It would be hard to air layer with that pruning job & reaction, and I agree with bboy that sprouts likely won't be able to hold the apparati to layer. Whether pruning and sticking will work is anyone's guess, as I'm not familiar with that tree (westerner) so can't go to my texts for instruction - usu something like that is seed-propagated. But I have the texts in my library for propagation instruction if someone can ID. Dan

with that color fruit.. they are probably the deep red flowered crabs... the old standard being Profusion ... the link indicates other varieties .... ken Here is a link that might be useful: flip to images.. and add some trick words to get pix of the apples themselves ... of which.. i am blanking

You should expect windthrow as well at the edge of your little woodlot. And the change in light regime will negatively effect the shade-preferring plants also. Often the trees will fall into the opening, so that's something. The lots that were cleared can expect a higher risk of those remaining trees to fall. Why buy a fully wooded sloped lot and then clear all but 10 mature trees? (sigh) To build a house and put in a yard. You can't legislate for common sense or taste. Or for a neighbor to have the same desires as your own. Psychologically, humans in general prefer lightly wooded areas with low undergrowth - savanna-like landscapes. Dan

I agree it looks like Tipu (Tipuana tipu), a South American native. First, make sure it's getting the correct amount of water at the correct interval. For example, a tree with a canopy 15 feet wide will need about 130 gallons of water each time you apply. This time of year in the Phoenix area Tipu trees should be watered once every 2 - 4 weeks, depending on the weather. By late May and through summer water once every 1 - 3 weeks. Details on watering can be found in Landscape Watering by the Numbers. Page 9 has a table for the amounts and page 18 will show you how often. Trees often have yellowing leaves right before the new growth season. They shed the prior year's leaves and replace them with new ones. As long as you are watering correctly, I don't think your trees yellow leaves/leaflets are anything to worry about. Also, Tipu trees are a member of the pea or legume family. They are unique in the fact that they can 'make' their own nitrogen through a symbiotic relationship with a bacteria in the soil. No additional nitrogen is needed for plants in this group which also includes palo verde, mesquite, ironwood, acacia, etc.