On 15/09/2010 08:00, sweetheart wrote:

"Bob Hobden" wrote in message
...


I would like to cut the lot down . If I did , will it all come back?

Do you want it to grow back? I'm unsure what you actually want.
If you "prune" it hard mature trees and shrubs usually do grow again,
there are exceptions and those that simply give up but as a rule they
do survive to grow/flower again.

Well, put it this way, I would prefer some plants but if they do die I
wont be gutted. I will be miffed because I may have to do extra work
digging them out.

Simplest pruning rules are take out all dead wood, any weak, and
crossing branches until the shape looks roughly like a goblet. This
works for most things (although there are notable exceptions). Your
local library will have suitable illustrated books that will help.

A few vigorous things like dogwoods and buddlea react quite well to
chopping everything off at near ground level (or replacement pruning of
one third of the oldest wood). And certain well known hedging conifers
will never grow back from old mature wood so you can damage them by
cutting back too far.

Hire/buy a good shredder, this will reduce drastically the bulk of the
waste and the shredding can be used as a mulch to suppress weeds and
conserve moisture or composted to make a good soil improver.

I have a shredder. I have never sued it though. I have had it four years
now, still boxed.
Do the stems have to be dry to but them through. or can I cut and shed
almost immediately?
Sorry to ask but once I unbox this thing I have to find somewhere else
to store it as where it is , its parcelled in well.

If you have the space I would not bother with the shredder. Leave the
cut woody material to dry for a few weeks in the autumn sunshine and
then have a bonfire. The ash is good for fruit trees and bushes. And the
onions seem to like any charcoal left over.

I have an apple tree, looks about 30 years old and must be 20 ft
high. It flowered profusely but I haven't has a single apple. Can I
chop this back or should I just have someone take a chain saw to it?

It can be dramatically reduced in size but it's a job for someone with
knowledge of such pruning if you are not to permanently damage the
tree. Do you know if it's a tip bearer for example?

I dont even have a clue what sort it is. I know the apples are sourish
and I have used them last year as cooking apples. They are red/ green
and small ( just like all apples really ;-))
But since it flowered profusely this year but didnt give up a single
apple, I think it needs something doing. I would be sorry to loose it,
as its a nice feature where it is.

If you let an apple tree overcrop one year then you get almost nothing
the next. Try thinning the fruit out early on next year to break the
habit. Some trees tend to go biennial fruiting left to grow wild.

Again prune weak, dead and crossing branches. And be careful not to cut
a bit off every branch since if it is a tip bearer and you did prune
carelessly that might also explain your lack of fruit this year.

If you could identify the variety you could always get it a companion
tree (or a grafted family tree). Fruit set is a lot more reliable if
there is more than one tree for pollinators to visit.

Regards,
Martin Brown