Strawberry Guava Tree

Guava trees are an excellent choice for both in-ground and in container growing. Guavas are best grown in warm climates where they get full sun exposure. Choose a location with at least 8 to 10 hours of sunlight and well-draining soil.

To plant your guava tree in the ground, dig a hole about twice the size of the root ball. We recommend digging a hole in a cone shape and planting the tree to the center of the cone. Backfill with a mixture of native soil and amendments like potting soil, perlite, and fine bark mulch to increase drainage. If your location has heavy clay soil create a mound about 12” above the native soil line with a better draining soil mix of compost and mulch. At the center of the mound, dig a cone-shaped hole and plant your tree.

For container growers, you want to choose a container about twice the size of the current root ball. Then plant the tree in a premium soil mix that has good drainage.

Notice here that we did not add fertilizers to the planting hole as we will top dress with plant food later.

How often to water will vary on the environment and depends on soil porosity, tree size, and temperature. Guavas are tropical plants that prefer regular deep watering. Guavas can even survive in quite saturated soil conditions, but it is best to allow the soil to dry out somewhat between watering. Be sure to adjust based on weather conditions.

Fertilize your guava tree with a balanced fertilizer once per month from the beginning of spring through to the end of fall. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions so that you do not over-apply and burn your tree. Organic fertilizer options like worm castings, compost, and compost tea also make great food for your tree. Be sure to keep all fertilizer you add at least 6" away from the trunk to prevent the development of trunk/stem rot.

Guavas are amenable to pruning and shaping. They can tolerate heavy pruning and can also be trimmed to grow as hedges if desired. Remove all suckers and water shoots annually for best results. Guavas fruit on new growth, so pruning will not negatively affect the fruit set.

In colder locations, prune as a shrub, rather than tree shape, and mulch heavily to protect the stems from freezing.