The Garden Community for Garden Lovers

More big changes in the garden..

18 comments


This time it was the turn of the huge Weeping Willow, it had been worrying me for a while as I’d reached the stage whereby I could no longer keep it pruned, I had a love/hate relationship with my tree, I loved the beauty and backdrop it gave to our garden but hated the mess, also our lawn down the garden was a complete disaster, truth to tell you could not really call it a lawn, grass does not grow properly under a weeping willow.


As you can see by the pics, the tree was a bit on the large size and we are no longer of an age where we could cope with it..I thought long and hard about it but know that if we had only pollarded it , the same thing would happen except a lot quicker, we had to think of the future and of course the cost to keep it under control. Will still have a lot of shade from the hawthorn hedge, our apple tree and of course the conifers at the side of the pond…


Its the first time that side of the garden has been in the sun in the summertime for many a year, it will be interesting to see how much difference it will make to the planting down there…Yes I still have the Kayak, will be giving it away at this rate….


I know there is a huge gap but now the tree has gone, the Flowering Cherry that you can see above the fence should thicken out more, there is my Prunus down there as well, planted in memory of my mum, it was beginning to lean inwards as it struggled for the light, I have to put a new stake in to coax it upright whilst its still a youngster, it will probably have a sudden growth spurt now its not having to compete…
Now for the exciting part….
For the last couple of years I have been making a little stumpery in the corner in front of the shed, I’m not like Prince Charles, don’t have access to thousands of trees that can be uprooted in one part of the estate, then used elsewhere, I was making do with trunks I’d cut from my various trees and shrubs, now I have some wonderful shapes to work with, when the trunk came down my nephew noticed there was a hole that had formed as the branches had crisscrossed when they were growing, it had been agreed that he would have the logs for his burner, I talked nicely and asked him if he could cut around it so as I would be able to keep that piece and be creative with it, this is what I ended up with.


Fancy grooves cut into the remaining stump for me to play around with, they will wear down with the help of Mother Nature, possibly a pot of yoghurt to quicken the process, hoping they’ll soon have plenty of moss growing over them..

He also cut me some stepping pieces, now I have to play around until I like what I see.


I’m awaiting delivery of some more hardy ferns to plant but at the moment I’m trying to make my mind up as to what I can plant against the shed and fence, don’t like the bareness of the corner, it needs something, all suggestions would be gratefully received, next year I’m hoping to have a very lush green corner instead of a dull, dank one….

More blog posts by lincslass

Previous post: Changes sometimes have to happen..

Next post: Oh Gosh!!..... Not Feeling So Guilty Now...



Comments

amy
Amy
 

Its a shame about the Willow Lincs but it had to be done we've faced several decisions like that this last year as trees and shrubs have become to large for the area they are in , your other shrubs will benefit hugely I'm liking your stumpery the new ferns will look great planted in the gaps , I'm thinking something evergreen to cover the shed ..Helix Goldheart maybe ! .. it doesn't grow to rampant ...

8 Sep, 2017

 

So exciting watching how your garden develops!

8 Sep, 2017

 

I too wondered about that one Amy, its the nice yellow and green one isn't it...

8 Sep, 2017

 

the extra light will be most welcome lincs.

8 Sep, 2017

 

Love willow trees but can understand your concerns. Ours fell over one night when there was a fairly strong wind. Lots more light and has made a difference to the plants around.

Top image, so pretty.

8 Sep, 2017

 

Wondered about an evergreen clematis for the fence?

8 Sep, 2017

 

Cutting down a mature tree is always a hard & often painful decision but sometimes it's just the only way. On the positive side, you now have lots more light & the plants will benefit from it, especially the Prunus!

8 Sep, 2017

 

I've done an update today, the decision was a good one...

8 Sep, 2017

 

Glad you got rid of the tree. They can get too big for a garden.
I remember you planting the Prunus in memory of your mum. Nice that it can grow properly now.
Good luck with your ferns :)

8 Sep, 2017

 

Ferns will look lovely planted in that corner.

9 Sep, 2017

 

I think this will end up being a very interesting corner, like you my little stumpery by the pond is not a grand one like prince Charles has but its one spot in the garden that people comment on. As for greenery against the fence how about Itea Ilicifolia has lovely long silky catkins much like James Roof but less rampant (it says plant on south or west facing wall/fence but mine is on a north facing wall and is doing great). The rest of your garden is looking splendid.

9 Sep, 2017

 

Lincs I put a picture of Itea on here in July if its any help.
Struggling to type at the moment, after finishing the new small pond at the top of the garden I fell head first and fractured my right shoulder so out of action for a while but I`m catching up on blogs but think I shall be just ticking like.lol.

9 Sep, 2017

 

Ohhh Stroller, hope your shoulder will heal well for you! x

9 Sep, 2017

 

Oh you poor thing - I did mine just over a year ago, hope you heal quickly.

10 Sep, 2017

 

Oh thankyou Stroller, I will have a look, sorry to hear of your mishap, I'd imagine that is giving you some gyp, so do take care, we don't heal as quickly these days either much to our annoyance...

10 Sep, 2017

 

Poor you Stroller - what a horrid experience.

10 Sep, 2017

 

A good decision about the Weeping Willow,Sue..I felt like that about the Alder we took down,because of the Alder leaf Beetle it succumbed to..but now it's gone,I haven't really missed it..well,a little bit,as I loved it..hey ho ! I'm sure you will enjoy deciding what else to grow in that corner :o)

Oh dear,Stroller..so sorry to hear of your accident..hope you get well soon..take care .xx

10 Sep, 2017

 

Stoller, I was sorry to read about your accident, I hope your shoulder gets better quickly.

11 Sep, 2017

Add a comment

Recent posts by lincslass

Members who like this blog

  • Gardening with friends since
    3 Jul, 2010

  • Gardening with friends since
    21 Nov, 2013

  • Gardening with friends since
    2 Dec, 2011

  • amy
    Amy

    Gardening with friends since
    17 Apr, 2008

  • Gardening with friends since
    10 Mar, 2012

  • Gardening with friends since
    20 Jan, 2014

  • Gardening with friends since
    12 Feb, 2009

  • Gardening with friends since
    16 Mar, 2010

  • Gardening with friends since
    25 Feb, 2011

  • Gardening with friends since
    13 May, 2014

  • Gardening with friends since
    4 Apr, 2009

  • Gardening with friends since
    2 Nov, 2009

  • Gardening with friends since
    23 Feb, 2011

  • Gardening with friends since
    29 May, 2013

  • Gardening with friends since
    31 Oct, 2008