Forum home› Garden design
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Massive pine tree in the back garden

ula_bidasula_bidas Posts: 1
edited February 2023 in Garden design
Hello, we will be re doing our south facing garden soon but are not sure what to do with this massive pine tree.. 
it is a nice feature and during the hottest days it gives us a perfect cover BUT it looses so many needles plus nothing really grows around it.. any advice would be appreciated! 
«1

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    edited February 2023
    If you remove some of the paving, there would be plenty of space to plant other things which the pine wouldn't affect. The needles can be composted, or used as a mulch around the base. 
    I'd personally never remove a pine unless it was unhealthy. They're fabulous trees. They can be carefully pruned too, but it needs care and consideration.
    That one isn't particularly big either.  We have loads around here [native Scots pine] which are in the 80 to 100 foot height, and they enhance the area enormously, and provide cover, and nesting sites, for birds   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • NormandyLizNormandyLiz Posts: 788
    It is a fabulous tree. I agree with @Fairygirl, I'd leave the tree but remove the slabs, just leaving enough for a patio area. 
  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    You could build a shallow raised bed around the base of the tree, backfill it with gravel or similar, and put large containers on it, growing plants suited to shady dry conditions. If you don't mind a bit of hard work you could grow annuals for colour, the containers would need watering well each day as well as feeding.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    It's healthy and a good shape sp make the pine tree a feature by clearing and levelling the area below then putting down some gravel or chipped bark and install a garden table and chairs or a couple of loungers according to need.

    Assuming you'll be removing some or all of those pavers, you can then grow grass for a lawn and/or ornamentals, veggies, fruit, pond in the sunshine after improving the soil. 


    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    What a fabulous tree ... deep envy here  :D

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • PlantmindedPlantminded Posts: 3,580
    I am a big fan of conifers too, there are lots of Scots pines in the area where I live but a tree that size is too big for a domestic garden.  It looks like it is blocking much of the sun out of your garden and probably your house. 

    One of my neighbours has had a problem with a much bigger conifer in a neighbouring garden due to light deprivation, inability to grow anything successfully nearby and endless needles and detritus to clear up.  It has recently been professionally pruned just on my neighbour's side and in my opinion it looks awful! (Yes, I checked the van, they were qualified tree surgeons!) 

    You do have a lovely tree - I'd leave it and accept the negatives along with the benefits or remove it.  It really depends on how you would like to use your garden in future and what you hope to achieve with your redesign, for example more playing space for your children, a lawn, an entertaining area or veg beds or a pond.
    Wirral. Sandy, free draining soil.


  • val.emmett09443val.emmett09443 Posts: 1
    I have a Scot’s pine in the next door garden but very close the fence.  I’ve made a border about four ft wide along this fence.It faces east but gets quite a lot of sun in the summer One thing  I have found grows well in this border are dahlias, left in the ground over winter and they just come up every year with some watering and feeding.  Spring bulbs will also grow here and I can sprinkle hardy annuals in the Summer and they do well, especially annual poppies.  I have a few roses along the edge.  It needs compost but at least it gives me more growing area as otherwise would just be grass which doesn’t do too well in that area. I love the tree, as do the birds! 
  • EscarpmentEscarpment Posts: 53
    Beautiful tree, and with the heat waves getting hotter and more frequent I think you would regret losing it.
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    edited 9 February
    Fabulous tree, I would dress around the base of it with pebbles, with loungers etc as Obelixx suggests, and periodically tidy up the needles with a leaf blower. 

    Floating decks can also work well in this situation! Stage 1 of our floating deck Designed for a tree that nothing
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • RubytooRubytoo Posts: 1,630
    edited 9 February
    I imagine by now they have decided what to do....
    Date check ;)

    Welcome to the forum @val.emmett09443
Sign In or Register to comment.