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Arizona Gardening

Pruning Desert Trees & Shrubs

21 years ago

There have been a few posts recently re pruning palo verde and mesquite etc. There is a class on this subject offered twice in November at the DBG for only $10.

We had to run out during a storm to hack away at our trees as they were so top heavy we were afraid to lose them. We don't overwater them. We don't water them at all! Apparently the neighbors have a leak in their pool or irrigation and they have found their own source of water.

I need the class to help me reshape them more naturally after the terrible butcher job we did on them during the storm. At least they are still standing : )

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Comment (1)

azamigo
21 years ago
Well with the summer heat finished your desert trees aren't going to do any more major growing until late April or May. In theory you can prune hardy desert trees whenever but since it sounds like they look bad now doing any more prunning will probably make them look even worse....and they will look bad all winter!! The general rule to remember is "prune plants when they are growing"....the exception to this is decidious plants-they should be prunned in the winter when leafless.
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