Things got too big!

We have quite a large garden and have been here 37 years. During that time we have managed to develop the garden but things can get too big even with regular maintenance. In the last ten years we have had to remove trees and shrubs that have got too big or died but then it gives a good opportunity to plant other things :thmb:. Here is part of the latest lot.

This is a lovely prostrate juniper that was spreading everywhere and to keep it cut back was ending up with thicker and thicker branches. It was also swamping and killing other plants. Behind it and almost out of view is a conifer (not the skyrocket) that was getting too big for the site.




This is what it looks like now.







I cut out the juniper but couldn't remove the stump under the soil which had a 15" diameter. The tree surgeons had quite a job pickaxeing it out. I also cut down the conifer but left the trunk and stump for them to do. They got that out with a winch whose chain they attached to another tree, across the garden, that had to come out.

That tree is the big conifer (a really lovely zebrina) on the left of this next picture. I had kept it shaped for years but it still managed to start encroaching on the driveway. There are three other trees in that picture that were being done as well. The conifer to the right of the zebrina (a rheingold) had to come out and a eucalyptus next to it. The contorted hazel I have pruned heavily and reshaped. Forgot to take an 'after' photo of the hazel so will add it in later.





These are the progress shots of zebrina going.

The tree surgeon is a fantastic person. He is 81 and has just had heart bypass surgery (still attending physio) but won't stop working.







He does have men who work for him and they try to stop him doing too much at the moment. Normally he is weilding an axe that is almost as big as he is.




This is Rosie who has had two massive heart attacks, is on loads of tablets, but also still goes to work every day.





The area left by the zebrina - the stump has now been ground out. The centre piece of the replanted bed will be an Acer Katsura.







This was the Rheingold a few years back when it started leaning and I had to take the top off and haul it back upright - I roped and staked it.





This is where it was and I have planted a Hammemelis 'Arnold Promise' as a centre piece as it is alongside the path.





That was the work in the front garden.

Our big willow in the back garden has to be pruned every ten years or so.














It doesn't look very good when it has been pruned but recovers within a year.





They also removed a 17 year old willow, took 20ft off a contorted willow (and shaped it), opened out and shaped four other trees and removed a 50 year old dead plum tree. They then did a fantastic job of tidying up. All for the price of £500 - which although a lot of money is very cheap nowadays :gnthb:

 

:gnthb: Nice work shiney.. He looks a real character your tree surgeon... :D Why is it tree surgeons always have a dog to help too..!!:D
:thmb: That Willow will look absolutely fantastic at the end of this year shiney with all it's new growth.. You must keep us updated on the beds too.. I always hate to get rid of any shrubs trees or plants, but am always pleased when I have done it.. :D That was certainly value for money to shiney.. Look forward to more pics as the year goes on.! :thmb:

 

Thanks everyone,

I'll update when I can. I've got computer problems at the moment and my computer is going to have to go to hospital :(.

Paul, he wasn't actually using the saw. He was moving it out of the way. His men won't let him use any of the tools until the hospital gives the OK so he just supervised and did the clearing up. :gnthb:

Lollipop, nothing can outshine the willow but the willow is in the back garden and the Acer will be in the front garden.

I can't download any photos at the moment but I have already planted the Acer and put some (but not many) of the plants from our plant sale area into the spaces.

I hope to be back on here in a weeks time.:D