Root information

Often we come across people who aren't aware of the damage that roots create because it's not visible. A high percentage of novice gardeners are particularly 'caught out' by a plant that looks feasible for an area, unaware of what's to come in the future.

Isn't it about time garden centres and nurseries were forced to put this on labels for trees and shrubs, even an approximation would do. Also authors of gardening reference books too.

It would make life a lot easier when selecting plants for particular places, especially when close to buildings. It would also save on a lot of heartbreak and expense for those that have suffered damage to drains and buildings etc.

Insurance pay-outs could be reduced also and hopefully have a 'knock on' effect on what we have to pay them!

 

"Forced", dont like that word.

Well its an idea, but it does sound like the nanny state taking over what we grow.
Anyway how do you make an approximation bearing in mind different soil types.
I'm thinking the label might turn out to be bigger than the plant.

As for reducing insurance premiums, Nar not likely, they will only go in one direction, and that's up.

 

My wife had to deal with a case of tenants cutting a hole in the floorboards of their timber suspended ground floor, digging a hole, and planting their giant Xmas tree in it, but unlike most of their neighbours who threw their Xmas trees in their front gardens around 12th night, they left it there to continue growing, and would probably have cut a hole through the first floor construction for it had they not been evicted just as it reached ceiling level.

I doubt if there were any warnings about not doing that on the label.

 

We really need some sort of precaution against unusually daft people. Perhaps we could stamp 'Warning: This Person May Produce Stupid Offspring' on their foreheads.

 

... or perhaps just: May Have Nuts.

 

When running an ecologically sensitive site, we protect the roots as far as the spread of the trees branches, with regard to no plant or materials allowed on that area.

With regard to building regs though, they assume roots go on for silly distances, just to cover their own backs.

I had to spend thousands on underpinning because of the mature Acacia and Holm Oak across the road.

There wasn't a single root from them anywhere near my building:DOH::gaagh:

 

Around here that usually gets put in as a planning condition, but contractors still create a gaps in the fencing they're supposed to put around trees so they can do stupid things like use it as a diesel storage area, or parking for JCB's, etc.

And even if you find the likes of a JCB under a tree with a TPO on it, with smashed branches above it, nothing can be done (or to be precise the planners wont take any action) unless someone's actually seen it causing the damage and will make a statement to that effect.

 

I know, its a sad state of affairs Scrunge. It wouldn't happen on one of my sites.

We need more people like Ted Green.

YouTube - ‪Ted Green introduces the Ancient Trees video diaries‬‏

One of my course leaders on The Ecological Management Course.

A real Character, passionate about Ancient Trees and very short with people who he doesn't think likes them.

We were on a walk about the grounds with the class when he stopped in front of a tree & out of the blue said "Right, who can tell me what this one is ?

I replied "Small Leaved Lime, Tillia Cordata."

He scowled at the rest of the class & said "Good job someones paying attention"

The rest of the class looked terrified, as he hadn't actually taught us about that tree yet:DOH:

 

You're gonna need a lot of ink!!!!!!!!!!

Val

 

Heh, heh, I'm quite fond of trees but I suspect a little of him would go a long way!

 

Ziggy,you teachers pet you. It`s also called Linden tree by the way.:D:D

 

Never mind teachers pet, you have to crush all the others on the way to the top, if they don't make the grade then you'll be the only one who passes.

No good bringing an apple in for Ted, he'd just beat you about the head with it & demand to see the tree you'd got it from.

Isn't Linden the Germanic name for our Lime Trees Dai ? Certainly doesn't sound Celtic.

Oh, i've just seen what it is in Welsh, pisgwydden. No wonder you prefer the Germanic version:WINK1: