I just realised that I had forgotten to post this update from October 13...so the news is a little late....but better late than never!!! Lots has happened in the past 6 weeks but I'll save that for next week!
So, back in October.......
It's been a busy week here at Bird Cottage. When we moved in there we are few trees that were looking a bit dodgy and definitely needed removal or a good pruning back at the very least.
Our lovely view from that back deck was blighted by a dead gum tree almost 30m high! It had about 10 leaves clinging tenaciously to the top but it really had had it's day. And it was leaning very precariously towards the old shed and carport.
You can't quite tell from these pictures but this gum was pretty huge, and the lean towards the shed was quite obvious. If it had fallen and demolished the shed we wouldn't have been to concerned as the shed and carport are coming down to make way for a new double garage and workroom in the new year....but the fact that the shed is clad in asbestos sheet was a bit of an issue so we wouldn't want a falling tree sending asbestos fibres flying into the atmosphere!
We also had a very large Liquidambar about 2.5m from the side of the house. When we moved in I removed 2 large garbage bags of leaves and fruit from the gutters...I've still not got to the front gutter yet! It was a lovely big tree but they just don't respond well to pruning. Pruned trees produce shoots called 'epicormic' growths which shoot straight up into the air. They give the tree a terribly unnatural appearance and are quite weak where they are attached to the tree. Initially we thought to remove about a third of the trees height but the tree lopper thought this would create future problems so it was decided to remove the tree completely. It will will create a big open gap between us and our neighbour but I don't think either of us will miss the mess it created when the leaves and fruit fell.
So in came out trusty tree lopper, Isaac of Heartwood Tree Service here in the Southern Highlands. What a lovely guy; and I can tell you he deserves every cent as he climbed up those trees with a chainsaw hanging from his belt to take them down from the top...bit by bit!
So up Isaac went and down the tree came!
Limb, by limb, branch by branch......and then it was no-more!
I can't quite believe the space it's opened up but it will definitely be better in the long run. The old green colourbond fence will be removed and a new picket fence put in front of the tank, closer to the front garden. This area will now create a lovely space which is private and will make a lovely sun-filled courtyard. We've been given a lovely fountain by a friend which will sit perfectly in this spot. And I've found fab Magnolia called 'Kay Parris' which is an evergreen and only grows to 4m with large, dense green foliage and creamy-white fragrant flowers the size or saucers....it will spread to 2m so I think a planting of 4 across the fence will create a nice tall hedge; not too dense and not too high to block the winter sunlight from the dining room and sunroom, but enough to block out the tank and shipping container in the neighbours yard....let's face it...I don't think that shipping container is going anywhere in a hurry. I'll underplant the magnolia with vibrant Hydrangeas for a burst of colour. They should do well under the almost tree-sized camellia.
Removing trees is an expensive business but get the right people with the right tools and it can make the world of difference to your garden. As Isaac said about the Liquidambar; "I hate removing mature trees, especially when they are so healthy" but as he explained; some trees are just planted in the wrong space and in the end, lovely as they are, they can cause more problems than they are worth! Something to keep in mind next time your in the garden centre contemplating the purchase of a tree that grows to 30m for you inner city courtyard!
And something I hadn't thought about......we now have about a third of next years firewood from the felling and enough wood-chip to mulch the entire neighbourhood!!!
So another busy week but some big tasks completed. And this morning it's raining.....the sound on the tin roof is wonderful. I can sit in bed and type and look out the windows and all I see are gum trees and the scarlet red blooms on the rhododendron.
I tell you....life in the country is pretty good!
So, back in October.......
It's been a busy week here at Bird Cottage. When we moved in there we are few trees that were looking a bit dodgy and definitely needed removal or a good pruning back at the very least.
Our lovely view from that back deck was blighted by a dead gum tree almost 30m high! It had about 10 leaves clinging tenaciously to the top but it really had had it's day. And it was leaning very precariously towards the old shed and carport.
You can't quite tell from these pictures but this gum was pretty huge, and the lean towards the shed was quite obvious. If it had fallen and demolished the shed we wouldn't have been to concerned as the shed and carport are coming down to make way for a new double garage and workroom in the new year....but the fact that the shed is clad in asbestos sheet was a bit of an issue so we wouldn't want a falling tree sending asbestos fibres flying into the atmosphere!
We also had a very large Liquidambar about 2.5m from the side of the house. When we moved in I removed 2 large garbage bags of leaves and fruit from the gutters...I've still not got to the front gutter yet! It was a lovely big tree but they just don't respond well to pruning. Pruned trees produce shoots called 'epicormic' growths which shoot straight up into the air. They give the tree a terribly unnatural appearance and are quite weak where they are attached to the tree. Initially we thought to remove about a third of the trees height but the tree lopper thought this would create future problems so it was decided to remove the tree completely. It will will create a big open gap between us and our neighbour but I don't think either of us will miss the mess it created when the leaves and fruit fell.
So in came out trusty tree lopper, Isaac of Heartwood Tree Service here in the Southern Highlands. What a lovely guy; and I can tell you he deserves every cent as he climbed up those trees with a chainsaw hanging from his belt to take them down from the top...bit by bit!
So up Isaac went and down the tree came!
Limb, by limb, branch by branch......and then it was no-more!
I can't quite believe the space it's opened up but it will definitely be better in the long run. The old green colourbond fence will be removed and a new picket fence put in front of the tank, closer to the front garden. This area will now create a lovely space which is private and will make a lovely sun-filled courtyard. We've been given a lovely fountain by a friend which will sit perfectly in this spot. And I've found fab Magnolia called 'Kay Parris' which is an evergreen and only grows to 4m with large, dense green foliage and creamy-white fragrant flowers the size or saucers....it will spread to 2m so I think a planting of 4 across the fence will create a nice tall hedge; not too dense and not too high to block the winter sunlight from the dining room and sunroom, but enough to block out the tank and shipping container in the neighbours yard....let's face it...I don't think that shipping container is going anywhere in a hurry. I'll underplant the magnolia with vibrant Hydrangeas for a burst of colour. They should do well under the almost tree-sized camellia.
Removing trees is an expensive business but get the right people with the right tools and it can make the world of difference to your garden. As Isaac said about the Liquidambar; "I hate removing mature trees, especially when they are so healthy" but as he explained; some trees are just planted in the wrong space and in the end, lovely as they are, they can cause more problems than they are worth! Something to keep in mind next time your in the garden centre contemplating the purchase of a tree that grows to 30m for you inner city courtyard!
And something I hadn't thought about......we now have about a third of next years firewood from the felling and enough wood-chip to mulch the entire neighbourhood!!!
So another busy week but some big tasks completed. And this morning it's raining.....the sound on the tin roof is wonderful. I can sit in bed and type and look out the windows and all I see are gum trees and the scarlet red blooms on the rhododendron.
I tell you....life in the country is pretty good!
