Site Requirements

• To facilitate optimal fruit production, the planting area for Lula avocado trees should be in full sunlight. Ideally, provide a southern exposure, which tends to receive greater amounts of warmth. Also, leave sufficient room to grow. Lula avocado trees require a lot of space. Branches that touch another canopy tree will ultimately die back. Also, the roots of this highly competitive avocado tree will attempt to choke out other plants that are too close. In general, planting within 20 feet of buildings, powerlines or other large trees, is not recommended.
  
  

Soil

• Lula avocado trees are adapted to most well-drained soils. Do not plant in low-lying sites or in soils with poor drainage. Lula avocado trees cannot tolerate even temporary standing water. In general, trees prefer a soil pH range between 6 and 7. Avoid sites with underlying hardpan or where the water table is less than 3 feet from the surface of the ground.
  
  

Planting and Maintenance

• Proper planting and maintenance is critical to the long-term establishment and fruit production success of the Lula avocado tree. Select a healthy, pest and disease free, non-root bound avocado tree. Prepare a hole as deep as the rootball, so that the top is parallel to the ground, and at least twice as wide. Cover the top of of the backfilled area with mulch to suppress weed growth and retain moisture close to roots. Provide fertilizer every two months, before the tree reaches fruit-bearing age, to facilitate avocado tree establishment and growth. Decrease the number of fertilizer applications to three times per year once trees mature and begin getting fruit on a regular basis.
  
  

Cold Weather Protection

• Lula avocado trees are one of the most cold-tolerant varieties of avocado, surviving temperatures as low as 28 degrees Fahrenheit. If feasible, select a planting area that is on a slight slope. This will encourage heavy cold air drain away from the plant and will minimize frost damage. When severe freezes are forecast, mound additional soil around the trunk of the tree and water the plant thoroughly several days in advance.