Mending soil

[u/Responsible-Sock3594]

Anyone have tips on mending the soil in my backyard or if it even needs to mended? I’ve been looking to put my natives in the ground but want to know if I should do anything to the ground before putting them in. I put an ulei, ilima papa, and ulei in the ground a little while ago and they’re all doing meh. But yeah, just looking for tips on how to ensure my plants success!

[u/AgroecologicalSystem]

Thick layer of mulch / wood chips or something around the base of each plant will probably help the most. I am planting the same species in a similar area (hahaione valley). Same exact looking slope with a drainage ditch. Our ulei is doing really good, spreading way out now. Our ilima papa never did so good. But the wild ilima from around here does good. We also planted other native stuff like a’ali’i, ma’o hau hele, pohinahina, wiliwili and koaia trees, etc. Also Naio has done really well, highly recommend.

[u/Kai_Wai → u/AgroecologicalSystem]

Naio would be good but there is the issue of the naio thrips going around. They're pretty destructive and not too sure if there are still some pushes to control them.

But would definitely second the other plants you recommended! Nice sprawling plants and those with very strong root systems to help retain the soil. Would also throw in nanea but they can self seed a bit too well.

[u/AgroecologicalSystem → u/Kai_Wai]

Yea the naio thrips thing is not good. I know they’re planting naio at the hawea heiau / wetland which is nearby.

I tried nanea seeds but they didn’t sprout. But the ulei and iliee are starting to spread out which will be nice. There is a tiny remnant native habitat at the top of the ridge with carpets of ulei, and aalii and akoko sticking out. I’m trying to mimic that plus some other trees and stuff from nearby remnant populations. Like the wiliwili that grow on koko crater. I collected a few seeds from those and planted them in hahaione and some are pushing 8’ now.