Late last year we purchased a home with some property and I purchased 9 Mango trees and 2 Peach trees. I planted all of them with the dry roots remaining above ground as I have in the past. I also put a plastic border around each and placed some mulch to help retain moisture. Subsequently a neighbor and I were talking and he was speaking about how wet our properties would get with the Summer rains. FWIW, we live in Lakeland, FL. We have in recent months been getting some heavy rains to the point that the property often times can not even be mowed and the plastic borders around the Mango trees are holding water for days at a time. Occasionally as much as 2 inches of water above the ground that just sits there.
I am very concerned about the consequences of this and, in hindsight am wondering if I should have planted them for the most part above the ground and then just mounded the dirt at a slope to keep standing water away.
My question is, would I be doing wrong if I were to try to take a pitchfork and raise the level of the trees so the dry roots would remain that way - probably have to raise them each by about 6 to 8 inches? Concerned about disturbing the root system and adequately filling underneath so there would be no air pockets. All of the trees are about 5 to 6 feet tall. Also, the wet soil has already caused the Peach trees to lose all of their leaves when I see other Peach trees in nearby farms full of leaves.
Or, am I overthinking this and should just leave them as they are? Also, I am hopeful of having some fruit from these trees in the Spring. This last Summer we were lucky enough to get one or two mangoes from a couple of the trees. Not sure how many years I have left to enjoy the trees so I am also apprehensive about adjusting the depth as it may keep them from producing fruit for the coming spring.
I appreciate any and all suggestions.