Trees

[JoceAndChris]

I've just done a species count in the garden; it was thrilling! These are my findings:

Mature trees

Ash = 6
Hawthorn = 6
Apple = 9
Laburnum = 2
Holly = 86
Yew = 15
Laurel = 14
Pear = 1
Plum =1
Elder = 5
Rowan = 2
Beech = 5
Birch = 2
Sycamore = 6
Palm = 1
Christmas = 1
Bay = 1
Unidentified Mature = 15
Unidentified Saplings = 50 approx

=228 :shock: It's only an acre!

Shrubs

Lilac = 11
Mock orange = 8
Camelia = 1
Rose = 31
Kerria = 2
Peony = 2
Buddleia = 3

Ground cover is predominantly ramsoms and ground ivy, nettles, wood violets and aquilegia columbine.

Anyone hazard a guess about the kind of soil here? Would anyone be able to recognise the ones I can't identify if I took pics?

At a guess, around 30 large trees and shrubs could have root systems going underneath the cottage. Should I remove the nearest, largest ones? The circumference of the trunks of the beech trees measure 4 metres at the base, they're beautiful old trees but really quite terrifying even if a section of it were to fall off as they're alongside the workshop.

I wonder what my strategy should be with all these trees - there are too many dark evergreens and not enough fruit bearing or floriferous. As it's not a conservation area, if we set about felling half -say 110- would we be within the law? I really, really want to put pigs in the spinney, and then to reclaim our borders by planting dozens of fruit and nut bearing trees.

If anyone has any advice at all about trees I'd appreciate it.

 

[davidinsussex]

what to do with existing trees is always a difficult one. I'd start by assessing whether any of the existing trees are rotten and therefore dangerous. it's worth half-an-hour of a tree surgeon's time for that.

is it worth ripping up healthy but unproductive trees to replant with fruit and nut bearers? i'm not sure. Does the existing space look good or a mess? If it looks good now then there's a real chance that you'll be disappointed with the results with no going back. however, if you could clear half-an-acre you could plant a decent orchard of semi-vigorous trees (half-an-acre could support up to about 75 trees...).

i'd get the tree surgeon in before you do anything, and then reflect a little...

 

[Nigel Watts]

Sounds like a bit of deforestation is called for. I would target the Laurel and thin out some of the larger species which threaten to get too big and dominant (beech, sycamore). I like holly - good native species - but you may have too much of a good thing. Leave a nice pile of old logs to rot somewhere to create a habitat for stag beetles and other insects.

 

[Nigel Watts]

You should also think carefully about the impact on the skyline from a distance. You are on a hill so the removal of any large trees will change the silhouette for miles around.

 

[robgil]

dont remove the hawthorn , fairies live under them.

''In Irish folklore the Hawthorn is sometimes referred to as the fairy bush, due to the belief that fairy spirits inhabit the tree as guardians, and since early times it has always been considered bad luck to cut or damage the tree in fear of offending them. However after due regard to the guardian spirit, the collecting of sprigs and flowers from the tree particularly during the May Day celebrations was allowed, and thereafter place in the home to banish evil influences. ''

http://www.controverscial.com/Hawthorn.htm

 

[JoceAndChris]

dont remove the hawthorn , fairies live under them.

B*gger, this is why I'm missing my Marc Jacobs sunnies - the fairies have nicked them in revenge. I'll be more respectful in future.

You should also think carefully about the impact on the skyline from a distance. You are on a hill so the removal of any large trees will change the silhouette for miles around.

Hmmm, do I care? Do they consult me as they wreck my view more and more with each passing month? I think a view of the house is nicer than a clump of trees anyhow.

Sounds like a bit of deforestation is called for. I would target the Laurel ... I like holly - good native species - but you may have too much of a good thing.

Good advice - very much what I was thinking, thanks.

is it worth ripping up healthy but unproductive trees to replant with fruit and nut bearers? i'm not sure. Does the existing space look good or a mess? If it looks good now then there's a real chance that you'll be disappointed with the results with no going back. however, if you could clear half-an-acre you could plant a decent orchard of semi-vigorous trees (half-an-acre could support up to about 75 trees...).

I'd get the tree surgeon in before you do anything, and then reflect a little...

Thanks for your interesting thoughts on this. The no going back bit is scary, but I've lived with them for nearly two years and have finally had enough. If some of the sun blockers were felled light and sunshine would pour into the house and garden - there's no need for my undercroft to be dark and shady and it certainly wasn't designed that way.

