I decided to call before digging along the back fence because I knew there was a gas pipeline back there. It was free to have the other buried stuff marked too, so I said, "sure why not." When they marked the property I realized the meyer lemon I planted 2 weeks ago might as well be an orange flag because the trunk is sitting right on the buried cable for comcast. Should I leave it where it is permanately and hope the roots don't knock out the block's cable one day or should I move it. If I should move it, is now the best time while it hasn't grown too many roots, or should I wait till another time of the year to dig it out?
I guess this is just one of the mistakes young people make. From now on I will be calling before doing any tree planting. I would hate to loose my little lemon tree since I finally got one. (It was on sale at a houston garden center for $15. Too good of a deal to pass by!)
Let me know if you have any advice or have had a similar experince.
Thanks!
Tabitha
Should I move a Meyer lemon planted above a buried cable?
I've read somewhere it takes two weeks for roots to settle in. I'd move it right now before another day goes by.
Since it is so newly planted it should be easy to move now - and a whole lot easier than next Jan/Feb when new roots will be much further from the existing rootball.
I would dig the receiving place a bit bigger than the original and try to do as little damage to the new root growth as possible when you remove it from its existing location.
How far from the cable do you think I should plant it?
I had to move mine after two years......not realizing how big they would get. That was 3 or 4 years ago and it is thriving! I think it's okay to go ahead and move it. Plant it about 6 feet away from the cable.
I have stuff planted above my utility lines against the back fence. I was aware of it when I did it, but wanted the back fence bed to look good since we see it from the living room/den. I know that if they ever have to dig there, I'll loose plants and have to replace them. I was willing to risk it since it's such a visual point from the house. I don't think the tree will harm the cable, but if they ever have to access any of the lines, your tree will likely get dug up. If you want to make sure that doesn't happen, relocate it now before it gets established.
Move it...LOL..
My entire curbside garden is planted over cables. There were 5 different sets of flags after calling dig-tess, but I just planted carefully.
The flaggers told me that all cables are supposed to be buried minimum 8 inches deep, and the scarier stuff(electric & gas), even deeper, so If I cut anything more shallow than 8 inches, I wouldn't be held responsdible. Also, most perennials are in one gallon pots that just right for those top 8 inches to fit into.
That was years ago, and have not had any problems...
If you want that bush there, I'd leave it. The roots will grow around it. It isn't like a huge live oak was just planted next to your foundation or a willow next to your water pipe.
I think it will be just fine. :0) Most cable is somewhat flexible, and if a root gets close, the cable will just flex a little.
Well, it's not exactly a bush. It will become a tree. Perennials would work great there, and if any had to be dug up no big loss, but I would hate to lose a nice big lemon tree. I'd move it now. And since it is hot summertime, keep it well watered - not soggy, just watered.
OTH, if it is where you really want it to be, and your cable goes out in the future, Comcast can just lay a new line - away from the tree.
We just had to have a new line laid, and this time we asked them to leave the cable on top of the ground (we will lay mulch over it) so that we know where it is when we dig. The new line was laid because we dug.... :-D
Beautiful curbside planting, seedpicker!
I will probably move it, but it is hard to decide where to put everything & allow for future growth. I have a meyer lemon, rio red grapefruit, loquot, and a pomegranate. At this summer's round up I think I will get a petite negra fig cutting and two papaya seedlings. I would like to leave room for a satsuma. Everything says "full sun" but most spots get about 6 hours of sun. Maybe I am trying to cram too much into my back yard, but it all sounds so tasty. Let me know if you have experience with any of these trees and if there are some that will still produce with part shade here in Houston.
Tabitha
In the Houston area you will find that shade is UNDERrated as several DGers have attested to. Six hours of Houston summer sun is just about right as long as you have plenty of space between the plants. Any more than that and the plants fry. Even ixora which I believe is native to Mexico (at least it grows beautifully down there) will fry here w/too much heat and sun. Direct sun for some places means something different from direct sun here. If we have bright shade that is perfect . Anyone having other ideas please chime in as I have been known to be wrong - infreq;uently, true - but wrong. lol
Ann
There really are some things that do best in our all day sun. Tomatoes, most veggies, fruit trees.... I think 6 hours of sun for the lemon will be OK; there just may be fewer lemons. But you'll eventually get so many lemons, you won't care! Same with the rest...
My lemon is in full sun with no problems. It's humongous!
I have ixora in full sun but it does require a more water than I'd prefer.