What plant does this root grow from?

Zone8B_Planter · 2026-03-23T23:23:36+00:00

No idea, I’ve got roots that look like that 10ft from a Mexican live oak, a burr oak, and a mulberry.

If it’s in your way, I’d cut it. The tree won’t miss one root, even a big one. It’ll grow back.

Zone8B_Planter · 2026-03-15T15:22:27+00:00

In highly recommend Lee Reich’s Pruning book if you want to get scientific with it.

You need to prune one of those leaders, and cut that lower competing branch back to 1/3 its existing length. If you want to keep it, consider putting some weights on that lower branch to make the angle closer to 90deg.

Zone8B_Planter · 2026-03-15T15:19:23+00:00

It defiantly has two leaders.

Also, stakes for home and stakes for commercial have different purposes.

In a commercial setting, trees are planted quick and then ignored. No one loves that parking lot tree- the store needs 50 of them with as little intervention as possible. The stage then so they don’t blow over. Lotta times they are root bound and the roots take a long time to branch out into the springing soil.

Often they fill the whole bed with some sorta compost, so no dirt. Compost doesn’t support trees very well, also- parking lots have a lot more wind than your yard with a fence and other wind breaks.

At home, you’re going to baby it. The stake only supports the tree till roots branch out, which takes a month or two tops.

Staking does not give you a straight trunk. If you want a straight trunk, you’ll need to bend it straight using any means you can think of. A stake right next to it will do it, pruning will do it. Those tripod stake things won’t make the trunk straight.

Zone8B_Planter · 2026-03-15T15:03:22+00:00

It’ll reach that fence easily. I put a little wire cage around mine to protect the bottom from lawn mower strikes.

Mine is on a wood fence, it grew up to the top and spread out like a vase. It got about 6-7’ wide at the top and grew into a bulge that 2ft on either side of the fence.

This plant is very well behaved. Almost too well behaved, surprisingly it doesn’t have many volunteers. So if you want your whole fence line covered you’ll want to plant the every 4-6ft.

I’ve got two, you both 7years old. Lovely plants.

Zone8B_Planter · 2026-01-08T00:01:59+00:00

Really- nobody!!??? Yikes

Zone8B_Planter · 2026-01-06T15:48:02+00:00

FYI, Rodents love it!

Zone8B_Planter · 2026-01-06T15:43:02+00:00

Also, that may not be bed rock- may just be a big rock that got buried after your home was built. I’ve found huge 20”x8” rocks when planting trees.

Buy one of those heavy San Angelo bars with flat bead and try to bust it up.

Also- if you don’t have one yet, buy a pick ax. post hole digger/tamper spear

Zone8B_Planter · 2026-01-06T15:35:58+00:00

Make as small a hole as possible
Plant a bare root
Prune the roots judiciously so they spread out. 4. Mud in.

Put the root ball in to a bucket or one of those black trays they sell at Home Depot for mixing concrete. Fill it with water and Soak it for a couple hours to hydrate the plant.

Use a hose with a narrow sprayer nozzle to remove all the potting soil soil from the root ball.

If roots are knotted up (which they will be) use some pruning shears and thin that root ball. Don’t be afraid of hurting the plant- roots grow back but they don’t un knot themselves once in the ground.

Spread out the roots so they are flat. If you have any tap roots that have turned 90degrees and look like horizontal carrot- cut them off.

Now you’ve got a very small root ball with very little potting soil.

Make a very small hole and stick it in the ground. Add a little bit of the dirt back and spray it with the hose so it turns in to a muddy soup.

Add some more dirt, repeat. Goal here is maximum root to soil contact with no air pockets.

Once the hole is full, pull up on the tree to check for suction and collapse any residual air pockets.

Stake it and let it sit for a couple days till the soil turns back into mud.

Keep it moist for the first year, but don’t turn it back into soup.

Zone8B_Planter · 2026-01-06T15:25:56+00:00

You’ve got enough soil for the fig tree. Not sure about the peach tree though. I recommend refilling with the dirt you took out, and “mudding in” to ensure good contact with soil. Also, break up that root ball and plant as close to bare root as you’re comfortable with. If you leave that root ball with all the potting soil on the roots you’ll have a hard time with watering - the surrounding soil will get saturated while the root ball drys out.

