Acidic Soils

[Tully]

Where I work Soils tend to be rather acidic in large areas, as indicator species such as rhododendron indicate. We are planning on bringing back native trees to this area, mainly beech and oak.

It seems that the older very mature trees are stressed by the rhody's invasion and the blockade they bring seems to stop natural seedlings progressing to adulthood (so we are missing a couple of generations).

Is there a way of bringing the PH back up other than using large quantities of lime?and a sure fire way of controlling the rhody scum?

Somebody mentioned introducing Quercus patrea and cerris but just wondered if anybody out there had any input on this situation.

[David oakman]

if you plant quercus cerris you will be the only one. the forestry com and windsor forest are felling and ring barking its all to do with the knopper gall the knobly gall on the english oak

[Andy Collins]

have to agree with David on the cerris, but the patrea would be a sound choice, and I think I would go for hornbeam over the beech. Are you removing the rhodies prior to planting?

[Tully]

The forest is an old beech forest. With some amazing mature trees. they seem to have done really well here in the past. Removing the rhody is an option but there is loads of the stuff. we can mulch on site as the soil remains acidic. There is alot of work and only two arborists on site.

Along with the rhody problem sycamore is shriving as well.

We need a massive felling license as well to knock some holes in the canopy halo.

[Tully]

cant mulch

[Amelanchier]

Tul, the area you're in is naturally acid. You can't fight that glacial till mate. If you're site is anything like Felbrigg then the acid soils define the character of the landscape. Stick with local provenance for your new plantings, they'll be better adapted.

 

As for the Rhodys... Nothing works except hard labour.