[Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page

[Dick]

I believe buckeye has a climate similar to Phoenix but the only extreme you 
need be concerned about is frost. All citrus varieties have to be irrigated 
deeply at the drip line where feeder roots are located. In fact, flooding 
the entire basin is often a measure to minimixe damage. If the area gets 
frosts, some damage could be expected unless protection is taken. There are 
several things that can be done to minimize damage if an event occurs.

If there is a retail plant Nursery around, ask their advice. Cruise the area 
see what your neighbors are growing successfully. Just off the top of my 
head, I believe Buckeye will support citrus. You might try dwarf varieties 
that can be rather easy to protect with frost cover if the weather is 
marginal. All parts of Phoenix have ocasional frosts that can damage citrus; 
Tucson as well.

I have five mature citrus varieties that I usually have to protect a couple 
times a year. I have flooded but I usually use only an industrial 
oscillating fan to protect them. Fortunately, our freezes are of rather 
short duration. A sustained hard freeze would soak-in and damage tender 
foliage and kill new growth regardless of what one does.

Dick Gross, Master Gardener Volunteer.
University of Arizona Maricopa County
Cooperative Extension


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <susieq8380 at yahoo.com>
To: <arid_gardener at Ag.arizona.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, August 08, 2007 8:49 AM
Subject: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page


> Sue
> 85326
> susieq8380 at yahoo.com
>
> I was wondering how hard it is to take care of an orange tree living in 
> Buckeye, AZ? Is there a lot involved or is it just a bad idea because of 
> the dry climate?
> Thank you-
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Arid_gardener mailing list
> Arid_gardener at CALS.arizona.edu
> http://CALS.arizona.edu/mailman2/listinfo/arid_gardener
>