Planting My Mango Trees

Mango trees are tropical and cannot tolerate freezing temperatures. While you may be
able to grow a mango tree in USDA zone 9, it will require protection from frosts.  Master
Gardener Steve Albert points out that even mature trees are damaged by temperatures at or
below 25 degrees Fahrenheit. Young trees may tolerate temperatures down to 30 degrees,
and the flowers and fruits will die if exposed to temperatures below 40 degrees.
Before planting your mango tree, measure the distance from the house and other
trees. Most commercially available mango trees are semi-dwarf and dwarf cultivars grafted
onto sturdy, dwarfing root stocks. Remember: Even dwarf and semi-dwarf trees require
pruning to maintain their shape and size. If you rarely prune, plant your trees 25 feet apart.
In addition, when growing a mango tree from a seed, assume it will be a large tree and be
prepared to wait up to 10 years for fruits, if any.
Select a sunny, well-drained location in the garden. The University of Florida IFAS
Extension recommends digging the planting hole three times the depth of the grower's pot
and three to four times as wide to allow plenty of room for the mango tree roots to spread
throughout the loosened soil. If the soil is poor, mix the excavated soil with an equal part of
topsoil or compost. Add some of the amended soil back to the planting hole and place the
tree at the same level as it was in the pot. Backfill around the tree's roots, tamping lightly;
then water thoroughly.
Most fruit trees can be pruned with hand  shears, loppers, and a pruning saw,
except for very large trees on non-dwarfing rootstocks. Choosing sharp high quality
tools also helps minimize body fatigue . (1) Bypass loppers are generally used to
prune up to two and a half inch-diameter branches. Long handles increase the
leverage that can be exerted to make a pruning cut. (2) Saws used for tree pruning
cut wood most efficiently on the pull stroke whereas those used for carpentry cut
easily on the push stroke. Pull cutters tend to be safer with better control than push
types. Good pruning saws generally have a curved blade with seven to eight teeth per
inch. (3) Pole pruners are useful when removing limbs that are less than one and
three quarters inch in diameter and are beyond one’s reach. A standard pole pruner
is usually equipped with bypass blades, a saw blade, a pulley with a rope attached to
a six-foot pole, and two additional sectional pole.