Preparing for 22/23 Planting Season.

 Preparing for 22/23 Planting Season.

August 2022 saw drought conditions prevail over most of England and Wales. I have some Eucalyptus viminallis and Taiwania cryptomeroides filling their containers. I hope to plant as soon as the soil is wet enough as they can grow roots before the soil is too cold.

Part of the area for planting 22/23 season, before felling the Alder and Aspen. 

Thinking of planting while the country has just been declared in drought may seem odd but there is a lot to do. The area is a continuation of the original Alder and Aspen P13 which was pollarded winter 21/22 and planted in January. Most have survived the drought, with the occasional splash of water, delivered from a watering can. There was the odd millimetre of rain at the end of July and a downpour on the  16th August. I am hoping by planting in the Autumn I will need to do less watering as carrying water down and going down with a watering can only be done on a limited scale. Felling was started in the second week August trees were snedded a week later after the leaves had dried out. The logs were stacked at the track side. Once done the ground was sufficiently clear to fell another batch of trees.

Pollarded Poplar and Alder late August before  all trunks snedded and logged. Left photo previous pollarded area in the background. Right photo small block of Eucalypts in the background.   

The idea of leaving the pollard stumps was admittedly partially laziness. I did think they would provide shelter and shade and raise the humidity through the summer. I also did not have to find something to do with hundreds of 2 to 5 foot logs. They did fulfil their objectives. In the case of the poplars too well as their growth raced away shading the newer trees. Though sheltering from the scorching sun at the peak of the July heatwave may have been advantageous. At the moment the recently felled stumps can be left, but the poplar stumps from last year need to go and be sprayed off. A lot of side growth has been removed so taking them right out is not a necessity and could be done in the spring. I am panting between stumps rather than close to them which I did last year.

On the left Poplar regrowth dominating and shading out the winter 2021/2 planted trees.  The photo on the right shows late summer trimming of the poplar to give the Oak a bit more of a chance.