Grow Scot Pine in Hard Chalky Ground

[tree_stumps]

Hello, I live in South Croydon. The ground here has top one foot of top soil ( dark color )  and then 6 inches of soil ( light color ) and then CHALK. Can I grow scot pine in this kind of ground?

 

I desire to have a medium sized ( about 5 mtrs high at most ) Scot pine tree for its small and bluish needles in my house. I have dug up a big hole about 80 cm deep and 60 cm diameter and intend to fill it with soil. After digging, I could see the profile of ground showing chalk only after about 40 cm.

 

Can Scot pine survive in this kind of ground? Also how deep down does the chalk extend? Will the roots make its way through such hard chalk? There is no scot pine in this area although I can see Pine Nigara just behind my house. I think there is scot pine in that area which is quite high and look rather yellow.

 

If I want to keep the scot pine tree to a medium high only, will the hole size I have dug out be sufficient.

 

Please advise.

Edited October 2, 2021 by tree_stumps

[Khriss]

Seen Scots pine grow on a rock in middle of the river between scotland and england, should be ok. K

[scbk]

They'll grow on a vertical rockface halfway up a waterfall

 

 

 

[tree_stumps]

Thanks for the replies above. My main concern is regarding the chalk. RHS website says that Scot Pine prefers soil which is on acidic side. I have bought a eight foot tall Scot pine tree and don't want to waste the money if chalk is going to be a challenge. 

Edited October 3, 2021 by tree_stumps

[openspaceman]

23 minutes ago, tree_stumps said:

Thanks for the replies above. My main concern is regarding the chalk. RHS website says that Scot Pine prefers soil which is on acidic side. I have bought a eight foot tall Scot pine tree and don't want to waste the money if chalk is going to be a challenge. 

 

It will do okay for several years but once it gets big enough for the roots to be affected by the chalk the foliage will turn a yellow green, this is lime induced chlorosis, it is actually a deficiency of iron caused by the high pH.

 

When I started work scots pine were often planted as a nurse crop with beech over chalk but the intention was always to sell the pine as pit props by P25 and let the beech go on to make the main crop. Best made plans of miice and men gang aft aglay.

[nepia]

11 hours ago, tree_stumps said:

Also how deep down does the chalk extend?

Forever.  You're on the edge of the North Downs there  (I lived in Caterham until a few months ago).

 

Until ~30 years ago there were settlement ponds (I think) on the site of Tescos at Purley Cross dug from the bedrock.  Pure chalk.

[dumper]

I saw a borehole drilled by the m25 chalk went down over 250 m 

[tree_stumps]

8 hours ago, openspaceman said:

 

It will do okay for several years but once it gets big enough for the roots to be affected by the chalk the foliage will turn a yellow green, this is lime induced chlorosis, it is actually a deficiency of iron caused by the high pH.

 

When I started work scots pine were often planted as a nurse crop with beech over chalk but the intention was always to sell the pine as pit props by P25 and let the beech go on to make the main crop. Best made plans of miice and men gang aft aglay.

Many Thanks for the reply. Is there any other species of Pine that will survive the Chalk? 

[nepia]

Yew  🤭    Thrives on chalk - look on the Downs

[openspaceman]

34 minutes ago, tree_stumps said:

Many Thanks for the reply. Is there any other species of Pine that will survive the Chalk? 

I think most pines like slightly acidic soils, which is why scots pine invades our lowland heaths which are sandy and low Ph.

 

Would you consider western red cedar?