Planting Avocado Trees

Successfully establishing a young fruit tree starts with your planting site and method. Once a fruit tree is established, it needs little assistance to grow and bear fruit; but you’ll want to make sure you give your trees the right foundation.

Fruit trees require fertile soil for good growth, so before you plant, check your soil pH. Contact your local County Extension Office for information about soil testing in your area, or purchase one of our digital meters for quick and accurate results. Avocado trees enjoy a soil pH between 6 and 6.5. Well-draining soil is critical for avocado trees – steer clear of soils that are extremely heavy or poorly drained.

Upon arrival, you may notice that your avocado tree has lost some or all of its leaves. Don’t be alarmed because this is normal. New leaves and shoots will appear shortly after repotting.

NOTE: This is part 4 in a series of 8 articles. For a complete background on how to grow avocado trees, we recommend starting from the beginning.

Planting in the Ground

Dig a hole large enough to accommodate the root system.
Straighten out any circling root before planting and remove any broken ones.
Place plant so the root ball is even with the soil surface.
Fill the hole with the remaining soil.
Do not add fertilizer to the soil as you are back filling, you can apply compost or worm castings to the soil surface after planting.
Tamp soil lightly as you go to eliminate any air pockets.
Water thoroughly.
If you have clay soil, plant your avocado tree on a slight mound. Dig a shallow hole and amend it with some potting soil or horticultural sand mixed with the native soil. This will help increase drainage. The root ball should be several inches to 1 to 2 feet above ground level when planting. Mound the well-draining soil around the root ball, extending the area to 3 to 5 feet in width.
Provide a support stake for your avocado tree for the first year or two.
Mulch well to protect the trees shallow root system.

Planting in a Container

Transfer your new tree to a container about twice the size as the pot it arrives in within a few days of arrival.
Fill the container with well-draining potting soil loosely (do not tamp) to 3” below the rim.
Remove tree from shipping container.
Gently loosen the root system from the soil ball, so roots do not encircle the soil ball.
Place plant so the root ball is even with the soil surface.
Fill the container with the remaining soil.
Water lightly until plant is well rooted.

By your tree’s second summer, you can plant it in a larger container. They have a shallow root system, so a wide diameter container is far better than a deep one. These pots can be moved around as you wish. Just remember not to make a major change in light exposure all at once, but in stages. Refreshing the soil every one to three years will provide soil nutrients and encourage healthier growth.

Protecting Your Avocado Tree

Protect your avocado tree until outdoor temperatures warm and the chance of frost is gone. Avocado trees thrive in temperatures between 60 and 85 degrees. It is not only important to have good lighting and warmth, but most importantly, humidity of 40% or above.

Your container grown avocado trees should be grown near a bright sunny window, or under fluorescent ‘grow’ lights.
Container grown avocado trees need a routine foliage misting or use of a humidifier if less than 40% humidity.
If you plan to plant your avocado tree in the ground, find a sunny, frost-free and wind free location with southern exposure is best.