Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Can trees learn?
Hi,
this is a question about a new planting of native trees into pasture in the UK. This NG seems to be almost entirely US oriented, but perhaps this is a widespread problem, or there are UK subscribers here as well. Taking advantage of a Forestry Commission grant I have planted half a hectare of mixed oak, ash and alder with a variety of shrubs for a graded edging consisting of hazel, hawthorn, field maple and guelder rose. (please excuse me their latin names!) These were cell-grown plants. Being a novice I have done everything by the book, using tree shelters, keeping them weed-free, and so on. In the 1st planting year (2001) there was a late frost soon after the first leaves came out and they got hammered. This mostly affected the ash. In the same year they had to cope with a summer drought as well. This combination really set them back and many had to be replaced. Last year was a good one, with a long wet summer, and nearly all the plants made good growth. This year, a couple of nights ago, there was another late frost which has again destroyed most of the new leaf, hitting the ash again, and also the oak. The alder seem tougher and the shrubs are not affected at all. The question, finally, is: why are these native trees so susceptible to frost? I would have expected them to be fully hardy (they were sold as such). And I have noticed that these new plantings always come into leaf before the established trees --including saplings-- in the existing hedgerows around. Will these new trees ever adapt better to their surroundings, or are they a lost cause? It's very galling because ash grow like weeds around here (S W Wales), except for me. Any advice or information welcomed... Thanks Brian Mitchell |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Can trees learn?
Brian Mitchell wrote:
Hi, this is a question about a new planting of native trees into pasture in the UK. This NG seems to be almost entirely US oriented, but perhaps this is a widespread problem, or there are UK subscribers here as well. Taking advantage of a Forestry Commission grant I have planted half a hectare of mixed oak, ash and alder with a variety of shrubs for a graded edging consisting of hazel, hawthorn, field maple and guelder rose. (please excuse me their latin names!) These were cell-grown plants. Being a novice I have done everything by the book, using tree shelters, keeping them weed-free, and so on. In the 1st planting year (2001) there was a late frost soon after the first leaves came out and they got hammered. This mostly affected the ash. In the same year they had to cope with a summer drought as well. This combination really set them back and many had to be replaced. Last year was a good one, with a long wet summer, and nearly all the plants made good growth. This year, a couple of nights ago, there was another late frost which has again destroyed most of the new leaf, hitting the ash again, and also the oak. The alder seem tougher and the shrubs are not affected at all. The question, finally, is: why are these native trees so susceptible to frost? I would have expected them to be fully hardy (they were sold as such). And I have noticed that these new plantings always come into leaf before the established trees --including saplings-- in the existing hedgerows around. Will these new trees ever adapt better to their surroundings, or are they a lost cause? It's very galling because ash grow like weeds around here (S W Wales), except for me. Any advice or information welcomed... Thanks Brian Mitchell Welcome to the group! Not being familiar with your actual site and conditions, I'd guess that maybe you got offsite stock and had bad luck with the weather - a common occurrance anywhere you depend on nurseries. Try to get stock from local seed whenever possible. Usually really off-site stuff doesn't die for several years. There was a an active group of primarily UK foresters around a few years ago. The association of online foresters or some such - Does anyone know if Nick's web page still up? Mike H. |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Can trees learn?
Why not just transplant trees and shrubs you can get from nearby hedgerows? -- Joe Zorzin "Brian Mitchell" wrote in message ... Hi, this is a question about a new planting of native trees into pasture in the UK. This NG seems to be almost entirely US oriented, but perhaps this is a widespread problem, or there are UK subscribers here as well. Taking advantage of a Forestry Commission grant I have planted half a hectare of mixed oak, ash and alder with a variety of shrubs for a graded edging consisting of hazel, hawthorn, field maple and guelder rose. (please excuse me their latin names!) These were cell-grown plants. Being a novice I have done everything by the book, using tree shelters, keeping them weed-free, and so on. In the 1st planting year (2001) there was a late frost soon after the first leaves came out and they got hammered. This mostly affected the ash. In the same year they had to cope with a summer drought as well. This combination really set them back and many had to be replaced. Last year was a good one, with a long wet summer, and nearly all the plants made good growth. This year, a couple of nights ago, there was another late frost which has again destroyed most of the new leaf, hitting the ash again, and also the oak. The alder seem tougher and the shrubs are not affected at all. The question, finally, is: why are these native trees so susceptible to frost? I would have expected them to be fully hardy (they were sold as such). And I have noticed that these new plantings always come into leaf before the established trees --including saplings-- in the existing hedgerows around. Will these new trees ever adapt better to their surroundings, or are they a lost cause? It's very galling because ash grow like weeds around here (S W Wales), except for me. Any advice or information welcomed... Thanks Brian Mitchell |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Can trees learn?
