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Tree suggestions
NormandyLiz
Posts: 788
in Plants
As per my earlier thread (https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1076664/broken-limb-on-silver-birch#latest), the broken branched birch has now gone. It really was not in good shape, worse than the tree surgeon expected. The top 2m just flaked apart.
Which is not good news for the remaining one. He's coming back in November to see how bad it is. The best case scenario is that he'll have to take off a metre or two from the top and take out any (potentially) heavy branches to prevent them falling off. It would then look dreadful for a year or two, and after two or three years he'd have to do it again as it is inevitable that the remaining trunk would become infected. Each time the trunk would have to have another metre or so lopped off. That's what Manuel says, not me.
We are therefore coming to the conclusion that we may need to take that one down as well. It would be a huge shame as I think it looks lovely now, but there is a feeling of putting off the inevitable, in which case I would rather plant a new tree now (i.e. this autumn/winter) and get it established sooner rather than later.
This is what it looks like now
The bare earth by the barn is where the greenhouse is going in a week or two. The pear tree is in the field so not ours. The long grass at the back is deliberately 'natural', and the plan for the area is to keep it semi-native, with the area round the greenhouse and then up against the right hand fence turned into beds and planted with wildflowers and similar. The devil's bit scabious is moving there and will be joined by cow and corn cockle, wild carrot, toadflax, poppies, that sort of thing, together with some Panicum elegans Sprinkles that I want to move as it's lost where it currently is. All fairly light and free flowing.
I think that area needs a tree, the question is which one. The soil is fairly neutral, some pockets of clay but free draining. The self seeded hedge bits - wild cherry, hazel, beech and ash, are thriving. It is pretty windy and we generally aren't short of rain! There will be a root issue from previous trees when planting but the tree surgeon is happy to help with that.
My first thought is a rowan but I'm having trouble checking that there is no toxicity issue with livestock (those are cows under the pear). It has to be cattle and dog safe.
What are your thoughts?
Which is not good news for the remaining one. He's coming back in November to see how bad it is. The best case scenario is that he'll have to take off a metre or two from the top and take out any (potentially) heavy branches to prevent them falling off. It would then look dreadful for a year or two, and after two or three years he'd have to do it again as it is inevitable that the remaining trunk would become infected. Each time the trunk would have to have another metre or so lopped off. That's what Manuel says, not me.
We are therefore coming to the conclusion that we may need to take that one down as well. It would be a huge shame as I think it looks lovely now, but there is a feeling of putting off the inevitable, in which case I would rather plant a new tree now (i.e. this autumn/winter) and get it established sooner rather than later.
This is what it looks like now
The bare earth by the barn is where the greenhouse is going in a week or two. The pear tree is in the field so not ours. The long grass at the back is deliberately 'natural', and the plan for the area is to keep it semi-native, with the area round the greenhouse and then up against the right hand fence turned into beds and planted with wildflowers and similar. The devil's bit scabious is moving there and will be joined by cow and corn cockle, wild carrot, toadflax, poppies, that sort of thing, together with some Panicum elegans Sprinkles that I want to move as it's lost where it currently is. All fairly light and free flowing.
I think that area needs a tree, the question is which one. The soil is fairly neutral, some pockets of clay but free draining. The self seeded hedge bits - wild cherry, hazel, beech and ash, are thriving. It is pretty windy and we generally aren't short of rain! There will be a root issue from previous trees when planting but the tree surgeon is happy to help with that.
My first thought is a rowan but I'm having trouble checking that there is no toxicity issue with livestock (those are cows under the pear). It has to be cattle and dog safe.
What are your thoughts?
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We have half a dozen self seeded ash in the hedge, which is fine, but ash is just too big for a garden tree.
I've never heard of any toxicity to animals with them. They grow everywhere up here - on hills and moors, where there are loads of sheep, as well as round every field with sheep and cattle in them.
The ash here is all fine, but I believe they have some dieback in the east. They become very beautiful trees once mature. Pretty unassuming and ordinary when young though IMO.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
We had to have 5 mature trees removed last year .... and have noticed a couple of younger trees are suffering too. We should be able to take them out ourselves.
On the plus side .... it burns well in the wood burner, and the other trees - mostly oak and yew - have a bit more room now.
Love rowans, nice airy canopy.
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