Graham

1 hour ago, Billhook said:

Yes, the huge Elms were everywhere here in Lincolnshire lining the road sides and dominating the tops of hills until the disease struck in the seventies.  Now they have all gone............ or have they?  The hedges and copses are full of saplings which live until about 15 years when the bark splits and the beetles introduce the fungus.  But they come again and are just waiting for the time, perhaps in our Great Great Grandchildren's lifetime when either the beetle, the fungus disappear or the trees become immune.

We have two mature Elms on the farm here in the middle of fields on their own .  They seem to have a touch of the disease in the crown every year but no dieback and each year starts with a complete canopy.

I have written to the Elm trust people in the hope that they may take some cuttings.

Anyone have a suggestion as to the best way/ timing to do this?

I am confident that the Ash will survive in a similar way,

Nature mutates, which is how things survive, including ourselves.

This English elm was one of many.  The whole hedge is elm; there was a wood comprising solely elm; it is still standing 40 years after its companions died.

My eyes started to go a few years ago.  I blamed it on curry initially.  I noticed it when I'd pick up a curry on a Sunday evening after being out fishing.

The cottage I lived in was fairly dark and I'd sit down with my curry and pick up a book to read.  I struggled a bit and it always seemed to coincide with curry...so that got the blame.

Eventually I tried on a pair of 1.5x mag glasses and the world was transformed.  Sharpening a chain became easy again :-)

2 hours ago, departed said:

How do you deal with the regrowth in a few years time? Is it a case of re laying the hedge?
Thanks.

The old way was to keep brushing the sides for 10 years or so and then re lay it.  Most people now just trim each year as you normally would and should be good for 50 years if done properly.  When it gets gappy in the bottom let the top go up and re lay it.

Thanks to all for comments.  It's my passion to produce the best I can do.  

I know in that situation I would have removed my attachment from the rigging branch and stropped in just below my cutting point.  Had similar happen many years ago.  Luckily everything got hung up so no damage done.  Hope he lived and learned.

24 minutes ago, buffalo606 said:

It that 100% hawthorn or a mix?  Brilliant - like a live dry stone dyke.

Mostly hawthorn with an odd piece of field maple and hazel.

22 minutes ago, aspenarb said:

Your work is worth more than a like Graham so I will top it off with a

 

Bob

Thank you.  Appreciated.  I love seeing the hedges come back after laying.

Passing a hedge I laid this year so popped into the farm for a look.
Beautiful old fashioned farm where the farmer takes a pride in knowing what birds are nesting and where. Initial regrowth looking promising. It's dried up and what a difference a couple of months make.

First saw I owned was a secondhand Jonsered 75.  Had the 'pleasure' of having to use a Danarm 55 commercially when I was 17.

2 minutes ago, daltontrees said:

Sorry to disagree so bluntly but ...

 

https://forestry.usu.edu/trees-cities-towns/tree-care/preventing-iron-chlorosis

 

Acer saccharinum and Populus tremuloides are both referred to in this article an poor choices for iron deficient sites, if that deficiency is as a result of alkali conditions, but even if not because of alkalinity, both will suffer iron chlorosis. Not good choices.

 

Pin Oka does not like wet ground, I have direct experience of this.

 

Coming up with a  better answer is tricky. My suggestion would be Claret Ash Fraxinus angustifolia subsp. oxycarpa. excelsior has a preference for chalky soils and is particularly good at dealing with low iron conditions, but  I can't find any info on angustifolia's tolerance. Amazing autumn colour, though. Worth a look?

Ah.  Didn't see the iron deficiency bit.  Must look more diligently in the future :-)

12 hours ago, Shannon Ready said:

I need some recommendations of what type tree that I could plant in a low-lying area of my yard that has excess ground water. I have lost 2 Autumn Blaze Maple trees in the past 10 yrs, due to iron deficiency r/t excess ground water.  I'm looking for something that could grow in Colorado, w/ soil in this condition....tree that could grow 40-60ft tall and possibly have red/yellow foliage in the fall.  Any ideas?

Acer saccharinum is good in wet conditions.  What about aspen?

I knew a log man who killed his mrs.

44 minutes ago, benedmonds said:

Riding 2 abreast is recommended in the highway code.... Riding in such away and being in a dominant position reduces the chance of twats who think they own the road driving to close, to fast and endangering the cyclist....