Hi Brian, welcome to the group.
No worries, Brian - trees grow well in many areas of the world, not just the US... The following information should serve you well, even though it comes from someone here. While I don't often like to generalize, it is better than no help at all. Frost is a common problem in all geographical locations primarily in low-lying (elevationally or topographically speaking) areas. Being in SW wales, the proximity to the ocean may be a factor, too, although I would actually think that might be better. Younger trees are more succeptable to frost than that of older trees, particularly because of the lack of mature root systems. With mature root systems of naturally-occuring trees, the trees will likely sprout back new leaves, but with the lack of these extra energy reserves, the trees will more than likely die. So the answer to your question is that it is not a "lost cause". I would give them at least until August to sprout back new leaves, and if they don't then, replace them. A half-hectare piece is too large to use a tarp, but tarping these trees would certainly help. Pretty soon that bloody frost will be gone, and you'll be able to plant some more trees. Here's a suggestion: Construct a hot house - a small framed uninsulated house using clear, plastic visqueen or other rolled good material so that inside the house the climate stays warmer for longer periods of time. Purchase some large 12" pots, or construct some place to put some of your pasture soil inside the hothouse and plant your seedlings in there for a year or maybe two. This way, the roots of your trees get used to that type of soil and you don't get problems with the frost until the trees build up enough root mass to recharge new growth. Transplant the trees carefully about the 2nd or 3rd week of June. If you get a frost after that, it's just bad luck, but chances are you won't. Even if you do, your little ones now have more defensive power to fight the frost. It may be cost or time prohibitive, but that depends on your situation. Good luck, Geoff Kegerreis Michigan, USA Brian Mitchell wrote: Hi, this is a question about a new planting of native trees into pasture in the UK. This NG seems to be almost entirely US oriented, but perhaps this is a widespread problem, or there are UK subscribers here as well. Taking advantage of a Forestry Commission grant I have planted half a hectare of mixed oak, ash and alder with a variety of shrubs for a graded edging consisting of hazel, hawthorn, field maple and guelder rose. (please excuse me their latin names!) These were cell-grown plants. Being a novice I have done everything by the book, using tree shelters, keeping them weed-free, and so on. In the 1st planting year (2001) there was a late frost soon after the first leaves came out and they got hammered. This mostly affected the ash. In the same year they had to cope with a summer drought as well. This combination really set them back and many had to be replaced. Last year was a good one, with a long wet summer, and nearly all the plants made good growth. This year, a couple of nights ago, there was another late frost which has again destroyed most of the new leaf, hitting the ash again, and also the oak. The alder seem tougher and the shrubs are not affected at all. The question, finally, is: why are these native trees so susceptible to frost? I would have expected them to be fully hardy (they were sold as such). And I have noticed that these new plantings always come into leaf before the established trees --including saplings-- in the existing hedgerows around. Will these new trees ever adapt better to their surroundings, or are they a lost cause? It's very galling because ash grow like weeds around here (S W Wales), except for me. Any advice or information welcomed... Thanks Brian Mitchell |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Can trees learn?
On Fri, 16 May 2003 20:47:03 -0700, mhagen wrote:
Welcome to the group!... Aside from that wail of despair, I doubt I have anything to contribute to a discussion among real foresters, but thank you. . . . Not being familiar with your actual site and conditions, I'd guess that maybe you got offsite stock and had bad luck with the weather - a common occurrance anywhere you depend on nurseries. Try to get stock from local seed whenever possible. Usually really off-site stuff doesn't die for several years. It was nursery stock, and not from the immediate area, but from a nursery a couple of hundred miles further north, which I would have thought might have added a further hardiness factor, but maybe not. The damage seems not to be total; a setback rather than a massacre. Your last sentence sounds a bit ominous. Are you saying that really of-site stuff does eventually die off? I do hope not. If the Forestry Commission come round in 3 years --which they will-- and find no trees, I believe they're empowered to transport me to the Colonies :-) BM There was a an active group of primarily UK foresters around a few years ago. The association of online foresters or some such - Does anyone know if Nick's web page still up? Mike H. |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Can trees learn?
