Tree of the month....The Alder

[Dean O]

They also say a plantation of alders has the property of creating swamps and bogs from land that was previously tolerably sound and dry.

 

Does anybody else have any anecdotal or factual accounts to suggest this?

 

Only asking as I'm thinking of planting a few up for future firewood production in a damp area of a field.

 

sorry if this is a slight derail - just got me thinking whether i might make things worse?

[sean]

Does anybody else have any anecdotal or factual accounts to suggest this?

 

Only asking as I'm thinking of planting a few up for future firewood production in a damp area of a field.

 

sorry if this is a slight derail - just got me thinking whether i might make things worse?

 

Not a derail mate....its about alders

[David oakman]

Does anybody else have any anecdotal or factual accounts to suggest this?

 

Only asking as I'm thinking of planting a few up for future firewood production in a damp area of a field.

 

sorry if this is a slight derail - just got me thinking whether i might make things worse?

 

An Alder plantation is an Alder carr:001_smile:

I have been working down by a river Alder everywhere some are well over 100 years old but does not seem very wet. I thought how dry it was:001_smile:

[sean]

An Alder plantation is an Alder carr:001_smile:

I have been working down by a river Alder everywhere some are well over 100 years old but does not seem very wet. I thought how dry it was:001_smile:

 

 

Piccies David....come on where are they??

[Knapp]

Alnus incarna, the Grey Alder, is a good tree for covering the ground as it produces suckers from its roots and you will soon have a forest from just one tree. It also produces catkins and leaves weeks before the native alder and so is a welcome bit of early greenery. The stems of the suckers can be harvested yearly for long 'wands' to make hurdles or screens.

[Danavan]

As well as gun powder the Alder was used for clogs due to it's soft easy working nature & the warmth & water proofing qualitys of the wood.

In scotland it used for chair making & called scotish mahogany.

[David oakman]

I will try and get back this week for you Sean and get some pictures. Here is one toget you started.

[sean]

http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/general-chat/15346-uses-value-alder.html#post272533

[sean]

I will try and get back this week for you Sean and get some pictures. Here is one toget you started.

 

thata fine looking tree david:thumbup:

[Saw-sick Steve]

Does anybody else have any anecdotal or factual accounts to suggest this?

 

Only asking as I'm thinking of planting a few up for future firewood production in a damp area of a field.

 

sorry if this is a slight derail - just got me thinking whether i might make things worse?

No, you won't make things worse, an Alder carr will take far more moisture out of the ground than rush/grass. It's far more likely that the Alder is growing on already saturated ground - as little else is able to - rather than being the cause of the wetness.