Re: Schinus molle - California Pepper, the scum

Dear Carol,
 
I agree with Laura; I love California pepper trees.  I love their asymmetrical branch structure, weeping leaves, knobby trunks and, of course, they are evergreen.  And if I happen to have a messy tree, I would much rather have one with small leaves as opposed to large ones.  When I was young my parents had a huge pepper in their yard and they eventually cut it down because of the litter it created over their dog runs which were concrete.  I was very sad to see that tree removed. 
 
There is a pepper tree growing in a front yard in Visalia and the owners cut it back every spring.  Perhaps they are doing this to reduce the litter drop later in the season - not sure.  I see pepper trees growing in lawns quite a bit around here and they seem to do fine.  To me the ideal way to grow the pepper tree is to let the branches hang low to the ground, not plant anything under the tree, and just let the litter fall and stay.  They utilize them along the freeways in the central valley of California that way.  This would only work if you have the room though.  Perhaps a small brick patio set in sand, with a bench, placed under a pepper tree then the litter could be swept away?  A few nice looking specimens:
 
 
I love Nan's story about the shop vac.  I might try that with some of the leaf litter under my ash tree and the wisteria leaves in my adjacent perennial beds.
  
I planted a five gallon pepper as a screening tree in 2005 near the entrance to my native section.  It is turning out to be a great tree for its location and has tripled its size with some large lateral branches.  I will eventually cut some of the side branches but for now I am letting them go.  I planted it between our fence next to pavement in compacted soil and it is thriving.  The first year I watered it once a week in the summer and this year once every three weeks or so in summer.  It seems to love that inhospitable spot.
 
Good luck with your pepper tree dilemma, I hope you choose to keep it.
 
Linda Starr
Springville Lavender Gardens
Central Valley East Foothills, CA, USA Zone 9
 
 
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