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greendreamhome

What should I grow here?

greendreamhome
10 years ago

This is an east-facing stretch of grass outside of our backyard wall. We can let some irrigation water onto it, but since the land slopes UP to the street, it won't get a lot. I'd like some trees for privacy, but we have a problem: the irrigation pipe runs underneath. Our neighbors have a row of pecan trees along their wall, and nothing has happened to the pipe, so I guess trees are possible. I will ask them about it.

In the meantime, what fruit (not nut) trees or regular, privacy trees might be good here?

Comments (5)

  • timber334
    10 years ago

    Citrus does well on irrigation as well as figs, I don't have experience with any other fruit on irrigation.

  • campv 8b AZ
    10 years ago

    I would plant fruit trees- plums, pears, anna apple, mine are on a drip. Maybe a lime & lemon and orange. If you are going to spend money on water might as well get some thing from the cost.

  • Fascist_Nation
    10 years ago

    Looks like 70-80 feet? East facing. Uncertain watering. Looks pretty green actually.

    One, you could excavate a foot down to get irrigation out there and remove one problem. Depending upon where the top of the pipe starts.

    Could also install french drains under the fence on either side per tree to carry water from back yard to future rootzone.

    Two, barring that trellising grapes up against it should work. They send down deep root systems so the first year you would need to keep them watered. But the second year likely their roots would be tapped into your yard's irrigation.

    May be able to grow blackberries there.

    Trees? Well if the pipes don't leak (hard to believe) then trees roots should grow around them. Otherwise, I suspect your neighbor will eventually be paying to have a rooter run in those pipes periodically. I'd consider one tree centered per segment: apple on M-111, stone fruits on Nemaguard, and citrus is a more difficult call since on the superior Seville Sour Orange may be seriously problematic in the immediate future. Look for known producers in the valley and what you really like. Keep them pruned at 8-12 feet.

    Here is a link that might be useful: French drains, personally just leave them hollow

  • Fascist_Nation
    10 years ago

    I forgot pomegranate which would do well on less water. Parfianka!

    Represent my tastes:
    Dorsett Golden Apple/M-111
    Methley Plum/Nemaguard or Myro29C (rootstock also does well here)
    Santa Rosa Plum/Nemaguard or Myro29C
    May Pride Peach/Nemaguard
    Eva's Pride Peach/Nemaguard
    Mid-Pride Peach/Nemaguard
    August Pride Peach/Nemaguard
    ---peaches and plums are spread out about 3 weeks apart on harvest dates

    Arizona Sweet or Trovita orange
    Golden Nugget Mandarin (tangerine)
    Midknight Valencia orange if you like orange juice after the oranges have finished in March.
    If you like grapefruit I'd consider Oroblano AND Rio Red. Oroblanco for Nov-Jan./Rio Red Feb-supposedly July.
    Probably avoid limes and lemons as they are more sensitive to freezes. If, however, you really like a lot of lemonade then Improved Meyer lemon is very frost hardy.
    Citrus evergreen provides year round privacy. I wish I could suggest a good citrus rootstock replacement for SSO.

    All trees self-fertile and very low chill hours/proven reliable in valley.

  • greendreamhome
    Original Author
    10 years ago

    Thanks for all the suggestions! I found out that the irrigation pipes are plastic, so I don't have to worry about roots getting in them. That's why our neighbor hasn't had a problem with all of those pecan trees over his pipes.