trees are available in many varieties of orange, mandarin, tangerine, tangelo, kumquat, lemon, lime, grapefruit and other exotics. You can find dwarf citrus trees to buy that are great for container gardening as well.

Find out if the variety desired is available in your state. Some plants are restricted to control disease.

How to Water Citrus Trees

Install drip emitters or sprinklers beneath the tree or build a 6 to 8 inch high soil basin around the outside of the tree (just outside the canopy of leaves).Run the sprinklers until the soil is wet to a depth of 3 to 4 feet.Fill the soil basin with water, let it drain, and repeat at least twice until the soil is wet to a depth of 3 to 4 feet.

Check water penetration by pushing a stiff metal bar, wooden dowel or soil probe into the soil. The bar or dowel will move easily through wet soil, stop when it reaches dry.

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Water again when the top 6 to 8 inches of soil is dry. Most citrus will need water every 8 to 12 days in midsummer. Water less in cooler weather or if it rains.

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Mulch the area under the canopy with 3 to 4 inches of organic material.Add more emitters or increase the width of the basin as the tree grows.

How to Grow Container Citrus Trees Indoors

Citrus fruits includes fruits as lemons, oranges, limes and grapefruits. Imagine having these kinds of citrus fruits straight from your own trees. While it may seem impossible to those who live in colder or seasonal environments, it is possible indoors, with the right tree and the right care. Even if you're not an avid gardener, you can successfully grow citrus trees indoors while enjoying the yummy fruit they produce.

Select a citrus tree that will do well indoors and in containers. Dwarf varieties of citrus fruit trees will grow better in containers than full-size trees. In addition, because they need less light, sour types of citrus (like lemons and limes) will do better indoors.

Choose a container that has drain holes and a tray that will catch any extra water. Be sure the container is large enough for your tree's root system and some growth. The larger the container, the more your tree can grow.

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Place 1 to 2 inches of gravel in the bottom of the container for drainage.Use a potting soil that is labeled for citrus fruits. Fill the container with the soil up until a point where, when you place the roots of your tree in, the top of the root system will be 1 to 4 inches from the top rim of the container.

Place your tree in straight and fill the remainder of the pot with the soil so that it is firmly set. You can place mulch or gravel to make the tree more attractive in your home.

Place your indoor citrus tree near windows, preferably on the south side of your house where much light comes in.Keep your citrus fruit evenly watered. Do not let the soil dry up and do not saturate the soil, which will cause the roots to rot. Be sure to check often to keep the right consistency of water in the soil.

Fertilize your soil with a multipurpose fertilizer that has manganese, iron and zinc in it. Do this about four to six times a year, following the manufacturer's directions since fertilizers come with different potency and release rates.

Place your tree outdoors in full sunlight in the spring. If you live in an area you have warm or hot summers, take your citrus tree out after the last frost. Don't forget to water it.

Bring the tree back indoors before the first frost.