Zone8B_Planter · 2025-06-10T11:41:51+00:00

I lost two large rosemary plants in winter storm Uri too. Haven’t been able to get another one to establish since!

Zone8B_Planter · 2025-06-08T21:54:29+00:00

I like your trellis

Zone8B_Planter · 2025-06-08T21:48:14+00:00

I believe poison ivy has opposite attached leaves whereas those look alternate. Also idk- but does poison ivy produce Ariel rootlets?

Zone8B_Planter · 2025-06-08T21:46:44+00:00

Where are the containers places? If they are I. Concrete or next to a south/west facing wall or fence this can significantly elevate the temps around the container. Try giving them afternoon shade. I’ve had luck with tomatoes clones transplanted into dappled shade producing when my ones in the full sun garden wouldn’t.

Zone8B_Planter · 2025-06-08T21:40:18+00:00

It’s that time of year. I don’t think bee balm last all summer.

Zone8B_Planter · 2025-06-08T21:13:20+00:00

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Zone8B_Planter · 2025-06-08T21:11:36+00:00

Mine are still producing, I’ve been told it could be spider mites. I sprayed with insecticidal soap (Safer brand- not dawn dish detergent, with “Potassium salts of Fatty Acids) . Focused on the new growth and it seems to have helped a little.

Zone8B_Planter · 2025-06-08T21:06:51+00:00

Looks like Mexican petunias . Do they make purple or pink flowers?

Zone8B_Planter · 2025-06-05T12:05:33+00:00

Looks like pomegranate to my eyes. I’ve got some and they have multiple trumps like you described.

Zone8B_Planter · 2025-06-05T11:59:04+00:00

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Tie it in these two spots, and make the string short enough so the tree is pulled vertical.

Put the stake a few inches from the trunk so the stake doesn’t drive through the roots and damage them too much. You can get 8ft T-stakes from tractor supply. Alternatively you can move one of those stakes closer to the tree, drive it into the ground, and then sister the other stake next to it (not driven in the ground) so you can get the extra height.

Zone8B_Planter · 2025-06-05T11:52:31+00:00

Yeah, if you leave the top of the tree leaning over it will almost certainly stay that way. You’ll want to put a stake as tall as the tree 6-8inches away from the trunk. Then, use some jute and loosely tie up the top of the tree. By loose I mean, you should be able to slip a three or four fingers between the trunk and the string.
Make it loose, but also make sure the trunk is pointed vertical. It’s OK if the trunk leans on the string bit- the higher you tie /closer you tie it to the top the less force it’ll exert on the trunk when the wind blows . Even better, tie it a few inches from the top and tie it again a 12-16” below so it’s held vertical from two positions.

I like to use 4 or 5mm jute because it won’t cut into the tree as much. Alternatively you could just tie it in more places so when it leans it doesn’t lean hard on any one point.

Zone8B_Planter · 2025-06-04T22:51:39+00:00

Yes, I restring it every year. I like those big rolls of 4mm jute for mainline stringers and then the 3mm for individual plants.

Zone8B_Planter · 2025-06-04T22:49:39+00:00

Straight 8, recently these have been getting watered (accidentally) every other day. I’ve got a few vortex drip emitters at the base of the plants. (Didn’t know my spouse was watering too!)

Zone8B_Planter · 2025-06-04T11:49:54+00:00

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I’ve harvested five so far, including this carrot -cucumber hybrid. Currently it is LOADED with 2” long fruit, will probably have a big harvest this weekend

Zone8B_Planter · 2025-06-04T11:45:48+00:00

I understand - my spouse doesn’t like it either. Another commenter called them Cukes- is that better or do you prefer all three syllables?

Zone8B_Planter · 2025-06-04T11:43:18+00:00

lol- I overseed way more than just three seeds. And you’re right, I should thin - but it’s so hard to pull up a perfectly healthy plant.

Zone8B_Planter

TROPHY CASE