What kind of tree does well in a yard at a higher elevation?

Each year, thousands of Arizona residents email or call Rosie Romeros radio show with questions about everything from preventing fires in their chimneys to getting rid of tree roots invading their sewer system. His goal is to provide answers that suit the specific lifestyle wherever someone lives in Arizona. Here are questions about home maintenance and improvement from the Southern Arizona area.

Q: A few years ago, we had a very hard freeze and the palo verde in our front yard was severely damaged. Then it got the mistletoe, and it has finally bit the dust. So now Im trying to find out what to plant next. I only have about 15 to 20 feet of space for the root zone, and our property is located at 2,100 feet in elevation. So it has to be a hardy choice. One year the temperature actually dropped down to 15 degrees. Would a palo blanco tree, the one with bark like a birch tree, work?

A: The palo blanco is native to the Sonora, Mexico area so it might be too frost sensitive for your yard. It can only handle temperatures of about 25 degrees. Think about a mastic tree or an acacia or eucalyptus though some of those trees might have fairly large canopies. A desert willow could work well, and it would let in some sun in the winter when it sheds its foliage. To see more choices, look online at Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert, published by the Arizona Municipal Water Users Association.

Q: I could open my garage door successfully yesterday, but when I came home from the store, I couldnt shut it any more. When I hit the remote or the button inside the garage, it will only go down a foot or so and then it retracts. Whats going on? Would lubricating it help?

A: Lubricating may not help. Probably the beams at the bottom of the garage door opening are out of alignment. You can reset the electric eye sensors pretty easily and get the door to work again smoothly. There are indicator lights on each sensor that indicate the right alignment. It may be as simple as checking to see if something has been moved into the beam of light that shines between the sensors. If there is no obstruction, move one of the sensors until a green or amber light is visible to show that everything is aligning properly. Then check the closing operation for the door again.

Q: I have an electric stove with a big back burner for cooking large pots of food. Every time my wife turns that burner on, the pot of beans really starts rocking and rolling even when she sets it at a lower temperature. Do I have to get a brand new stove?

A: It sounds as if you have an appliance problem that can be fixed by a repair company. If you like the stove, its worthwhile trying to fix it before you go shopping for a new stove. Most likely your problem is just a faulty control switch.

Q: I have several blackberry bushes that produce lots of fruit. But every year I wonder, when should I prune them?

A: Prune those bushes in the winter time. You can be very severe with them. Dont be afraid to prune them way back. Theyll come back in the spring and produce more fruit than ever.

For more do-it-yourself tips, go to rosieonthehouse.com. An Arizona home building and remodeling industry expert for 25 years, Rosie Romero is the host of the syndicated Saturday morning Rosie on the House radio program, heard locally from 8-11 a.m. on KNST-AM (790) and -FM (97.1) in Tucson and KGVY-AM (1080) and -FM (100.7) in Green Valley. Call 888-767-4348.

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What kind of tree does well in a yard at a higher elevation?