You And Your Neighbor’s Fruit Tree

COMMENTARY

• Building microclimates with fruit trees can extend growing seasons and protect tender plants
• Ethical considerations picking fruit from a neighbor’s tree
  • If the tree fruit extends over your property line, its OK to pick
  • Best practice to communicate with your neighbor to avoid conflicts
  • Sharing excess fruit thru community programs reduces theft and positive relationship with neighbors

Microclimate Zones A-F

COMMENTARY

• Justin describes the basics of each Microclimate Zone
  • A: Gets morning sun and afternoon shade
  • B: More full sun
  • C: Hottest side gets shade from a wall on the west side with radiant heat from the wall
  • D: Gets late afternoon sun in summer, little to no sun in winter (a distinct microclimate)
  • E: Filtered light underneath trees that can grow greens in summer
  • F: Full shade, no sun
• Justin talks about Jamaican Hibiscus. An edible leaf plant used to make red zinger tea

CALLER

• Daniel has a south facing backyard with the edge of the grass dying out in the summer. Not sure if a microclimate is heating it up and stressing it out.  Jason thinks he might have too much thatch.

Takeaways

COMMENTARY

• How to optimize microclimates for gardening in Arizona
• Free classes and volunteer opportunities at Queen Creek Botanical Gardens to learn more about microclimates
• Agriscaping.com offers a microclimate assessment service to map out your gardening efforts

RESOURCE

• Agriscaping.com Home Consultation On Microclimates Zones and Property Potential