Ah- is that what happened @Liriodendron. I think I asked you on another thread. What a pity I'd agree with cutting that nice tree down to try and multi stem it. I think it's highly unlikely it would work anyway, and would take years for it to look good even if it did work. You'd really need to start with a multi stem [Jacquemontii for example] or use young whips to avoid the problem with existing roots.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Trees of the same species grown too close will fuse together. The junction will be weak and open to fungus ingress. A litle bit of daylight is a good idea.
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."
I think it would be terribly unlucky if, by cutting it down, you lost the existing tree. The one ray of sunshine would be that, once down, you'd have a full blown rootstock with nothing for it to feed, so any shoot(s) would have a plentiful supply of nutrition to start it/them off. I've cut literally acres of chestnut and birch in my younger days.
I'm guessing from the last couple of posts by @Dovefromabove and @Brockman that a certain poster is 'having a go'. The advantage of pressing that ignore button is that I don't see any of it now
I wasn't sure, so I decided to press my own internal oblivious button! As long as I'm not breaking the rules or bothering the majority with the newbie question, and I know my intentions are good, I'll just carry on talking trees....
Thank you for the drawing - that was so kind of you! I'm usually pretty good at visualising these things, but I was struggling to see past The Trunk.
I'll settle on a "vertical lines" themed planting plan for that corner and hopefully once I'm invested in that the multistem temptation will fade! I wouldn't attempt that on my own anyway, but I'll try the less risky option before I look into that any further.
I can't promise there won't be at least a small container tree somewhere in the vicinity though lol. I happen to have too many of those on my patio at the moment so one or two might be taken for a trial visit.
Don't worry @thewittedwitchtliaJmwF - you've done nothing wrong. The opposite in fact - you needed some help and you asked If you already have some plants/shrubs that you like, do the usual thing of placing them in the area, and use a few canes and/or rocks etc to give an idea of the eventual size and spread of them. That can vary depending on conditions, but will give you a rough idea of what will fit and how it will look. As it's north facing, or near enough, pick plants that will suit that aspect, and avoid loads of different colours if you can as that's very jarring in a smaller site. Pale colours and white are excellent for shade. My front garden is north west facing, but is just long enough that the farthest end gets some sun from spring through to autumn. I'd say it's around the same length as yours, and I'd consider it to be semi shade as I also have hedging, but it's always worth experimenting a little. There are plenty of plants that will work in shadier sites, so don't be frightened to ask for ideas too. Clay soil is good as it's nutritious, and you could add some organic matter over the next few weeks which will help with the structure of it and give your new plants a good start
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thank you for all the tips! Especially about the clay soil - we were a bit daunted by that when we moved in - it looks like you could drop a shovel full straight on a wheel and make a pot in places!
We have a bed along the wall at the front of the house with the same aspect as that back fence and everything we've planted there (to suit the shade) is doing well. That back fence is a whole other story/project though. Fortunately the tree bed gets some nice light except at the back by the fence of doom.
I've been trying to stick to cool colours or neutrals at the back of the garden to help push it back...every little helps...hopefully!
I've never gardened on anything but clay, and often in gardens which have never been cultivated. It's worth the time and effort, and a little expense, adding loads of organic matter to improve it. Otherwise, plants will struggle and you'll be constantly replacing them. People often worry about shade, but it isn't as difficult to deal with as many think it is. Something with a bit of variegation right in at the back will lift it, but it would be nice to allow the birch to shine. You could always paint Rudolf to tone in as well
I passed a house again today that I often walk past. It's a classic example of a birch that's been butchered. Looks dreadful and would be better removed. When they're enhanced, they're beautiful trees.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Posts
I'd agree with cutting that nice tree down to try and multi stem it. I think it's highly unlikely it would work anyway, and would take years for it to look good even if it did work. You'd really need to start with a multi stem [Jacquemontii for example] or use young whips to avoid the problem with existing roots.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
Thank you for the drawing - that was so kind of you! I'm usually pretty good at visualising these things, but I was struggling to see past The Trunk.
I'll settle on a "vertical lines" themed planting plan for that corner and hopefully once I'm invested in that the multistem temptation will fade! I wouldn't attempt that on my own anyway, but I'll try the less risky option before I look into that any further.
I can't promise there won't be at least a small container tree somewhere in the vicinity though lol. I happen to have too many of those on my patio at the moment so one or two might be taken for a trial visit.
If you already have some plants/shrubs that you like, do the usual thing of placing them in the area, and use a few canes and/or rocks etc to give an idea of the eventual size and spread of them. That can vary depending on conditions, but will give you a rough idea of what will fit and how it will look.
As it's north facing, or near enough, pick plants that will suit that aspect, and avoid loads of different colours if you can as that's very jarring in a smaller site. Pale colours and white are excellent for shade. My front garden is north west facing, but is just long enough that the farthest end gets some sun from spring through to autumn. I'd say it's around the same length as yours, and I'd consider it to be semi shade as I also have hedging, but it's always worth experimenting a little.
There are plenty of plants that will work in shadier sites, so don't be frightened to ask for ideas too. Clay soil is good as it's nutritious, and you could add some organic matter over the next few weeks which will help with the structure of it and give your new plants a good start
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
We have a bed along the wall at the front of the house with the same aspect as that back fence and everything we've planted there (to suit the shade) is doing well. That back fence is a whole other story/project though. Fortunately the tree bed gets some nice light except at the back by the fence of doom.
I've been trying to stick to cool colours or neutrals at the back of the garden to help push it back...every little helps...hopefully!
People often worry about shade, but it isn't as difficult to deal with as many think it is.
Something with a bit of variegation right in at the back will lift it, but it would be nice to allow the birch to shine.
You could always paint Rudolf to tone in as well
I passed a house again today that I often walk past. It's a classic example of a birch that's been butchered. Looks dreadful and would be better removed. When they're enhanced, they're beautiful trees.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...