Planting Camellias in Sandy Coastal Soils
American Camellia Society
ACS Camellia Yearbook
1947
Reprinted with Permission
During the past twelve or fifteen years quite a large number of camellias have been planted in the gardens of this area, and we now are finding that too high a percentage of them have not done well.
In examining these plants, we have found one condition that has caused more trouble than any other, and that is that the plants are too deep.
It is our belief that the majority of these plants were originally set at the proper level, but have subsequently sunk to a damaging extent. As an example, the writer examined one plant that was not doing well, and found the top of the original ball 13 inches below the level of the surrounding ground. This plant had been set a number of years ago in a deep hole that had been filled in with leaves, leaf mold, and finely ground humus.
Much of the soil in this area is Norfolk fine sand, and in the past it has been recommended that a hole be dug twice the depth of the plant ball and that this hole be filled with humus, such as leaf mold, peat humus or fresh-water muck. This material compacts and also disintegrates, allowing the plant to settle.
It is quite true that the addition of humus to our soil is beneficial, but we are now urging that the ball of the