Planting In Ex Woodland

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Planting In Ex Woodland
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AnnaD

Joined: 12 Jun 2007
Posts: 2777
Location: Edinburgh

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 16 9:24 am Post subject: Planting In Ex Woodland

A few years ago we extended our garden to include some ex woodland. It was originally planted larch trees, about 6 feet apart, so I have a number of stumps in that part of the garden.
I want to plant windbreak trees and shrubs in that area, but I'm wondering if that would be possible among closely planted tree stumps? We don't have the money to have them removed. I was thinking of things like hazel, hawthorn and bamboo.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45674
Location: Essex

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 16 9:43 am Post subject:
Bamboo can be invasive. Birch, hazel, willow, alder, hawthorn should all cope. If you keep your willow coppiced (every few years) you'll get nice young branches that'll move in a breeze, get a mix of willows for different stem colours. Elder will do well in this kind of situation.

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 16 10:01 am Post subject:
Are the stumps rotten at all? Could you drill, or otherwise create holes, in them, and plant inside them, sort of as giant compost pots?

AnnaD

Joined: 12 Jun 2007
Posts: 2777
Location: Edinburgh

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 16 10:09 am Post subject:

I'd assume they're in the process of rotting, but they are still very firm and will take a good while to rot.

Willow's a good idea, and there are elder trees growing in the area that's not garden. I would like to give coppicing a go as well, so hazels and the like will be good to have.

I'll be growing specific bamboo for eating, so it shouldn't get the chance to become invasive.

So all those roots beneath the ground won't cause other trees and problems? It's going to be tricky digging holes for them though.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45674
Location: Essex

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 16 10:34 am Post subject:
You need small bare root plants planted in a small slit, they should be fine

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46235
Location: yes

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 16 10:58 am Post subject:

if you want them to rot out fairly quickly drill them vertically ,fill holes with urea (crystals are cheaper than the branded stump rotter stuff)

it speeds things up a lot and creates conditions that favour bacterial rot rather than fungal so reducing the risk of honey fungus etc etc .

if it was larch it might be worth investing a few quid in a soil testing kit to see if you need lime and or npk/ trace elements.

re new planting picking the right mix for the site helps a lot,dry/damp,microclimate etc etc .

bamboo is a thug in favourable conditions and may swamp young trees without lots of regular slash n burn.

when planning it is worth thinking what will it look like in 5,20, 100,200 yrs and using a suitable mix of trees.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 46235
Location: yes

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 16 11:01 am Post subject:
ps there are many things that will coppice willow is the quickest if the soil is damp ,hazel/ash takes a bit longer and the many others are ready in owt from 10/15 yrs to decades.

Jam Lady

Joined: 28 Dec 2006
Posts: 2571
Location: New Jersey, USA

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 16 1:53 pm Post subject:

If you are concerned about underground roots causing difficulties then bamboo is not what you want to plant. The underground runners are like cables, too sturdy to break with your hands. Cutting above ground shoots to eat does nothing to reduce below ground runners.

If you are bound and determined to do it anyhow, Phyllostachys edulis Moso bamboo has larger culms than the common yellow stem bamboo. Also grows 40 to 50, even 70 feet tall.

AnnaD

Joined: 12 Jun 2007
Posts: 2777
Location: Edinburgh

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 16 2:14 pm Post subject:
Thanks for all the great advice, everyone. Maybe I will give bamboo a miss, but I'll definitely plant hazel, willow and any other shrubs I like the idea of. I suppose, if trees can grow out of ruined buildings and walls, then they can probably handle my garden!

Nick

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 16 2:35 pm Post subject:
Don't write bamboo off. It can be container grown.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45674
Location: Essex

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 16 2:38 pm Post subject:

AnnaD wrote:

if trees can grow out of ruined buildings and walls, then they can probably handle my garden!

When you say trees that's mostly buddleia...

Definitely plant smallest size you can get, let the roots do the work as they grow. And definitely go bare root.

AnnaD

Joined: 12 Jun 2007
Posts: 2777
Location: Edinburgh

Posted: Tue Jul 05, 16 3:11 pm Post subject:

tahir wrote:

AnnaD wrote:

if trees can grow out of ruined buildings and walls, then they can probably handle my garden!

When you say trees that's mostly buddleia...

Definitely plant smallest size you can get, let the roots do the work as they grow. And definitely go bare root.

Grand, I shall do that. Thank you!

Mistress Rose

Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15984

Posted: Wed Jul 06, 16 6:32 am Post subject:

Willow will also take over if given half a chance too. It will depend on your soil as well. If it is wet, various basket willows will do well, although personally I would never plant it, but if it is a bit drier, hazel may well work. I agree with Tahir that something like 2-3 year old bare rooted plants (try a forestry nursery) will be best, slit planted.

Larch is long lasting outdoors, so you may find the stumps persist for years. The other problem is that when they rot out they often leave a hole for you to fall down.

Jam Lady

Joined: 28 Dec 2006
Posts: 2571
Location: New Jersey, USA

Posted: Thu Jul 07, 16 6:19 pm Post subject:

Ho ho ho. Growing bamboo in containers? Surely you jest. Concrete drain pipes, maybe. Otherwise -

Dig a trench - at least 60cm (2ft) deep, but ideally 120cm (4ft) deep
Line the sides of the trench with solid materials such as overlapped and sealed paving slabs, corrugated iron sheets also overlapped and sealed (but will eventually rust and rot out, after which the bamboo will escape), or pre-cast concrete drain sections. Any barrier should protrude at least 7.5cm (3in) above soil level, to prevent the bamboo stems arching over the top.

Slim

Joined: 05 Mar 2006
Posts: 6612
Location: New England (In the US of A)

Posted: Thu Jul 07, 16 6:42 pm Post subject:
Are none of the edible bamboos bunching species?

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