It's useful to know 1/2 acre supports 75 trees, thanks. I don't want trees though - at least, not at the expense of livestock.

 

[Penners]

If anyone has any advice at all about trees I'd appreciate it.

Well, my only advice is probably not going to be very helpful, because I notice one glaring omission from your garden - Amelanchier Lamarckii. Whatever else you add to or remove from your wonderful arboretum, you really should have one of these.

It has coppery young leaves and delicate white blossom in profusion, in the spring. The brightly coloured berries arrive in summer, and the leaves turn fiery red in autumn. You can grow it has a large shrub, or train it as a standard to become a small tree.

I forbid you to be without one. :wink:

 

[robgil]

have you thought about doing it sustainably? what i mean is planting two trees (or more) in a different location for each one you take away (except hawthorn because the fairies live beneath them)?

 

[JoceAndChris]

So far I think we've felled around 20 trees, which by your kind system Rob means I should have planted 40. :shock:

If I get my 6 acres I'll certainly plant some nice useful trees in it.

Amelanchier Lamarckii.

Just ordered one! How lovely - I was looking for a feature standard for my patio. The fruits are edible too!

 

[Penners]

Amelanchier Lamarckii.

Just ordered one!

Tick. V.G.

 

[Moo]

If it's the same as the one on our golf club's terrace, you'll love it, Joce. Because not only are the tiny hard little cherry fruits edible, but they're also regarded as gourmet food by the pair of ducks that grew up nearby. They've trained the members to shake the tree and then tread on the fruits so as to make them easier to eat.
Do you think your chickens will do the same?

 

[JoceAndChris]

Aww, those clever ducks!

I highly doubt my chickens would be anywhere near as resourceful. Orps are the most indolent chicken around. The least gust of wind they all slope off back to bed. They don't eat fruit or vegetables at all, having found various coercive ways to get me dig up worms for them (and then go back to bed).

Anyway it seems that the serviceberry is too good for birds:
http://www.vegtalk.org/fruits/serviceberry-amelanchier-t1636.html

 

[Gareth Hughes]

No mulberry? you MUST have a mulberry.

 

[DaveBrigg]

Until last week we had about 200 trees in our back garden, but I pulled most of them up and the lawnmower saw to the rest. If anyone wants a 3 inch sycamore, with roots, I'll happily send a few from the front.

 

[jocelyn plummer]

Hi Joce brave girl with your trees, you are really going to have to be very selective!!
We have planted an edible hedge along the fence , Buckingham Nurseries do a special selection.
The only problem is that everything takes a while to mature so you need to thin k carefully about planting as well.

I agree about the fairies, see: The Enchanted Garden by Claire O'Rush Savitri Books Ltd-- I guarentee that you will think twice before doing anything drastic.

 

[JohnB]

I planted 117 willows today .

 

[Penners]

I'm glad to see that you're observing the horticultural rule about planting things in odd numbers. Mind you, I'm not sure how important this is when you get up into the hundreds. :wink:

 

[Ushy M]

Rob of course is entirely correct about the fairies under the hawthorn, and I'm afraid you'll have to keep the hollies as well (even though there are lots of them :shock: ) as it's terribly unlucky to cut them down (something to do with the evergreen leaves symbolising eternal life). If you want to keep the beech trees but they're too tall, you could cut the tops off (at an angle) and provided they have at least three side branches bearing leaves they should survive OK and bush out at the sides. We've successfuly done that with 20 or so of ours - it needs to be done while they're dormant. As well as Penners' lovely suggestion, you could put in an arbutus as well - evergreen, beatiful bark, pretty flowers and stunning strawberry-like fruit.

 

[JoceAndChris]

No mulberry? you MUST have a mulberry.

How divine of you to remember I said I loved mulberrries. I do love mulberries, and the fruit is damaged so easily they aren't grown commercially. The only place I've had them is Borough Market, and then sun-dried, giving them a chewy, achingly sweet and sour intensity that's like nothing else. I'll order one right away!

 

[JoceAndChris]

John, how big were the willows? What a lovely thing to do.

I'm afraid you'll have to keep the hollies as well (even though there are lots of them ) as it's terribly unlucky to cut them down

Oh dear. We have felled so many. I seem to be heading for a long run of bad luck then!

As well as Penners' lovely suggestion, you could put in an arbutus as well - evergreen, beatiful bark, pretty flowers and stunning strawberry-like fruit.

Beautiful, will do!