cockercas Posted January 3, 2012 Report Share Posted January 3, 2012 For the last two days I have been logging dead trees in a wood on my permission. I've cut maybe 30 trees down and would like to plant some more to replace them. The trees are a fir and there is a 3inch bed of needles on the wood floor. Not much grows in the wood but I'm hoping now some light can get in it will breath some life into her. I've got 20 or so chickens in the wood in a effort to help the soil and I've kept all the muckings out. I have access to a huge pile of horse **** to. So what can I do to help the soil and what sort of tree should I plant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boromir Posted January 3, 2012 Report Share Posted January 3, 2012 (edited) Silver Birch(Betula pedula) are good acid converters, but dont live very long, usually used as a parent tree. I also think they make great firewood nice sweet smell when they burn. Ive seen Holly(Ilex aquafolium) in soils similur to yours as well. Try planting tree's that would be useful like Ash(Fraxinus excelsior)English Oak(Quercus robur)and some Beach(Fagus sylvatica)although be careful with beach they take some amount of room. Also like a bit of Scot's pine(Pinus sylestris) Edited January 3, 2012 by BFG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cockercas Posted January 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2012 Thanks. Do you think apple trees would grow?. How much and were do I buy trees from? And what do you call them plastic tubes to protect it. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boromir Posted January 3, 2012 Report Share Posted January 3, 2012 Apple trees can grow in most soils depends on how acidic the soil is and prefer good light keep them out of waterogged areas. Its best to buy trees local to you as they are acclimatised to your area, your garden centre may have them if not they maybe able to give you a contact to a supplier. Price depends on what trees you want, my work buys them in bulk so be a bit cheaper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cockercas Posted January 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2012 what about these bfg. thanks for your help btw http://www.woodlandtrustshop.com/tree-mixes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gamekeeper1960 Posted January 3, 2012 Report Share Posted January 3, 2012 [Hi cockercas, I think what you are talking about is tree guards, and I would'nt worry so much about what to put on the ground,In the past Ive used tractorwith single furrow plough to just turn the needles and scratch the top of the soil this not only clear the needles but leaves you bit of a micro climate in between the rows,as for whar to plant well thats up to you but why apple unless you are trying to make an orchard. but rememeber apple tres take a lot of looking after. Dave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cockercas Posted January 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2012 i was thinking that apple tree would provide food for birds in winter. all work inc turning all the soil will be done by hand. a tractor wont fit in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boromir Posted January 3, 2012 Report Share Posted January 3, 2012 To me £13 for four 1 foot tall tree's is a bit steep better of growing your own. But they do give you an idea on what you want. Go and see what your local tree/garden centre nursery has first, they will probably have a selection of all types of tree's you want may at different sizes. And the trees guards depends what you got in your area like deer and rabbits. Im glad that im able to give advice for once. Something I'm good at is about tree's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cockercas Posted January 3, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2012 Your help is appreciated. Yes I have roe and rabbits. I keep on top of them tho. Right to find the nearest nursery to me. Anything else I should know? Watering, feeding ect. I'm funding it out of my own pocket and don't have much money so I plan on doing it right first time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boromir Posted January 3, 2012 Report Share Posted January 3, 2012 Yes plant more than you need as not all the tree's will survive. Later on when they are strong enough cut down the weak ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scolopax Posted January 4, 2012 Report Share Posted January 4, 2012 Ash and Oak are good trees in our area, plenty of hawthorne aswell, it is very valuable to many forms of wildlife. I think most tree planting is done during the winter as the soil should be wet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gav912 Posted January 4, 2012 Report Share Posted January 4, 2012 Try Hopes Grove Nurseries in Kent for trees as they sell them bare root at this time of year, something like an Ash tree is listed in their catalogue for £2.59 4-5ft tall transplant, English Oak are £2.99 for the same size. If the trees don't come to life by June in the year that you bought them they will replace them free of charge as well. Have used them for hedging in the past and had no problems with their service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted January 4, 2012 Report Share Posted January 4, 2012 Try these............ http://www.britishhardwood.co.uk/bareroot-trees-shrubs-hedgerow-plants/48/ http://www.rvroger.co.uk/index.php?linksource=listgroup&listgroupfile=trees http://www.hedgenursery.co.uk/browse/common-oak-quercus-robur-383/ If you buy whips and use tree guards it will save you a fortune. Often Hedging plants can be bought much, much cheaper than the same species and plant offered for sale as a maiden tree. If you fancy apples for their feed value think about crabb apples, no maintanance and look good. These together with native hardwoods would be perfect. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gamekeeper1960 Posted January 4, 2012 Report Share Posted January 4, 2012 Your help is appreciated. Yes I have roe and rabbits. I keep on top of them tho. Right to find the nearest nursery to me. Anything else I should know? Watering, feeding ect. I'm funding it out of my own pocket and don't have much money so I plan on doing it right first time. Hi again, I would just add that if we have a dry spell,then yes if you can give thgem water to keep them going,the worst year I ever had was 1976 during that long hot summer I had earlier that spring re-planted part of a large wood I spent most mornings that summer watering trees and shrubs to keep them going,but in the end it was worth it. Dave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
955i Posted January 4, 2012 Report Share Posted January 4, 2012 My advice as an ecologist would be to go for native species. Perhaps field maple, holly, oak, hawthorn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cockercas Posted January 5, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2012 thanks for the replys. am i better waiting until next winter to plant them then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted January 5, 2012 Report Share Posted January 5, 2012 You are fine up till the end of March but the sooner the better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gamekeeper1960 Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 thanks for the replys. am i better waiting until next winter to plant them then? Oh sorry CharlieT. Dave. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smig4373 Posted January 6, 2012 Report Share Posted January 6, 2012 pm sent regarding trees....Ive got 100's for sale... oak,hawthorn,downy birch,alder and willow,holly hazel.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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