On Sat, 17 May 2003 06:42:49 -0400, "Joe Zorzin"
wrote: Why not just transplant trees and shrubs you can get from nearby hedgerows? Hi, I am renovating this property, part of which involves re-laying and planting the boundary hedges, and I have "won" about 20 ash saplings this way. But there are some 700 trees in the 1/2 hectare, and this is not wild open country but very domestic and cultivated hill-farm land. If I went plundering my neighbours' hedgerows on that scale, I think they'd have something to say about it! BM |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Can trees learn?
On Sat, 17 May 2003 14:05:46 GMT, Geoff Kegerreis
wrote: Hi Brian, welcome to the group. Thanks. With mature root systems of naturally-occuring trees, the trees will likely sprout back new leaves, but with the lack of these extra energy reserves, the trees will more than likely die. So the answer to your question is that it is not a "lost cause". I would give them at least until August to sprout back new leaves, and if they don't then, replace them. Looking more closely at them, most of the trees seem to have in tact growing points and probably will come back. Ths is a great relief, because replacing them all would be an expense of money and time I couldn't really afford. A half-hectare piece is too large to use a tarp, but tarping these trees would certainly help. Pretty soon that bloody frost will be gone, and you'll be able to plant some more trees. Yes, it's already gone and --touching wood with crossed fingers while whistling-- there won't be another this year. It was sort of a freak, a single night of hard air frost after a month of mild temperatures. And I've got fruit trees, ornamental shrubs, soft fruit as well as the woodland trees and shrubs, but it was only the standard woodland trees that were hit. I'm supposing this is because they had only just come into leaf and were still tender, while everything else has been in leaf for a while. Here's a suggestion: Construct a hot house - a small framed uninsulated house using clear, plastic visqueen or other rolled good material so that inside the house the climate stays warmer for longer periods of time. Purchase some large 12" pots, or construct some place to put some of your pasture soil inside the hothouse and plant your seedlings in there for a year or maybe two. This way, the roots of your trees get used to that type of soil and you don't get problems with the frost until the trees build up enough root mass to recharge new growth. Transplant the trees carefully about the 2nd or 3rd week of June. If you get a frost after that, it's just bad luck, but chances are you won't. Even if you do, your little ones now have more defensive power to fight the frost. It may be cost or time prohibitive, but that depends on your situation. To have raised my own trees from seed as you suggest would have been the best way, I agree, but I was impatient to have trees. Getting single whips from a nursery just down the road would have been the next best step, but the nursery I did use offered a much better deal. Perhaps what I need is not so much arboricultural training as decision-making training! Thanks to you and everyone for the advice and comfort! BM |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Can trees learn?
There was a an active group of primarily UK foresters around a few years ago. The association of online foresters or some such - Does anyone know if Nick's web page still up? Mike H. I found the UK website. Try these people. http://www.foresters.org/ask.htm |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Can trees learn?
There was a an active group of primarily UK foresters around a few years ago. The association of online foresters or some such - Does anyone know if Nick's web page still up? Mike H. I found the UK website. Try these people. http://www.foresters.org/ask.htm |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Can trees learn?
There was a an active group of primarily UK foresters around a few years ago. The association of online foresters or some such - Does anyone know if Nick's web page still up? Mike H. I found the UK website. Try these people. http://www.foresters.org/ask.htm |
#11
|
|||
|
|||
Can trees learn?
There was a an active group of primarily UK foresters around a few years ago. The association of online foresters or some such - Does anyone know if Nick's web page still up? Mike H. I found the UK website. Try these people. http://www.foresters.org/ask.htm |
#12
|
|||
|
|||
Can trees learn?
Trees can learn simple words like hello and thank you.
Brian Mitchell wrote in message ... Hi, this is a question about a new planting of native trees into pasture in the UK. This NG seems to be almost entirely US oriented, but perhaps this is a widespread problem, or there are UK subscribers here as well. etc |
#13
|
|||
|
|||
Can trees learn?
On Sun, 18 May 2003 17:40:12 -0700, mhagen wrote:
There was a an active group of primarily UK foresters around a few years ago. The association of online foresters or some such - Does anyone know if Nick's web page still up? Mike H. I found the UK website. Try these people. http://www.foresters.org/ask.htm Many thanks. BM |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
quincy! You'll learn bushs. Generally, I'll judge the can | United Kingdom | |||
as seemingly as Ronnie joins, you can learn the game much more simply | United Kingdom | |||
if the lazy kettles can arrive easily, the lost jar may learn more windows | United Kingdom | |||
where did Walter nibble behind all the printers? We can't behave bowls unless Elisa will halfheartedly learn afterwards | United Kingdom | |||
some trees simply learn the think lake | United Kingdom |