Ginny: Apricots in CA are susceptible to a fairly serious disease called Eutypa dieback. It is more likely to occur in coastal climates than inland but can be serious even in the central valleys. Control includes limiting pruning to July and August inland and August only near the coast. These are good times to prune for shaping or to control vigor. My only concern is that major pruning that time of yr can leave the tree susceptible to sunburn. What I'd probably do is moderate pruning to open the center of the tree. Also shorten some branches by cutting to a less vigorous side shoot heading in the direction you desire. Do this every yr and you will have the tree under control. Don't worry about making the wrong cut. The tree will survive and grow another branch. Then you will have another chance to get it right. In most places in CA at lower elevations apricots bear nearly every yr. The rest of the country can only dream of such. So don't worry about getting the perfect shape...you will get fruit on any shape tree in the good locations. You also might paint any freshly exposed branches with white latex paint to help avoid sunburn. The Fruitnut

I have had fruit from 4/11 of my avocado varieties. They will all flower in the season as mine are grafted. Not all hold fruit if they are to young and drop them. But that is not true for everyone. There are many factors that play into a tree holding fruit set including weather, temperature, pollination etc....... I've known people who have had 2-3 year old trees that were grafted produce fruit and hold on the tree. I'm one of them who did so in containers with a Mexicola and Wurtz. You can see them in the Avocado forum under container trees. My Wurtz ( Little Cado ) has 30 plus fruit on it this year and is in a 24inch box and my Mexicola is in a raised bed now and I'm expecting it to fruit this year and several other trees that are now in the ground. I will update the group this summer. I'm expecting fruit from my Fuerte, Pinkerton, Stewart, Bacon, Mexicola and Wurtz. My other trees are still to young.

Sounds like an urban nightmare. What can you do?? First I would look for 2 or 3 trees of the variety you like best, 3 year old trees; and plant them in a part of the garden where you are in control. In a couple of years the new trees will begin to produce; and when they are big enough, you can let go of the older trees. Second, I would definitely prune back any limbs touching the new fence; after that you can reduce the height and let in more light at the same time using a method called "drop crotch pruning"... you can google that and easily learn how to do it. Personally, for oranges and grapefruits of that size, I would not lower the height by more than maybe 5-7 feet. You can repeat the procedure in subsequent years, if you wish more change. Next, give your trees a big shot of a good citrus fertilizer applied at the drip line/fence line and watered in deeply. Lastly, being in Florida, I would treat your trees with imidacloprid foliar application and/or soil drench 3 times per year; ask your local nurseryman or home supply store for the best product to use. Imidacloprid is a systemic insecticide that is also topically active; but enters the plant tissues, killing any insect that sucks on or chews the leaves, without killing the beneficials. Unfortunately, it will not affect your seemingly obnoxious or uncaring neighbor.

"Best trees to plant near swimming pools" https://search.yahoo.com/yhs/search;_ylt=A86.J7vUD0dYXUUAr5cPxQt.;_ylu=X3oDMTBzdHZpaXZrBGNvbG8DZ3ExBHBvcwMxBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNyZWw-?p=best+trees+to+plant+near+swimming+pools&type=osf01s1&hspart=avast&hsimp=yhs-brwsr001&ei=UTF-8&fr2=rs-top&fr=yhs-avast-brwsr001 10 Messy Plants You Don't Want Near The Pool When it's time for the acacia to release its flower clusters, they spread—all over your yard and into your pool. If you must have an acacia, plant it in the front yard and hope a mighty wind doesn't blow around the time of pod and flower drop. "The little tiny flowers [of Crape Myrtle] fill the pool surface with brightly colored debris. It clogs the skimmers and when it sinks it's so small a pressure-side cleaner won't pick it up most of the time," says Brian Alan Shirley, owner of Abracadabra Pool Technologies in the Decatur, Georgia, region http://poolandpatio.about.com/od/patiolandsaping/ss/10-Messy-Plants-You-Dont-Want-Near-the-Pool.htm