 

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/bike-blog/2015/aug/11/how-to-overtake-cyclists-the-video-all-drivers-should-watch

New one on me.  I always thought the Highway Code advised against that in times past.  I think problems occur through frustration on the motorist's part when some cyclists purposely make things as awkward as possible.

48 minutes ago, openspaceman said:

Grind off the mushrooms or use a gas axe to do it

 

When I started work it was with a couple of 65 year old veterans who worked together during the war, when felling was a reserved occupation. Fred was the feller and Ted the assistant, Ted only had one eye as a bit had come off a felling wedge and hit the other one.

 

Similarly my late mate on the same firm lost the use of his eye from a wedge splinter within the last 10 years

Quite a common injury.  I had a few lumps come off and embed themselves in flesh.  The old fallers warned us though :-)

Last weekend was a nightmare.  Seemingly the world and his wife had decided to clad themselves in Lycra and take to the roads.

Now there's good and bad in all but what is it about groups, ie 2 or more, of cyclists who seem to think it is some sort of right to make themselves as difficult to pass as possible?  If they've not strung themselves out in a gapless line then they're two abreast.  Along winding rural roads it's virtually impossible to overtake and if they don't leave a gap then impossible to pull in.

Do these men (and it's mostly men) gain some sort of satisfaction from their antics on pushbikes or are they just awkward t!a!s all the time!

I was pulled on the motorway a few years back.  Police escorted me to weighbridge and was over on back axle plus over train weight.  I was given a choice.  Because the officer was nearing his finish time he told me that he could deal with it and issue an 'on the spot fine' or I could choose to deal with vosa who were operating in the same yard.  He advised taking a fine which I did.

8 hours ago, Mick Dempsey said:

Maybe a redwing with the light on it.

Someone suggested whitethroat.  It probably is and I was looking for an obscurity.  

4 minutes ago, Mick Dempsey said:

I know it’s boring, but it looks a bit like goat/grey willow.

 

The bird is more interesting.

4 minutes ago, Mick Dempsey said:

I know it’s boring, but it looks a bit like goat/grey willow.

 

The bird is more interesting.

Think you got the tree.  Common or garden willow! Funny how you can overlook the obvious!  The pic is supposed to be from UK but I wasn't sure.  The red around the bird's eyes is throwing me a bit.  I thought red - eyed vireo from the US but the legs are the wrong colour.

2 minutes ago, Mick Dempsey said:

You’ll have to explain the origins of the photo.

It's from a post regarding bird id from someone I follow on twitter.  It intrigued me and the tree is something I've not seen before.

Just now, nepia said:

I pass on both; tell us the bird at least!

I don't know.  Trying to get an id on the tree so I can narrow down the area the photo may have been taken.  Can work out bird from continent hopefully.

Not the bird but the tree.  Thanks.

I wanted to do it for a crane job.  They(council) quoted me about £1600.  They had to advertise the closure and inform all relevant people of closure.  It was on a really quiet lane and the crane co wouldn't do it without a closure as the crane outriggers would completely block it.  Ended up with a rope dismantle and stop go.  Can't remember the fines that were quoted for unauthourised closure but they were pretty steep.  All it takes is for CC official to be passing or a complaint and they've got you over a barrel.  

8 hours ago, Stubby said:

Its the compulsive chain brake snapper onners that ind me up . !

If ever you have to work with one of them then you know they ain't got a clue.

16 minutes ago, Valeman said:

Hi.  I have a small amount of tree work to do which would make life a lot easier if I was to close off the road.  Its a very quiet and largely unused country road with alternative routes available which probably add half a mile on to your journey.  Do I need to be any qualifications in traffic management to do this?  I understand you have to inform the emergency services, is that just a case of calling the police or do I need to call each emergency service?

 

Thanks

Yes you do and it will cost.  Don't even think about doing it without the required permissions off  CC.

8 hours ago, westphalian said:

 

Planted a dozen acorns last autumn. Followed instructions off web, put them in fridge. 100% sprouted. Kept on cool windowsill then put on top of raised beds still in pots when 4 inches tall. Leaves now going grey. Are they out of sync with season

 

Mildew.