Goat's or grey willow seeds problem

Elaine138 · June 2023

Our neighbour has 3 or 4 goats or grey willow trees which are virtually on the boundary between our properties. They look like self seeders. They are now quite large trees(15m+) and have been shedding their seeds for the past 3 weeks. It has been unpleasant to be in the garden during this time and hung out washing becomes covered with seeds.The seeds, like dandelion clocks, are like a covering of snow over the ground. They have covered the green house, seedlings, shrubs, compost bins and fruit trees in fact they are stuck to everything, including doors and windows and are in the gutters and down pipes. During the hot weather we have had to have all doors and windows closed. I love gardening and spend most of my time in it. It has been upsetting to see everything covered in a grey fuzz, especially the wildlife pond. The extra cleaning involved for us, in the garden and in trying to clean it off our home is tough and then we have to deal with any seedlings. The garden is two thirds of an acre and though still generally hale and hearty we are in our 70's.
I have asked our neighbour if they would be willing to cut down or coppice the trees and have offered to pay. They have refused. I asked them to come round, have a cuppa and see why we are concerned. They have again refused. I tried for a compromise in asking if only the tree right on the boundary could be felled or coppiced but again this was refused.
I really am hesitant about cutting down any trees, especially as we are nurturing a wildlife garden and have planted a number of new trees in it. But the number of seeds being dispersed from our neighbours garden is a problem for us. Does anyone have any thoughts about what could be done to alleviate the situation please?

Dovefromabove · June 2023

Caprea salix are a native tree and great for wildlife if you have a good sized garden. Trees tend to produce seeds … they are a valuable food resource for birds and small mammals.

They can be a bit of a nuisance for a short period of time but the wind and rain will soon deal with them.

We have ash tree and sycamore seedlings popping up in our garden every year … we also have the benefit of the birds, bats and insects the trees bring to the area.

You and I like walking through crisp autumn leaves … others see them as a nuisance … children love the snow … the rest of us like it for the first few hours then it’s a nuisance.

Someone complained recently about blossom petals falling on their terrace …

😊

Elaine138 · June 2023

I very much appreciate what you are saying and the importance of native trees. We also have a variety of trees, shrubs and flowers which support birds, bees and other pollinators. We are not 'tidy' gardeners and have wild areas; if it was seeds from one or two trees it would be more manageable. When the spores are being cast it is a blizzard. And there are a lot more still to come. Our house is not two storeys so is at a height where they settle on bedroom roof lights and in gutters. A friend, also a wildlife gardener could not believe her eyes when she saw the amount of 'snow' in our garden. Photographs don't do the issue justice but I will post one of seedlings in the greenhouse area, but please bear in mind this is happening over the rest

of the garden, including a vegetable plot, and our house too.🥴

Dovefromabove · June 2023

I think last year’s very sunny weather ripened the wood of a lot of trees which triggered particularly lush flowering this spring, and consequently a lot of seeds.

We’ve also had a pretty dry spring so fluffy seeds have been dry and floating around more than usual.

It’s one of those combinations of events that causes something a bit out of the ordinary … like the ‘plague’ of ladybirds in the ‘70s (I think it was the 70s).

I believe it’s unlikely to happen to the same extent in other years … so my feeling is that we sometimes just have to accept these things.

A few years ago it was ‘a mast year’ for ash trees in this area … and there are a lot of ash trees around us including in this garden! The ash keys lay like a blanket over the garden and built up a deep layer in the bottom of our little wildlife pond. The following year we had hundreds of seedlings to pull up in our garden rather than the scores we normally have to deal with. But that’s nature isn’t it? To cut down the ash trees around here to prevent the possibility of it recurring would seem an extreme reaction and there’s no other way of preventing the trees from making seeds.

It’s life … I’m the same sort of age as you are, and I’ve learned by now that what can’t be cured must be endured … so I try to find a silver lining … there usually is one somewhere …

Elaine138 · June 2023

Yes I agree, although last year was also pretty bad for us and I'm glad you didn't cut down the Ash trees. We open our garden for people to come and relax/reflect in so I guess I'm also concerned for their comfort. I suppose we will not open it during May or early June (a shame as the garden is quite beautiful then) or hope the wind changes direction!😅
Thank you for your comments.

Asarum · June 2023

I think it’s a mast year for poplar/aspen trees as well. For about a week now in my part of my village it has been snowing their lovely fluffy seeds. They are in all corners of my house too! I love it as it means ‘summer’. 😀

Goat's or grey willow seeds problem

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