[Arid_gardener] Tree for narrow space

[Dick Gross]

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Kelly there are many, many options that might fit your circumstances. Sorry 
your inquiry has not been answered promptly but I would like to point out 
that almost everyone on this forum responds as Master Gardener volunteers 
from their own homes on their own time when they have it. Questions vaguely 
expressed or those with limited data require much more time to analyze and 
respond to intelligently and most of us simply don't have time to probe for 
additional data that we might need to make an accurate analysis. I confess 
that I sometimes look the other way when confounded by a difficult question 
assuming someone else will handle it. Others may do the same but, hopefully, 
no one will respond unless they feel competent with subjects often very, 
very complex.

That is not to lay any fault at your feet, Kelly. A member of the gardening 
public generally doesn't know what facts are needed for a diagnosis. It is 
natural, therefore, that they might innocently omit critical information. 
With these built-in handicaps, we do the best we can in good conscience 
while begging your indulgence.

I assume this is in a side yard where the legal minimum space from the 
property line is 8 feet but you may have more or less in a given community.

My own house faces south. In one side yard, I have in large pots or in the 
ground, one Wonderful pomegranate, a White Sapote, a bamboo patch, a 
Chandler grapefruit and two cherimoyas. On the other, a large Neem tree, a 
pink Pomello, a guava tree and a banana. I have adequate walking space on 
either side.. Nowhere is the foundation or flagstone walk in any jeopardy.

My house was built in 1968. If I were to see a crack begining in my 
foundation, I would excise the offending root immediately. I have not.

You can esphalier just about any fruit tree to the desired size and shape. 
You would need to prune wisely and do a little tying.  I have, for example, 
one sweet Chinese Lemon no wider than three feet, an average height of 9 
feet plastered 30 feet along an alley chain link fence for a perfect, total 
barrier. It is always loaded with fruit. Some years ago, I helped a master 
gardener do a 50 foot row of blood orange trees on a chain link. I once tied 
Anna apple trees similarly to a redwood and wire fence to divide a person's 
yard into two  rooms.

Let your imagination run wild and shape the trees of your dreams to fit your 
personality and geography.. Your professional nurseryman should be able to 
give sage advice on this subject.

Dick Gross, Master Gardener volunteer
U of A Maricopa County Cooperative Extension.