William Clifford

Thanks for the figures Aspen!

I read somewhere that turners like monkey puzzle to be cut down in January and stored upright, otherwise the sap causes grey discolouring of the wood. Could probably be the cause..

I'm planning on taking it to have it pressure checked next week. My initial response when the winch wasn't working properly was that it might not be worth repairing depending on what was up with it. I don't use it much at all so would prefer to swap a faulty part than replace the whole thing if I can. Thanks for the replies!

Ok thanks. Next post will be is there anyone around Nottingham with PA6AW? So even eco-plugs in a domestic back garden away from waterways I need the ticket as it's herbicide and I'm applying it commercially? Whereas a homeowner wouldn't need the tickets..

Ok, fair enough, I'll go back to them and ask them to do that. Cheers.

Ok, I took it to my local agricultural mechanic who said that if it's on it's original pump, constantly running for 175K miles then it might be a little tired! He looked over everything else and said best place to start would be put a new pump on as everything else looked in order. 3 times it's let me down when I needed it. We'd then spend time checking it, test it with a load (eg empty 3.5T van pulled up a sloping drive) and it would seem to be working. Then when it comes to it it isn't up to the job. For example, bogged down in a field only tyre deep, not down to the axles, a load of logs on the low-sided tipper back, but it wouldn't pull it out. We only just got out with a bit of a back up and run and the combo of help from the winch. So I'm thinking there must be something wrong - it can't be that poor? I'm afraid I don't know what winch it is. It was built as an arbtruck but I'm the 4th Arb owner and there's no markings on the winch. So like for like could be tricky if it's an adapted merc power steering pump? Is it much of a job to switch it to a PTO pump if I can't find a replacement or if we need more oomph? Thanks!

Hi, I've got some undergrowth to remove next to a river. Small Ash, Buddleah growing out of brickwork, Ivy all over the brickwork etc. Not a big job but regrowth needs to be stopped. I'm struggling to find someone with PA6AW which I would have thought is needed to apply herbicide to this growth right next to / over the waterway. Is this correct? If so, I need to find someone. Out of curiosity, my local training provider also advertises a ticket for PA6PP (eco plug) - is this ticket needed for using eco plugs either near to or not near to waterways? Thanks.

Hi, 2001 Land Rover 130 with Hydraulic winch fitted. The winch appears to work when tested - pulling another vehicle up a slight incline for example, but lacks any real power when it comes to it. Winch was on the vehicle when purchased with no identifying marks etc. I've been advised that it is most likely the pump - pictured. Does anyone know where to be asking for one? It is constantly running - attached to the belt as seen in the picture so needs to fit / be like for like etc. Thanks.

Thanks Squaredy!

Picture not attached.. Now picture attached, hopefully.

There is a lot more white fly around this year than previous years. Around this way at least. I've always understood June / July / August to be the right time for pruning Cherries. When I read up on it there was some conflicting trains of thought - some saying winter also, but these 3 months seemed to be the right time. I've just done a quick google search and even RHS has slightly differing recommendations. Picture attached. If the tree is very sickly I'd probably be leaving the epicormic growth on until I was confident the tree's gained some strength at least. The tree isn't wasting energy on it, rather putting it out as its best way to quickly feed itself? A response to being stressed?

Hi, I'm pretty sure this is Monilia Johnsonii on Crataegus x lavallei? It's on a customers treasured Hawthorn. What could the significance to the tree be - will it likely just get over it and be fine next year, or is there any control needed or available? The tree is of a size that it could be sprayed if needed, though it wouldn't be an easy task! With me suspecting Monilia, I'm also wondering if there could be a connection between this and what I suspect might be Monilia on a lot of Cherry trees around me. It would have to be a different type of Monilia though? I've just commented on another thread here - if there could be any connection? Pictures: Thanks!

I'm being asked to prune quite a few Cherries this time of year. I'm avoiding pruning any which are struggling (no chance of pruning out infection and leaving anything decent on the one's I've looked at if it is Monilinia), but there's a lot of very healthy looking Cherries and I'm concerned about putting pruning wounds in and letting infection in. I guess it depends on what the problem is?

I'm also coming across quite a few Cherries looking like this. One was vigorous last year when we secateured new growth from the top (it had been heavily reduced years previous). I had a look a couple of weeks ago and it was dead and dry down into 5" timber with the exception of 2 sprigs. Others had signs of life, sometimes dead dry tips for 8 inches, but leaf further down the the twigs. Another had very few leaves, but life in all the tips when scratched and is now starting to come back - and looking like the one in HMW's photo. Dan is suggesting late frost, another local tree surgeon is suggesting drought. On all of the trees there have been a few leaves hanging as if it has Blossom Wilt so was wondering if Monilinia was to blame? The only thing that makes me think not is no gummy bits on the cherry shoots at all, and only a relatively small number of dead hanging leaves? There is a difference this year between trees which seem to have been struggling due to the climate over the past couple of years becoming sparse, and the 6 or so I've looked at since spring which were healthy last year and now look more like HMW's. Any of the above 3 possible diagnosis are plausible in my mind. I'm in the East Midlands if that helps at all.

Hi, My father's looking at making a driveway gate and I've been potentially offered some Redwood. Not sure yet if it is Giant, Coast or Dawn. How do they fair outdoors over a longer period of time (treated)? Posts will be galvanised metal so no wood in the ground, minimal joints to avoid potential water collecting / areas to rot. Are any of the above 3 Redwoods particularly good or bad as timber for outside use? He's preferred Cedar in the past but I seem to have a recollection that Redwood is also good? Thanks.