A big Yorkshire hello!

Thought I'd post a hello before I start bombarding you all with questions! We've moved in to a new build after living in Ibiza for 25yrs so we're starting from scratch. I know all about lemon trees, aloe vera and bougainvillaea but I'm a complete uk novice and rely on the little knowledge I gleaned from my Dad who was a wonderful gardener (and much missed). The soil is a nightmare as it is so stony here and I've discovered we are in a very windy spot! Plus we have a large sycamore tree in a relatively small garden which the council says has to stay! The upside is we are south facing...apart from the shade of the tree. I've joined because I'm fed up of googling stuff and would just like to ask real people with experience what I need to do. Looking forward to getting to know you all!

 

Hello and welcome. It must be a bit of a shock to the system moving from Ibiza to Yorkshire.

The sycamore tree will give you plenty to do. They scatter so many seeds you'll be digging up saplings forever.

 

Thank you! Luckily I lived in Manchester before moving to Spain so I can just about remember the rainy grey days
And don't I know it regarding saplings. Worst tree possible! We managed to have it 'lifted' so the canopy was reduced but it's still a huge tree for the size of the garden. Nightmare!

 

Thank you! Aloe vera is wonderful...we used to cut the leaves and use the gel. Great for skin! I have to admit I hated bougainvillea...it grew so damn fast and those spikes made it horrendous to try and get in and cut it back. It is the most stunning colours tho. Is it growing well?
Any tips on seed removal let me know! You're right about the extra light...and I noticed it's one of the last trees to leaf, so we benefit from that at least.

 

Welcome to the forum.

 

Thank you both!

 

Hi @Jaki & welcome to Gardener's Corner!

I understand how you feel coming back to the UK after so many years away as I lived in the centre of Spain almost as long as you lived in Ibiza! Though it's been 21 years since I returned.

But I have an advantage over you I learnt to garden on balconies in the different flats we lived in while in Spain - now we live in a flat here in the UK with a balcony as well, only it's on the ground floor instead of being at least 5 stories above ground level!

Looking forward to seeing you post on here ask anything you like & we will try to help you as best we can!

 

Ahh there are some beautiful balcon gardens in Spain! It is a skill! Thank you for your kind welcome

 

Welcome to the forum!

 

Welcome to Gardeners Corner Jaki.

Sycamores are a nightmare. I had two 50ft and one 30ft tree when I moved to my current home five years ago and now have one. One was removed to let light into my home and garden, the other because of root interference with my septic tank drainage system. They scatter their seeds everywhere and although they can be mowed off the lawns I have to hand pull them from my gravel drive.

I'm surprised your council said the one you have has to remain. I don't think they are protected trees anywhere in Britain.

 

I think ours must be about 30ft Sheal. Its not protected, thankfully, but as part of the planning permission for the build the tree survey recommended it stay as, "although it is deeply scarred, it still has some life". It is far too big for the plot size, and has never been maintained. First thing I did was get a tree surgeon in.
We are lucky because the other restriction placed on the builder was to replace a huge dying ash tree (that had a TPO, but luckily the vicar of the church next door wanted it down too) with an Oak tree!! Don't get me started on what I think of these tree officers placing huge trees in small plots! Again thankfully the builder ignored the oak tree thing....if we'd had both we would have got very little sun.
So...in short I'm not sure where that places me with removal. It's not TPO'd or in a conservation area. I will see how we go on with it.
Good point JWK about gutters! I hadn't given them a thought but yes, ours are very close to the tree.
From what I know of bougainvillea the only pest we had was a kind of white fly and that was only in the one I planted in the shade. The rest grew like billio! And yes, those spikes are dreadful!

 

A late welcome from me !