Aug 4 2011

Cork Bark Elm Forest Again!!

This is the 3rd major trimming for this Cork Bark Elm Forest. It just loves life in the Poly Tunnel. Here was the tree when I lifted it out with Stephen’s help yesterday.

One of my frogs was rather reluctant to leave his little forest and had to be lifted off and returned to the tunnel. He has also doubled in size during July. I noticed that I had a fair amount of caterpillars eating away at my Elm leaves and these were removed. I also noticed that the wood at the base of the main tree was being eaten. I found a few little white grubs and about 3 earth worms that where working their way up underneath the bark.

Stephen removing a few bits of wire.

and here it is after the trimming. As it was only put together in the Spring, I’m happy with it.

See this Forest’s story so far here.

Aug 4 2011

Stephen’s Trident

Back in the bad Winter of 09/10 Stephen’s Trident got a really bad freezing and lost practically every root. The whole apex of the tree died and for many months it just slowly died back along the trunk. It had an emergency repot in Spring 2010 to assess if there was any live roots. We couldn’t see any to be honest! It was potted into a wooden box with pure grit mix. In September 2010 it produced a few leaves on lower heavy branches. Any dead branched were then removed.

This year having sat happily in my green house it came into leaf and produced a few new strong shoots from the trunk. Those in the right places were left and the rest removed. After 4 weeks away I came home to find the Trident looking like this!

Extension of 20 inches + 🙂 This was the old front of the tree which is no longer viable as the apex is gone and most of this trunk is now deadwood.

This will be the new front of the tree.

The tree is currently putting energy into growth that will not be used within the future design, therefore this was removed and a few placement wires added to direct new shoots. This is the tree now.

Considering that this tree was all but dead in Spring 2010, Stephen is happy with the progress.

Aug 4 2011

Oaks with Mildew

I have 3 oaks on my training benches and two of them have got a bad case of Powdery Mildew during July. Hot and humid weather has helped to get a grip. I’ll be spraying with a fungicide to treat the trees.