[Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page

[Dick Gross]

For 15 years, I had a huge African Sumac tree that outran extensive pruning 
twelve months of the year whenever branches slapped me along side the head 
or forced people off the sidewalk into the street to get around it. That 
same tree would distribute leaves for a half mile down wind several times a 
year severely straining relationships with everyone East of me. I eventually 
replaced it with a Chilean Mesquite that is presently contesting my deed to 
the property.

Using sound prunning,  I would make the tree conform to my own needs and to 
prevent encroachment upon my nieghbor's space regardless of hazards the tree 
might suffer from it. Technically, the arborists may be correct about fall 
and spring thinning but, in my years of personally severely and radically 
pruning an African Sumac, I never saw any sun damage but use my personal 
experience at your own risk. The only cultural practice I found that would 
deter the species is a chain saw that a neighbor eagerly and generously used 
to reduce the tree to firewood.

Civil disagreement with or endorsement of my personal opinion is invited 
that we may all learn from this discourse.

Dick Gross, MGV MCCE

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <gplumb at cox.net>
To: <arid_gardener at Ag.arizona.edu>
Sent: Saturday, June 10, 2006 2:58 PM
Subject: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page


>
> 85022
> gplumb at cox.net
>
> I have two African Sumac trees that are extremely heavy with new foliage 
> and seeds.  The last couple of wind storms have broken two large branches, 
> which I have removed.  With monsoon winds on the horizon, I am concerned 
> about more potential damage.
>
> I have contacted two different certified arborists and have conflicting 
> opinions from them on whether now is an appropriate time to thin the 
> canopies of these trees.  One says that summer is not a good time to thin 
> them because this opens the trees up to sun damage.  He recommends 
> thinning between late fall and early spring.  The other says that being 
> native to an arid climate, these trees can be thinned any time of year 
> without fear of sun damage.
>
> Any idea which one of them is correct?
>
>
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