Robinia Part 1.
Following the discovery of an extensive Robinia sucker network I need to make a decision on what to do with the Robinia I have planted and the 150 or so seedlings I have. They are the largest non Eucalypt trees I have and make up a fair proportion of the trees in the triangular and rectangular fields. It is also a good nitrogen fixing tree.
There is a large Robinia on the right. A smaller sucker can just be seen on the left. |
There have been a couple of suckers elsewhere they grow straight and fast. As there were only a couple I let them be. I did stake this one thinking it could make a fine tree. I decided to dig out the base to see if it was a sucker or a seedling. If a seedling then it could spread into the neighbouring fields.
I got quite a shock a small root 1/2" diameter came in from the parent tree and a 2" root went on under the Holly hedge. There was a sucker the other side of the hedge one of the reasons for the investigation. The energy the sucker produced was presumably not required by the parent tree and was used to produce more trees. It also explained why the Sucker was difficult to keep upright.What was worrying was the sucker was 8 yards from the parent tree and the suckers off it were a further 8 yards away.
There is currently no U.K. derived Robinia market. It is used extensively for outdoor joinery particularly play equipment. It is imported pre processed from Eastern Europe.
I think I shall keep it. It makes excellent fuel and it could be a timber. I shall keep it at least 6 meters from boundary rides and spray suckers. Hoping for the best!
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