Lula Avocado

1. Planting:  Find a spot where your Lula Avocado can receive full sunlight (between 6 to 8 hours daily), and dig a hole for the root system. Straighten out the circling roots and remove broken ones. Place the tree in the hole, fill it with soil, and tamp it down lightly. Water thoroughly. For clay soil, plant on a slight mound with well-draining soil. Provide a support stake for the first year or two and mulch well. Find a sunny, frost-free, and wind-free location with southern exposure to plant in the ground. 

For containers, transfer your new tree to a container twice the size of the pot it arrives in. Fill with well-draining soil to 3” below the rim. Loosen the root system and place the plant so the root ball is even with the soil surface. Water lightly until well rooted. In the second summer, plant in a larger container. Use a wide-diameter container, and refresh the soil every 1-3 years. Place near a sunny window or under fluorescent 'grow' lights. Mist foliage regularly or use a humidifier if humidity is less than 40%.

2. Watering:  Good drainage is crucial for avocado trees. Young trees need watering 2-3 times per week in their first year. Mature trees need 2 inches of water per week in summer. 

When grown in a container, deep watering is preferred over frequent, light watering. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings. 

Overwatering causes curling leaves and soft stems while underwatering causes wilted, dry foliage.

3. Pruning: To prune, as much dead wood as possible should be removed. V-type crotches, which are mechanically weak and prone to developing rots, should be eliminated. If the tree is planted outside, lower limbs should not be removed as the exposure can make the remaining limbs vulnerable to sunburn.

4. Fertilizing: Fertilize your avocado tree with aged compost or worm castings when planting. Once established, use a well-balanced citrus fertilizer twice a year. Do not add fertilizer while backfilling. Instead, apply compost or worm castings to the soil surface after planting.

5. Pollination: Pollinators are not required; however, other avocado plants can boost the size of your crops. Plant one of these pollinators within 100’ for best results.