Glad You Selected a California Pepper Tree

Q. I have a California pepper tree near my pool that’s constantly dropping leaves into it. I am wondering if I can lower its height so it will drop fewer leaves and stems. Anything else I should think about?

Because pepper tress are usually evergreen during warm winters in southern Nevada they will drop their leaves all season long.

A. California pepper tree is a better selection than Brazilian pepper. But they are both evergreen and can pose a problem near water that you want to keep clean. Evergreen plants constantly drop leaves all season long but drop their leaves heaviest soon after times of new growth. A deciduous tree that drops its leaves for the winter months is a better choice near pools because you clean the pool only once.

Read more about pepper trees here

Make Sure its Not Water

Make sure it’s not dropping leaves because of a lack of water. Increase the amount of water and the frequency of application to make sure it’s not dropping its leaves because the soil is too dry. The recommended frequency of water application by water purveyors is correct for mesic trees growing in landscapes. Check to make sure enough water is applied each time to penetrate the soil 18 to 24 inches deep. Make sure that water is applied to at least half the area under the tree canopy. Water again when the soil at 8 to 10 inches deep is about half full of water or starting to dry out. To reduce soil evaporation and we growth, apply a surface mulch of rock or woodchips to a depth of 2 to 3 inches.

            Also remember to apply water on, or just before, windy days. Use your weather app on your phone to judge when it will be windy in the future.

You're Right

            You’re right in that lowering the trees height decreases the amount of leaves and stems you must clean up, but evergreen trees are still going to drop leaves at inconvenient times of the year. If you decide to lower the trees height rather than replace the trees, then pay the extra expense to have it done correctly by a licensed arborist. Not all licensed arborists are good at pruning trees. See some examples of their work before you employ them.