Hi everyone!
I'm based in South Australia and recently moved into a house with a huge backyard that has 3 citrus trees (2 orange and 1 mandarin). Unfortunately, the fruit has too many seeds and I've been told they're an old variety. I'm planning to remove these trees and start fresh, including planting a Lemonade tree.
Come spring, I want to grow tomatoes and spaghetti squash, but I'm not sure if my soil is good enough. I've started a compost bin and I'm collecting scraps from colleagues and friends to improve it.
I also have heaps of room down the side of my house and was thinking of planting some strawberries there. Additionally, I'm considering putting a fruit tree in my front yard instead of a frangipani tree.
I've been reading up online and watching YouTube videos, but I'd love to hear any advice you all might have. Anyone have experience with spaghetti squash?
by Equivalent_Film_3344
14 Comments
The dirt doesn’t look great tbh, maybe get it tested? Otherwise, raised beds are your friend.
I think raised beds might be your best option for veg and herbs. Your soil appears to be very sandy and devoid of nutrients, which you can slowly fix over time by digging in clay soil improver and compost. Citrus trees tend to thrive in our climate but make sure you improve it’s surrounding soil before planting and keep up with watering.
Look up “No Till gardening”
Where abouts? Looks super sandy? Definitely going to need some soil amending, lots of compost, or raised beds.
I’m ENVIOUS of this yard size 😅
The sooner you can start planting hedging or screening, you’ll be grateful. Lilly Pilly or the likes will be able to block all your neighbours over time.
It is always better to have a smaller patch of high quality soil. Than a large area with bad soil (like a few bags of potting mix scattered over the top of a large area).
Whatever your budget is just make sure match the area to fit, don’t over extend yourself.
Also for the citrus trees, just dig a hole about 2-3x bigger than the root ball and replace that hole space with a good quality potting mix.
And once you’ve got yourself started it’s easy enough to start making compost and improving more and more of the soil in your yard to get to the garden size you want without breaking the bank.
I’d look to get some trees planted for shade asap. Getting fast growing trees to establish a canopy is the top priority. In a SA summer that yard will just cook. Once that’s done I’d devise a garden plan on paper – figure out what you want the back yard to do, and play around with space. Building up with raised beds is the way to go if you want a vegie patch
Look up drought resistant natives suitable for your area for trees and bushes to plant, otherwise go for a walk around your neighbourhood and see what’s growing well in neglected yards, usually a good indication of what’s suitable. I’d be trying to screen and windbreak the yard first before any serious attempt at veges/fruit, meanwhile try some extra large planters/pots that you can move about to determine optimum locations for various plants. My 2c
Make you garden beds much larger than you think they need to be. If you plant shrubs that can grow to their full size in the garden beds, you’ll never need to prune.
Also…Mulch.
Plant a house everyone else with land is
If your intent is food production 100% go hydroponic outdoor setup. Some expense to swt up but alleviates all the issues with such poor soil. Ive been gardening and doing hydro for decades and if i had my time again id do hydro for almost everything. Check out Hoocho on youtube for really good beginner type videos
Find a good native nursery and buy plants local to the region they will fair the best. If you don’t care for grass like me you could do some great paths and beds with gravel and mulch
Powerlines in a back lane? Whyalla?
I’m jealous of South Australia, you guys have so many beautiful native plants, like the correa alba. If you want to lighten up your yard you could very easily turn it into a meadow with minimal effort: https://www.sawater.com.au/my-home/saving-water/in-your-garden/consider-native-plants. Plants in SA have adapted to poor sandy soils, so you wouldn’t need to do much.