spandit

Email sent

I soak a piece of scrumpled up newspaper in water & dip in the ash. Takes some elbow grease but does a great job

Summer solstice isn't far off - you could burn it then

I'd try to weave new growth in to strengthen and trim hard in the winter, keeping the trimmings to plant elsewhere. I doubt it will hurt it if you trim in the summer

Thanks, I'll have a root around to see if there are any stumps. It's in a fairly sheltered position, being next to a woodland, so not unduly worried it's going to get blown over. I've planted 25 more around the place so in a hundred years or so it should have some company!

My area used to have large plantations of Scots pine but now there aren't that many left. We have one in the garden but I noticed the other day that the bark seems to be damaged in places: There are also quite a few dead branches. It's not in a dangerous position but I'd be sad to lose a mature tree. Is this just a normal state for a mature pine or should I be worried? It's not very symmetrical either

By the way, the osier rods I planted last year and cut down earlier this year are already up to 3 foot high in places:

No, I had got confused and was writing from memory early in the morning! As you say, I've planted the common osier for harvesting. I do have a salix caprea that I planted because it was given to me and the wildlife will like it.

You are quite correct, salix viminalis it is or common osier

Mick, I didn't realise you were in Sussex - might be able to help you with willow this Winter - too late now as they're not dormant any more. Bear in mind that once it's in and growing, getting rid of it is not an easy undertaking. I used to trim one that belonged to next door (in my previous house), because it hung over my drive. One year I got a bit fed up of cutting each branch so I chainsawed it down to a stump. A year later, it was back up at 14' (that's feet!) and is still going strong. She works with the scouts so likes cutting the material for them but I'm sure she'd let me take a bit. I've also got some that I've propagated here in my current house. You'll probably find a local supplier anyway that would save you the drive

1. Are these beyond the ability of an average gardener No, pretty easy to do. Osier viminalis (common sallow) would be best. It's pretty foolproof to grow, especially with rabbit protection and weed mulching 2. Would I be able to get willow that is big enough to create this straight off or is it a long term project If you plant rods about 25cm long, like I did, in 8 months they went up about 12 feet... I cut the rods off to build an arch and already they've got up quite a bit, plus should get multiple shoots from each one this year and more as each year progresses 3. What sort of money if I can buy them big enough is it going to be. The arch in the picture had 24 trees by my count. I'd probably be looking at 12-16 I think. Unless you can find someone who will let you have some for free, if you were near me then I'm sure I could sort something out, a rod is going to cost about 30p, that's a short bit you plant. The problem with planting long bits straight off is that without careful watering the tops may die back anyway and you'd be back to square one.

+1 - must be a local society that would want it for their bonfire

Have a c. 3000l sump that collects off the barn roof. It's normally overflowing but I've just installed a hand pump so we can use it for watering. I've bought another pump for the well which is right next to the house & has a few thousand gallons in it. We have a spring that puts out 3,000 gallons a day and that's way above the house so will be piping that down soon. We've also got a few waterbutts but frankly the hand pump is quicker I reckon

My oaks have only just started & ash is slightly behind. Beech still dormant but some of the robinia doing well. Almond has pretty pink blossom & osier has grown about a foot so far

It makes great evergreen screening, has useful canes and makes a lovely noise in the wind - I wish there were more bamboo than leylandii!

It's river cane - in the right place it's great but does spread. I could do with a load here to hide a security fence

Can you tie the brash into faggots & leave it - makes smaller piles than just having it loose?

Not surprised, he's got an amazing forest garden

On the face of it, in the long run, by adding a load of mulch, I'm adding nutrients to the area, whereas spraying will only reduce the nutrients available - not the best environmental solution! As long as I can get my trees enough light by keeping them clear of weeds, then the slower initial growth by not spraying doesn't really matter.

Not sure if it is officially biodegradable unfortunately but it's not very thick & the stuff I put down last year has disappeared in many places. As far as I am concerned once the leaves grow they tend to shade out anything lower in the tubes & in autumn they self mulch. Considering how well the self seeded trees have done without any help, having any protection must be an advantage Did 35 today - that was 2 full Mule loads

I didn't want to spray glyphosate for my trees so just planted them in the sward - I've laid a permeable weed membrane down and covered with woodchip - not out to a metre but should give them a reasonable chance:

Is not a free chip tip enough? Mutually beneficial I would have thought

I can't wait to hire in a logsplitter to process my rather large backlog... Getting them all cut, split and stacked will mean I can take it easy for two years! I won't though, I'll keep scrounging... Just need to keep the free logs going until I can coppice my own trees, although they'll take a year to season anyway

They came back just now with a load of leylandii, willow and ash. I'd say that's a pretty good mix!

Been said many times before, I'd rather burn free leylandii than pay for anything else!