I agree that boxing off the tree trunks would work in terms of not raising the soil around them but I don’t know about the root invasive properties of birch. It does depend on the tree..
I made two long raised beds about 3ft in front of a hedge of Leylandii at one end and a honeysuckle hedge at the other. Neither have invaded, but I did sink a solid root barrier down about a foot at the rear. However, I failed to take into account a wild plum tree growing in the verge beyond the honeysuckle, which just laughed at the root barrier. The plum roots grew underneath and then up, strangling everything. I have started to dismantle that one and plan to sink a deeper root barrier at the back and also the sides. Even when cleared of all the roots, I think only the toughest of shrubs will stand a chance there.
Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
If you decide to leave it as it is, how about painting your new fence the same colour as your summerhouse? The white trunks of your silver birches will stand out and become more of a feature. Using a dark colour on the fence, ideally black, will make it recede and any green foliage and grass in your garden will look much greener! I deliberated about my pale coloured fence for a couple of years and am glad I painted it black, having sought views from others on the forum, thankfully received!
I would like to make a no dig raised bed of 1.2m width and 1 sleeper high, between the silver birch trees along the fence. You may be able to see the string line between trees 1 and 3, this would mean tree 2 would be in the bed. I have read you should not do this as the roots need oxygen. If I generously boxed the tree in the raised bed around the trunk to ensure no soil touched the trunk, do you think the tree would be ok? I have some jasmines I was hoping to grow along the fence. Many thanks, Kate
This is the basic outline of my garden on 3 sides but with different trees and mature shrubs. A border was created just with low strips of timber where I've under planted with bulbs, perennials and smaller shrubs. It's worked really well, is low maintenance and I love how it looks throughout the year. As we have clay soil I just try to improve the soil in the border every season and keep the trees in check so they don't block too much light.
How much sun does the area we are discussing get? I am on very shady, but very dry sandy soil. There is so much that can grow in damp, clayey shade. Ferns, Hostas, Primulas ... I would give my eye-teeth!
location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand. "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
@kate s, I would consider some big pots or containers situated at intervals between the birches rather than raised beds. Birches have shallow but quite large root areas depending on the height and yours look quite high. They also take a lot of the moisture from the surrounding soil.
Jasmines do better in full sun and would easily smother your fence. I've just cut a pink one down as it was twining very tightly around the branches of a nearby viburnum. I like the idea of painting the fence a darker colour but wouldn't like the upkeep. Your fence will soon weather to a paler shade so won't stand out so much.
I would like to make a no dig raised bed of 1.2m width and 1 sleeper high, between the silver birch trees along the fence. You may be able to see the string line between trees 1 and 3, this would mean tree 2 would be in the bed. I have read you should not do this as the roots need oxygen. If I generously boxed the tree in the raised bed around the trunk to ensure no soil touched the trunk, do you think the tree would be ok? I have some jasmines I was hoping to grow along the fence. Many thanks, Kate
This is the basic outline of my garden on 3 sides but with different trees and mature shrubs. A border was created just with low strips of timber where I've under planted with bulbs, perennials and smaller shrubs. It's worked really well, is low maintenance and I love how it looks throughout the year. As we have clay soil I just try to improve the soil in the border every season and keep the trees in check so they don't block too much light.
How much sun does the area we are discussing get? I am on very shady, but very dry sandy soil. There is so much that can grow in damp, clayey shade. Ferns, Hostas, Primulas ... I would give my eye-teeth!
It is south facing, so get sun for most, if not all of the day. As it is clay it gets very dry and hard in the summer and water logged in the winter. I am planning a shady spot on the other side of the garden, not thought of primulas so I'll look into that - thank you.
@kate s, I would consider some big pots or containers situated at intervals between the birches rather than raised beds. Birches have shallow but quite large root areas depending on the height and yours look quite high. They also take a lot of the moisture from the surrounding soil.
Jasmines do better in full sun and would easily smother your fence. I've just cut a pink one down as it was twining very tightly around the branches of a nearby viburnum. I like the idea of painting the fence a darker colour but wouldn't like the upkeep. Your fence will soon weather to a paler shade so won't stand out so much.
What a lovely big garden! If it were mine, I wouldn't try to establish climbers on the fence. I'd make a long bed (not raised) in the lawn in front of the trees and plant a mixture of shrubs which would soften the view and add colour, maybe with bulbs and perennials too. I would leave a strip of around a metre or so along the fence line so that the tree roots aren't disturbed and to leave access to maintain the fence. I'd probably put bark chippings on that strip to do away with the need for mowing/ strimming near the trees and fence, easier to keep tidy without risking nicking the tree bark.
Something like this (please excuse rubbish drawing skills!)
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
What a lovely big garden! If it were mine, I wouldn't try to establish climbers on the fence. I'd make a long bed (not raised) in the lawn in front of the trees and plant a mixture of shrubs which would soften the view and add colour, maybe with bulbs and perennials too. I would leave a strip of around a metre or so along the fence line so that the tree roots aren't disturbed and to leave access to maintain the fence. I'd probably put bark chippings on that strip to do away with the need for mowing/ strimming near the trees and fence, easier to keep tidy without risking nicking the tree bark.
Something like this (please excuse rubbish drawing skills!)
Thank you JennyJ. Love the ideas and the drawing. I think the clay soil and tree roots probably make it not possible to have a long bed which is why I was thinking of have raised beds, but thank you for responding
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I made two long raised beds about 3ft in front of a hedge of Leylandii at one end and a honeysuckle hedge at the other. Neither have invaded, but I did sink a solid root barrier down about a foot at the rear. However, I failed to take into account a wild plum tree growing in the verge beyond the honeysuckle, which just laughed at the root barrier. The plum roots grew underneath and then up, strangling everything. I have started to dismantle that one and plan to sink a deeper root barrier at the back and also the sides. Even when cleared of all the roots, I think only the toughest of shrubs will stand a chance there.
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
Jasmines do better in full sun and would easily smother your fence. I've just cut a pink one down as it was twining very tightly around the branches of a nearby viburnum.
I like the idea of painting the fence a darker colour but wouldn't like the upkeep. Your fence will soon weather to a paler shade so won't stand out so much.