[SPAM] Re: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page

Sat May 31 17:53:32 MST 2008

I didn't take into account that you might have lawn or a Bermuda grass up to 
the trunk. But, regardless. you must get fertilizer and water at the drip 
line at least three feet deep any way you can engineer it for the tree to be 
healthy and productive..

I never cover the trench but you could if you really wanted to; digging it 
anew every time you rewater that could be about every month or six weeks. 
The drip line should be the center of the trench. I never re-irrigate until 
I scratch about three inches in the trench and find dry soil or if there is 
obvious permanent wilt regardless of time elapsed. That routine is fully 
adequate in my yard.

Temporary wilt in the heat of the afternoon that recovers when the sun 
settles down near the horrizon is not harmful, I have observed, but if there 
anything resembling permanent or long term wilt, get water on the tree 
promptly.
The trench needs to be only a half to an inch deep (shallow) and at least a 
shovel width wide but 15 to 18 inches wide is better.  Adjust the flow of 
the hose so that you have a puddle in the trench and, depending on the age 
of the tree, that could be little more than a fast drip.. The rate of 
penetrating the soil is equal to the flow so the water level in the trench 
stays the same. You could, I guess, apply the water in intervals if you have 
very slow percolation but the water should reach at least 18 inches 
regardless of how long it takes to reach it.

I leave the trenches open but they are so shallow and half under the tree 
they are hardle noticed. The skirt around my trees grows all the way to the 
ground. This is good citrus country where the species really grows without 
much effort on our part.

Unless it rained or I forgot to turn off a hose, I have never flooded the 
entire basin in any of my four 40 year old trees that I would gladly show 
you if any of this is incomprehensible.

Dick Gross, Master Gardener Volunteer
Maricopa County Cooperative Extension
Bcc: Arid Gardener

Dick Gross
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Joan Allen" <jcallenaz at cox.net>
To: "Dick" <rkgross3 at cox.net>
Sent: Saturday, May 31, 2008 6:38 AM
Subject: Re: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page

> Okay Dick; this sounds right, but I'm not understanding it all. Do you 
> leave the trench open forever? The tree is soooo large it's canopy is 
> about one third of my yard. . Therefore I'd have this open trench in the 
> middle of my backyard. Is that right? I know desperate times call for 
> desperate measures, but am I understanding you correctly?   Joan
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Dick" <rkgross3 at cox.net>
> To: "Joan Allen" <jcallenaz at cox.net>
> Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2008 11:10 PM
> Subject: Re: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page
>
>
>> Joan. I don't know if I mentioned irrigation but doing it right might 
>> rejuvenate your tree or give it new life if it has been done wrong.
>>
>> A drip line is an imaginary line in the sand that defines the outer reach 
>> of the foliage. It should be the center of a shallow trench surrounding 
>> the tree. This is the only area in the root zone with the ability to 
>> adsorb water and nutrients. You should maintain a shallow level of water 
>> in this trench until you can easily sink a 36 inch soil probe to the 
>> hilt. If the soil is dry, you would need a sledge hammer to drive it in. 
>> With the soil properly soaked, you can sink it easily with one hand. Then 
>> you can shut off the water until you scratch in the trench and find dry 
>> soil about three inches deep. Then, repeat the procedure.
>>
>> If the tree has not been properly irrigated, this procedure may cause it 
>> to explode with new growth.
>>
>> Dick Gross
>> bcc: Arid Gardener
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Joan Allen" <jcallenaz at cox.net>
>> To: "Dick" <rkgross3 at cox.net>
>> Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2008 10:46 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page
>>
>>
>>> Thanks again for your humor. The rate I'm going I might become an 
>>> "embarrassment" before the tree does.
>>>
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>> From: "Dick" <rkgross3 at cox.net>
>>> To: "Joan Allen" <jcallenaz at cox.net>
>>> Sent: Saturday, June 28, 2008 11:28 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page
>>>
>>>
>>>> My pleasure, Joan. Hang in with the tree until it becomes an 
>>>> embarassment ----- Original Message -----
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> From: "Joan Allen" <jcallenaz at cox.net>
>>>> To: "Dick" <rkgross3 at cox.net>
>>>> Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2008 10:21 PM
>>>> Subject: Re: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>> Thank you Dick for your response, which is the only one I've received 
>>>>> thus far. A neighbor also suggested that the age of the tree could be 
>>>>> the contributing factor to the problems it is experiencing. I hope we 
>>>>> can keep this beautiful tree for as long as we are in the house. It 
>>>>> has been an amazing tree, and like your trees, it  produces an 
>>>>> abundance of fruit. At least we can make its last years as comfortable 
>>>>> as possible. We are also up in age where a "lifetime guarantee" takes 
>>>>> on a different meaning. Thanks again.   Joan
>>>>>
>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>>>> From: "Dick" <rkgross3 at cox.net>
>>>>> To: <jcallenaz at cox.net>
>>>>> Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2008 4:55 PM
>>>>> Subject: Re: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>> Your tree, Joan, is at about the same place in life as I am at 83. 
>>>>>> Citrus species have a life span of roughly 30 to 40 years on average. 
>>>>>> A small number will live longer and others--depending on the amount 
>>>>>> of trauma and care it has had, may croak sooner. ny citrus that has 
>>>>>> had bark exposed to direct sun will have a shorter life span. I have 
>>>>>> four citrus aged about 40 years in the ground.  All show their age 
>>>>>> but still produce more than our family can consume.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Every living organism has an average expected lifespan that is longer 
>>>>>> or shorter depending on the kind in care it has recieved and/or 
>>>>>> obstacles encountered.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Dick Gross, Master Gardener Volunteer.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>>>>> From: <jcallenaz at cox.net>
>>>>>> To: <arid_gardener at Ag.arizona.edu>
>>>>>> Sent: Monday, May 26, 2008 9:19 PM
>>>>>> Subject: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> joan allen
>>>>>>> 85003
>>>>>>> jcallenaz at cox.net
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> We have a very large grapefruit tree, about 48 yrs old located in 
>>>>>>> back yard on north side about 6 feet from house. Three concerns: it 
>>>>>>> has a fungus type of gummy sap oozing out in three places on its 
>>>>>>> trunk about 5 feet up from the ground, it's canopy is considerably 
>>>>>>> thinner than previous years, there are soft shell grey beetles on 
>>>>>>> the trunk. Fruit output is about the same. It is watered by 
>>>>>>> automatic sprinkler system, and fertilized on schedule recommended 
>>>>>>> by Baker's Nursery. Last fertilized in March with Baker's blend 
>>>>>>> 16-8-4. We would like a recommendation for a citrus tree expert to 
>>>>>>> come an examine the tree. We live in Central Phoenix. So far we have 
>>>>>>> scraped off the fungus and applied Bordeaux mixed with water to the 
>>>>>>> places that are oozing. Thank you.   Joan Allen
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>>>>> 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
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
> 