We had a lovely cold snap with snow on the fells followed by warm winds and rain, rain, rain. I have been waiting for the trees to become dormant so that I can plant out the sapling Whitebeam that I have grown from seed and move the captured naturally regenerating trees where they need to be moved. As December has arrived (the official start of winter) I sought advice from the South Lake Woodlanders and received this expert reply
'I expect that they could be planted out. During less cold periods it will allow their roots to become colonised by local mycorrhizal fungi which will hopefully reduce transplant shock.'
As ever I feel so grateful to be part of this group who give of their knowledge so freely.
The was the green light I was hoping for. I have moved 17 saplings up to the wood and so far have 13 in the ground with stakes and tree guards.
I was donated this more mature sapling in the Summer and have now planted it into the wood replacing trees that did not survive when planted last year.
These smaller saplings came from poms that I collected a year ago. The one of then left still has one leaf while the one on the right is bare - I tucked it into the tree guard after taking this photo.
Poms on the left - the Rowans (on the right) did not germinate this time
The next task is to move the Oaks, Rowan, Birch, Hazel and Cherry that have naturally regenerated and I have protected in the autumn. I will only move the ones that are growing somewhere the won't thrive such as under a dark canopy or those growing in the butterfly rides that I am keeping clear.
I've marked and counted the trees that I need to move so I will know when I have found them all! Two striped means it is a Sessile Oak and one stripe anything else. This is for a few reasons. Sessile Oaks seem to put down very deep tap roots which need to be excavated carefully to successfully transplant them. Also I want to place them around the perimeter of the wood.
I am less worried about where the other trees (like this hazel sapling) are transplanted to.
It has been a joy to observe the trees go into their dormant phase having already got the bud for next year's growth ready and protected from the harsh winter conditions.
Wych Elm Horse Chestnut
Goat Willow
Hornbeam
I have taken the opportunity while waiting to plant the trees to open up paths that have become overgrown over the summer. I only clear bracken from where I have planted trees and this creates areas it is most unpleasant to visit in the summer. The fact that I haven't been there and now with no deer, the paths have become engulfed in brambles and low dead branches of trees have not been knocked off. I have spent many an hour walking round doing what a large mammal would do - cutting bracken and walking through the dead branches to open the area.
Before and after
I hope to go back during winter with the hedge trimmer and clear a wider path but this will do for now as I switch focus onto moving saplings. It is not pleasant work!
I have been looking at this lovely mature Goat Willow (Willowmena) and am concerned that it may not fully survive the winter. A tree of similar stature came down in Storm Arwen a few years ago. One trunk remained but that fell in January this year.
Willowmena in all her glory
Companion tree of the same age after Storm Arwen
Willowmena is showing her age
This broken branch reaches the floor and I am informed that these can put down suckers from which new trees will spring up. I am hoping this will happen. I haven't seen sapling willows in this area so it would be good to have off spring from Willowmena to take her place when she falls. This is a reminder of the purpose of this project. Left to itself there has been little natural regeneration and succession for these lovely large trees due to the intense level of grazing from sheep, cattle and wild roe and red deer passing through. Planting has accelerated the process of establishing a wood on this land (or in al likelihood reestablishing a wood).
The next job is moving those 39 saplings before they wake up in spring.
Comments
Post a Comment