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Post by BjornTobyStomped on May 2, 2007 19:47:37 GMT
Hi all,
probably a stupid question but here goes!
My neighbours garden has an established oak tree in and last year shed all it's acorns in my garden.
Some of the acorns have now taken root in my garden, I say some at present I've got something like 14 mini oak trees in the back garden.
Should I get rid of em all now quick smart?
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Post by lily on May 2, 2007 20:48:31 GMT
you mean you don't want a mini forest? ;D
'Out of likkle acorns...' I suspect it would be wise Tobes xxx
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Post by BjornTobyStomped on May 2, 2007 20:52:44 GMT
you mean you don't want a mini forest? ;D
'Out of likkle acorns...' I suspect it would be wise Tobes xxx
Aye they do look nice at the bottom of the garden but one fears for the foundations of the house in the future.
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Post by faeryboots on May 2, 2007 21:16:27 GMT
I was once told that the distance a tree should be from a house is one and a half times it's full height. You either need a big garden or pull them out. When I was younger, we used to pull them out of our garden and plant them on Wimbledon Common!
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Post by BjornTobyStomped on May 2, 2007 21:20:10 GMT
I was once told that the distance a tree should be from a house is one and a half times it's full height. You either need a big garden or pull them out. When I was younger, we used to pull them out of our garden and plant them on Wimbledon Common! Thanks Faery! I think I need to do some weeding tomorrow then LOL ;D
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Post by Fi on May 2, 2007 22:29:45 GMT
Toby! If you want to keep one, why not? Plant it well away from the house by all means, but it will take more time than your alloted 3 score years and 10 to grow to something which could threaten your foundations. Young oak trees can be successfully pruned like a big bonsai to keep them small if your garden isn't huge. If you're interested, get back to me.
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Post by Janglers on May 3, 2007 7:44:11 GMT
I had lots of horse chestnut saplings a while back. I asked a chum who is a tree surgeon, if I should plant them in a park or somewhere. He said that as they were not indige indegi native to Britain, I shouldn't. However, I think what Faery did with hers was a good idea. I hate killing the little saplings when they have struggled to get that far.
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Post by BjornTobyStomped on May 3, 2007 9:24:07 GMT
Toby! If you want to keep one, why not? Plant it well away from the house by all means, but it will take more time than your alloted 3 score years and 10 to grow to something which could threaten your foundations. Young oak trees can be successfully pruned like a big bonsai to keep them small if your garden isn't huge. If you're interested, get back to me. Thanks Fi, sounds like a plan. I am after all 38 now so I've used up more than half me 3 score years an ten ;D Thanks to everyone else as well, Janglers, Faery and Lil.
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Post by BjornTobyStomped on May 3, 2007 12:10:46 GMT
Well so far I've dug out 300 of the little darlings! After speaking to a neighbour I've decided to leave the others in as they're under a Ceanothus bush and the neighbour reckons that they wont amount to much as they wont have enough light to grow. Time for a cup of tea and a bacon sarnie or two or three! ;D
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Post by Leigh Djonn on May 3, 2007 21:56:22 GMT
Well so far I've dug out 300 of the little darlings! After speaking to a neighbour I've decided to leave the others in as they're under a Ceanothus bush and the neighbour reckons that they wont amount to much as they wont have enough light to grow. Time for a cup of tea and a bacon sarnie or two or three! ;D You could always Bonsai and then sell them.
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Post by Peek on May 3, 2007 22:14:04 GMT
I am very miffed Toby!
When I was a small tyg I used to pick up acorns from trips to Epping Forest and plant them in our back garden, and none of them ever grew!
What's your secret?...lol
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Lucy Lastic
Young Limb
Another cynical ex hippy now working for the establishment
Posts: 33
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Post by Lucy Lastic on May 8, 2007 14:29:38 GMT
I had lots of horse chestnut saplings a while back. I asked a chum who is a tree surgeon, if I should plant them in a park or somewhere. He said that as they were not indige indegi native to Britain, I shouldn't. However, I think what Faery did with hers was a good idea. I hate killing the little saplings when they have struggled to get that far. Your oaks are probably Quercus Robur (English oak) or Quercus Petraea so they will be indigenous. Because I live in the middle of a wood I frequently have seedlings in the garden. I grow some of them on (depending on the variety) then take them out and plant them in suitable spaces, just walk through a woodland area where there some of the same variety and plant oe in a clearing- just keep in mnd how much the tree will spread so not too near paths. I wouldn't advocate planting in public parks are the ey are much more 'managed' than general woodland. As Fi says you are unlikely to be the person who has the problem with one of your oaks becoming overlarge for the garden and you can keep them small by pollarding them but oaks don't look good after this treatment, they need to be allowed to grow. I've got some Birch, Oak (grown from acorns from a 500 year old tree) and Alder at the moment that I need to find a spot for.
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Post by Fi on May 9, 2007 0:22:08 GMT
I'm not suggesting pollarding - they look hideous - but using the same techniques used for bonsai to maintain a small tree shape - ie pruning yearly and bending some of the lower branches down as happens in mature oak trees. The Japanese do it for many garden trees and shrubs and some are available, at obscene prices, at nurseries in this country. WE had one at out last house which we'd manintained at about 12 feet high for the last 15 or so years - I rather wish we had dug it up and brought ot with us! Lovely, BTW, to see you here Luce - it's amazing what can crawl out of the woodwork *grins* xx
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Lucy Lastic
Young Limb
Another cynical ex hippy now working for the establishment
Posts: 33
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Post by Lucy Lastic on May 9, 2007 14:37:44 GMT
Lovely, BTW, to see you here Luce - it's amazing what can crawl out of the woodwork *grins* xx I crawled out from under my flowerpot because someone told me we could talk about gardening - a subject I can discourse on for hours!
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Post by carlott on May 9, 2007 14:42:17 GMT
Lucy and Fi in the same Garden Plot and a Rose without a thorn - will wonders never cease
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Lucy Lastic
Young Limb
Another cynical ex hippy now working for the establishment
Posts: 33
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Post by Lucy Lastic on May 9, 2007 14:48:00 GMT
Lucy and Fi in the same Garden Plot and a Rose without a thorn - will wonders never cease now that you have the pretty maids in a row, all you need are the silver bells and cockle shells!!
xx
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Post by Cuthbert on May 10, 2007 8:56:25 GMT
Toby! If you want to keep one, why not? Plant it well away from the house by all means, but it will take more time than your alloted 3 score years and 10 to grow to something which could threaten your foundations.
I planted an acorn less than 25 years ago . The resulting oak tree is now over 30'. I still haven't collected all of last autumns' fallen leaves!
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