Trunky's New Garden

You and Mrs Trunky are certainly making some progress and a good idea to use the broken paving for the wall. The soil looks healthy and easy to work also.

 

A little more progress made today.

Half way down the garden we had this small sycamore tree which I've been itching to get rid of for some time now.




It had nothing going for it as far as I was concerned. As you can see, it's been pollarded many times over the years, at many different heights, resulting in a singularly ugly looking tree.
Also, the fact that it's a sycamore means it will harbour thousands of aphids during the summer, grow at a prodigious rate and need regular trimming to keep it from getting huge in no time.
In my book it really wasn't going to contribute anything to the garden, so it had to go.

So this morning I set about it. A couple of hours later, this was the end result.





I had hoped to get it all cut, chopped up and stashed away in the log store too, but the rain arrived at lunchtime and put an end to proceedings for the day.

Still glad it's gone though.

Got my eye on a couple more small trees too - there's another, smaller sycamore further down the garden and a small yew which I'd like to get rid of, as it's bang in the middle of an area where I'd like to create a vegetable plot eventually.



Just removing these three will open up certain areas of the garden, and enable me to develop those areas into something more attractive and productive.

There are several other small trees around the garden too, including an apple, flowering cherries, a couple of small oaks, a silver birch and a horse chestnut, all of which I'm happy to keep.

 

Nice one Trunk Plenty of firewood then

 

Yep. All cut, chopped and stacked in the newly made log store now.



Now I've finished that, I'm left with a pile of hard, gnarled, knotty lumps which are too difficult to cut or chop, so I've put them to one side for now.



I'm thinking maybe they would make an excellent log pile for wildlife somewhere in the garden. Any other suggestions?

 

I’m not very ‘arty’, but how about planting them up? Ferns or suchlike?

 

Old wood can be quite fascinating. Banks of the River Foy, near Lostwithiel

 

I decided to make a 'stumpery' with this lot - and have been adding to it since

 

The collection keeps changing all the time.

 

Some interesting ideas there, I might try a small pile with some ferns and other plants in amongst them, as well as a log pile for wildlife.

One of the things we've inherited here is this clematis scrambling all over a trellis next to one of the sheds. Since we've only been here since late September, I have no idea what type or variety of clematis it is yet.

I know that the timing of pruning depends on the type, but not knowing which type it is,
I'm wondering whether to take a chance and prune it now or wait and see what I've got before pruning. As you can see from the photos, it's in a bit of a state and needs keeping within bounds.

Are there any clematis experts out there who might be able to tell me what type it is from these photos? You can see the the remnants of some of last year's flowers in one of the photos, which may give a clue.

All comments and suggestions gratefully received.

 

Well I`m no expert, but I guess that may be one of the Montanas - it won`t be too long now to find out if it is, as it`s an early one to flower.

Edit.... Snap Armandii .... I wouldn`t cut it back at the moment though, I would wait to see what it does first

 

Wow Trunky, that's a beast! I also think it must be a montana if we're right you will be making us all jealous with the display of flowers you've got coming!