Large avocado tree.

Since you probably won’t be planting a pit and trying to grow an avocado in a container, you have to choose a location outdoors where an avocado tree will flourish.

Pick a site that gets full sun and where your tree won’t be overcrowded—don’t plant right next to other trees, buildings, or power lines. You also want your soil to be coarse, well-aerated, and well-drained, although avocados will tolerate a variety of soil types across loose, loamy, or sandy soil.

If you have heavy clay soil, however, enhance drainage for your tree by raising a mound of at least 1 to 2 feet above the soil line and 3 to 5 feet around, and plant your tree in that mound.

Avocados won’t grow in soil with a high saline content, and they prefer their pH level at 6 to 6.5, though they can adapt to slightly higher or lower levels. If the soil is alkaline, amend it with organic matter such as sphagnum moss. To calculate how much moss to use, add 2 1/2 pounds of moss to 1 square yard of soil to lower the pH by one unit.

This spot should also be protected from wind and frost. Once a tree is established, it can tolerate temperatures as low as 28 degrees F with minimal damage, but anything below that will probably kill the tree.

Keep your tree away from your lawn—or remove lawn grass under the canopy—so that it doesn’t have to compete with the grass for water or nutrients.

At the same time, planting near a lawn or other trees helps keep avocados cooler, which discourages pest such as mites. Mites also like dusty conditions, so plant avocados away from open fields or roads to keep down dust.

Avoid planting your avocado near a perennial bed or vegetable garden, where thrips and whiteflies love to feed.

In general, avocado trees do best at moderately warm temperatures (60 to 85 degrees F.) with moderate humidity. Best fruit set occurs from 65 to 75 degrees F.

Avocados can grow to 40 feet tall or more, but you can prune them to any height, especially if you want to make it easy to harvest your fruit.

Have you successfully chosen the ideal site for an avocado tree? Please share with us your criteria and characteristics of your site.