mgodbee

I agree climate most likely is the biggest factor, along with watering technique. I have always had pretty large particles in my soil per the advice of those more knowledgeable, but I have slowly downsized the particle size due to the intense summers we get here in Atlanta. They are still kinda large and fast draining, but during the summer, I swear I could water them in the morning, come home from work and they would be dry. I never had serious problems, but it has scared me since, and gone to medium sized particles. Now I still water morning and night in the summer when it is hot, but it is not as drastic, and I don't have to start watering twice a day until Summer rather than mid-April. I would imagine this would not be the case in the pacific northwest. I can't say my trees are worlds better, but it gives me more comfort doing it this way. As for inorganics vs. organics, I started out with little organics like pine bark, but have gone up to anywhere from 25%-50% pine bark for the water retention. I have tried 100% turface as an experiment and I couldn't keep it wet at all down here. I have heard great stories from others using such a mix, but unless you are with your trees all day, it is impossible to me in the summer time. As for Kanuma, I like it, the azelias and Camelia's thrive in it, I have a ficus retusa that I don't really like I tried in straight Kanuma and it has thrived. As for Akadama, I have no use for it. The cheaper Akadama breaks down like no tomorrow for me, and the high-fired seemed to have no impact, in fact the only Juniper I have lost was in straight high-fired Akadama. I won't say it is a poor choice of soil, but not worth the money to me. I am a turface guy. As for my mix, who knows? I change it on a whim and on availability. I use river sand, turface, silica sand, Lava rock mostly, all mixed together with pine bark. I use Kanuma for Camelias and Azaleas mixed with a touch of pine bark. For Bald Cypresses and Willows I use straight up Mushroom compost and oak leaf mulch. No water escaping from that mix...

Unlike most people though, all my trees are full sun, all the time and I have had no problems. Maybe I am lucky, but for me it is logistics, I only have shade in the front yard and I won't keep my trees there.. My maples and Azaleas thrive and I have had no problems. I do use a product called pro-tekt by dynagro, who knows if it works or not, but not having any problems, I will keep using it. At my house, the front yard is heavily shaded on one half and dappled shade or full sun on the other half. My landscaping trees/shrubs are azelias, camelias, boxwoods, and three Jap. red maples (2 Deshojo and I Dissectum). The azalias are all in the shaded part and thrive. One camelia is shaded and one is in full sun and both thrive. I have tons of boxwoods and the ones in the shade look terrible and the ones in the sun thrive. The maples have no preference at all it seems... Anyway, sorry for the long post and my rambling....