[Arid_gardener] Tree for narrow space

[Dick Gross]

Thanks for the clarification, Kelly. Some of us Master Gardeners tend to be a little thin skinned as well but anyone, like yourself, entering this forum is entitled to at least an acknowledgement in a reasonable timeframe but chaos is built into the system because, to the best of my knowledge, no one monitors either the inquiries nor responses that might require more resourses than this volunteer outfit can muster. Someone will tell me if I'm wrong.

But, our intercourse this morning might be a productive exchange if it raised a few heads and opened a few eyes. This is a marvelous learning vehicle for us. Even though at any given time any one of us might transmit false information that an honest mis-interpretation of facts has led us to believe, debate tends to push the truth to the surface where everyone can access and use it. Even the dumbest responses to the dumbest questions can, through discourse, lead to intelligent solutions; is an adage I have learned from experience even though I just now composed the sentence.

Sincerely,

Dick Gross

bcc: list
 
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kelly Conroy" <kconroy at indigopartners.net>
To: "Dick Gross" <rkgross3 at cox.net>
Sent: Wednesday, August 23, 2006 3:13 PM
Subject: RE: [Arid_gardener] Tree for narrow space


Thanks for your reply, Dick.  Please don't misunderstand.  I'm not in
the least bit upset that I didn't receive a reply the first time around.
This list has helped me enormously in the past and I know the volunteer
circumstances.  I thought that since I sent the question to the list
before, and then resent it, someone might reply with "Didn't you already
ask this question?".  So I wanted to acknowledge that I had previously
submitted it already.

I did receive several excellent replies on my second inquiry.  As
always, I value everyone's input, yours included!

Sincerely,

Kelly 

-----Original Message-----
From: Dick Gross [mailto:rkgross3 at cox.net] 
Sent: Tuesday, August 22, 2006 10:18 PM
To: Kelly Conroy
Subject: Re: [Arid_gardener] Tree for narrow space


Bcc:

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. 


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