Trees

Thanks @Plantminded I’ve discovered a nest in there today so it’ll be a while now until I tackle it again

Thank you! This is really useful, especially the illustrations

I think you point out the problem. Just cutting down every ash tree, and god know what others, is not going to help to find resistant plants. Its typical overkill IMO.But I get your point about the one blocking your light.

No, no split in the trunk. The tree seems healthy, just a bit untidy…

We don't have the problem here, we have drought and sandy soils but there are some suggestions on this companies site. I've never used them so it's not a recommendation.Best Hedging Plants for Wet Soil & Sites | Hedges for Wet Ground.We have hawthorn, blackthorn, alder and dogwood around...

Brilliant, thank you - that really helps

I agree with the others, it doesn't look bad at all. The bare bits near the bottom at the inside aren't really a privacy issue because of the wall (which is pretty much identical to ours!). If you cut the top a bit narrower and maybe a bit lower it should allow more light to the lower part and...

Very handy advice, thanks.

So long as the ground is not frozen or waterlogged I'd get it in. What happened to the beautiful flowers idea you started with? Privet flowers are plain white and I find have an offensive odour.

I would specifically request confirmation from your household insurance provider that you have third party cover if the encumbered tree should fail/fall , given the proximity to the church carpark. This may result in engaging a qualified aborist to survey the tree(s) and you should respect his...

I'm one for an easy life, so I'd also consider pollarding it to a height where you can easily manage it yourself, if you are able, next time. Willows can grow very quickly and on ours were regularly see 10ft plus shoots per year. These shoots can get quite thick and heavy which makes tackling...

The split is the only thing I would be worried about and it looks like it was quite a while ago. If you can see fresh damage at the bottom of the split, evidence of spreading, then I think it might benefit the tree for that part to be removed.

Thanks!

Its not vandals Michael, I'm pretty sure it was done by the tree surgeons.I doubt they would spend time suspended up a tree doing it without a reason.

Many thanks

You could maybe have a look at Abies Koreana. Certainly you would not have an issue of them getting too large as very slow growing, undemanding and I have 2 which I have had in planters for years and still quite happy. Snag is they are not cheap but long lived and if you had to move house you...

How many thousand would you like? They are as prolific as sycamore. They are supposed to be slow growing, but the ones here, very quickly get up to a couple of feet high if I do not see them. Transplanting them would slow them down though.

Brilliant, thankyou @pete, that is so helpful. You can tell I don't do this routinely. I feel more confident now.

They'll gradually grow together and become self supporting. All those 'main' branches will get heftier as they mature and thicken up. You would just trim the top and sides to maintain that rectangle, and it will keep thickening in the same way as a conventional hedge would do. Hornbeam will...

Your silver birch look pretty good to me. It is quite normal for older specimens to develop warty areas on the trunks with age. I would be inclined to thin out some of the thin twiggy stems to allow a good air circulation through the crown. As above comments, it looks as if the main leader...