Thanks, Jim!
I just joined up and can't wait to see what replies you'll be getting about your blackberries.

Susie

Here is a link that might be useful: Al's Forum

Is he leaving GWeb?

I don't know. I just found his forum by accident.

He's had that forum for years, Jane, so I doubt it.

EDIT I think he started it during one of the periods when gardenweb was having so many technical problems it seemed unlikely that it would continue. Al's forum activity tends to go in spurts--nothing for a long time, then several active threads for a while.

This post was edited by writersblock on Tue, Dec 17, 13 at 16:55

It may be his site but he hasn't responded to a post since a since Feb 2010. One of the other posters in Nov 2010 said, "Al isn't here much," I'm good with that. He has been generous with his knowledge in the past, it's all over the internet, and he deserves a life as we all do. Thank you Al, wherever you are!

Papa jim

I have been growing Italian Cypress trees in peat moss (pic attached), since December, when they began to sprout. Yesterday, I transferred them to 5 gallon pots mixed with top soil, sand and clay. I understand what you said, that the combination is not porus. I have read that Italian Cypress grow well in clay loam. I will definitely water less, but how often for these little guys? I live in a climate where the temperature reaches 120F by July.