[Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page

[Dick]

It sounds like your trees are near or at their apex, George, and, be that 
the case, there is little you can do but make them as comfortable as 
possible in their twilight years.

We don't often think of trees as having a life span but all do. That average 
life span will be shortened to some extent by  the sum of all the trauma to 
which it has been subjected, much like humans living, perhaps, identical 
life styles in the same town, won't all live to the same age because of 
genetics, natural trauma and life styles.

Naval oranges, incidently, have a natural long lifespan that might be 
shortened if growing in Florida where higher humidity and disease are more 
prevalent.

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


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "George D" <geodrum at worldnet.att.net>
To: "Dick" <rkgross3 at cox.net>
Sent: Thursday, December 27, 2007 4:34 PM
Subject: Re: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page


> Hi all I have had some of the same problem this year. I have several old 
> trees and this year one of them has smaller dry fruit. They all get flood 
> irrigation and I use Ammonium Sulphate 3 times a year. One of my neighbors 
> has the same problem with one of her trees. All of the trees in are from 
> an old grove that was planted 50+ years ago. only these 2 Navel trees out 
> of 15 have any problem.
>
> 44th street and Thomas area.
>
> George Drum
>
> Dick wrote:
>> Helen, I have five healthy, fruiting citrus varieties that have never had 
>> any fertilizer except Ammonium Sulphate 21-0-0 as prescribed on the bag 
>> according to the trunk diameter because someone of authority told me that 
>> desert soils (like ours) typically are alkaline but contain all the 
>> nutrients needed by citrus in ample amounts except nitrogen but need the 
>> sulfer to overcome excess alkalinity(salt). My 30 year old healthy trees 
>> have borne that out. Too much nitrogen, I have learned, will result in 
>> excessively thick rinds and vegetative growth in lieu of fruit becaust 
>> the tree percieves no need to perpetuate itself by producing seed. I have 
>> noticed that fruit on the tree longer than normal tends to get dry but 
>> sizing I think is a function of a tree with a well-balanced diet assuming 
>> the nitrogen is applied in the right amount in a three foot band around 
>> the tree's perimeter where most or all of the feeder roots exist.
>>
>> I believe irrigation is the first priority. It must be three feet deep 
>> around the drip line. Between that perimeter shallow trench and the tree 
>> trunk, my trees have not seen a drop of water that did not come from the 
>> sky. There are no feeder roots there anyway.  I irrigate when ever the 
>> soil in that band is quite dry at least three inches deep in the trench 
>> whose center line is also the dripline. Flush irrigation flushes excess 
>> salts below the feeder roots largely iliminating salt burn on the foliage 
>> but will not do away with burn already on the foliage.. Make yourself a 
>> four foot long probe with a broomstick handle on a brass rod from your 
>> local hardware. When you can easily sink it three feet around the drip 
>> zone, irrigation is deep enough and you can shut the water off. The probe 
>> makes an attractive but dangerous Zorro sword for children to play with. 
>> Store it in the same place you stash your loaded shot gun.
>>
>> I add 21-0-0 as prescribed on the bag in that trench and water it in 3 
>> feet in March, june and September.
>>
>> Your trees should explode with the right amount of water and fertilizer 
>> at the right time in the right place.
>>
>> If any of this is unclear or confusing, don't hesitate to inquire 
>> further. Master gardeners begging to ply their avocation
>> abound. Further discussion is invited.
>>
>> Dick Gross, Master Gardener Volunteer
>> U of A Maricopa county Cooperative Extension.
>>
>> --- Original Message ----- From: <hwbiz at cox.net>
>> To: <arid_gardener at Ag.arizona.edu>
>> Sent: Tuesday, December 25, 2007 1:19 PM
>> Subject: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page
>>
>>
>>> helen
>>> 85310
>>> hwbiz at cox.net
>>>
>>> the oranges on my tree this year are smaller than usual and are not very 
>>> juicy.
>>> what can I do to help for next year?
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> Arid_gardener mailing list
>>> Arid_gardener at CALS.arizona.edu
>>> http://CALS.arizona.edu/mailman2/listinfo/arid_gardener
>>> All contents copyright 2007. Arizona Board of Regents/University of 
>>> Arizona
>>>
>>
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>> All contents copyright 2007. Arizona Board of Regents/University of 
>> Arizona
>>
>>
>
>
> -- 
> The real cause of crime is not a poverty of resources but a poverty of 
> values.
> http://www.johnlocke.org/agenda2004/crimepunisment.htm
>