Establishment is the hardest part of any perennial planting, and the one time you can treat the root zone properly before the tree is in the way.
Once a tree is established you are working around it. At planting you can put the amendment exactly where the roots are going to go, and on a crop that will occupy that ground for decades that is worth doing properly.
Australian native fruit adds a further consideration: many species are adapted to low-phosphorus, low-fertility soils and respond poorly to heavy conventional fertiliser. A soil conditioner that improves structure and holding capacity without supplying much N, P or K suits them.
It improves structure and water-holding in the establishing root zone, and holds what nutrient is applied where the young roots can reach it. It supplies very little N, P or K in its own right.
Applied once. In trials it has been found still present and active five years later.
It supplies very little N, P or K, which suits species adapted to low-fertility soils.
Rocky through to volcanic at Marian. 600 trees established since 2021.
Most of those trees are young and yet to reach full production. The observation is establishment, not yield.
Simon Mattsson, Marian QLD — a qualified agronomist. 600 Australian native fruit trees planted 2021 — lilli pilli, Davidson plum, tamarind and lemon aspen — all established on TBS-treated soils, on country ranging from rocky to volcanic. · Read the full story
Starting points. Adjust with local agronomic advice and a current soil test.
| Situation | Rate | How to place it |
|---|---|---|
| New plantings | 3–5 m³/ha | Into the planting hole and the surrounding root zone, then cover. Never against the stem. |
| Per tree, small plantings | 0.5–1 L per hole | Worked into the backfill, not sitting against the roots. |
| Trial strip | 1 m³ treats about a third of a hectare | Treat a block of trees and leave a comparable block untreated. |
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