[Arid_gardener] RE: Tree Question

[Christine M. Bahto]

ORIGINAL QUESTION:
Date: Mon, 14 Aug 2006 12:13:20 -0700
From: "Kelly Conroy" <kconroy at indigopartners.net>
Subject: [Arid_gardener] Tree Question

I sent a question a few weeks back and have not received a reply, so I'm
going to try again.  Basically, I need to know what kind of tree I can
plant within 2 feet of my home and a flagstone walkway without it
destroying my foundation or lifting and cracking my flagstone?

Please let me know.

~ Kelly

ANSWER:
Kelly,
It is never advisable to plant a tree 2 feet away from your home. Most trees
have a spread of
15-25+ feet, and the space you want to plant a tree is way too small. Have
you considered a
shrub that can be pruned into a tree shape? You can do this to most any
shrub, just look for
one with a strong, vertical main stem, or buy a shrub that is already pruned
as a patio tree.
Just take into consideration the exposure to the sun that the shrub will be
getting.

Hope this helps,
Christine Bahto
Master Gardener, Maricopa County, U of A Cooperative Extension.