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Spider[_3_] · 27-09-2016, 04:12 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening

On 23/09/2016 20:40, wrote:
On Thursday, September 22, 2016 at 2:43:51 PM UTC+1, Spider wrote:
On 20/09/2016 17:28, wrote:
On Thursday, September 15, 2016 at 4:05:37 PM UTC+1, Spider wrote:
On 07/09/2016 16:51, wrote:

I'm wondering now what shape your trees are. Would it be possible to
train them as espaliers on that wall - or elsewhere in the garden on a
framework? It would put both trees neatly in a narrow space as well as
giving you thorough control over them, making it easier to monitor their
health and subsequently thin and pick fruit without a ladder. Espaliers
can make handsome garden features, even in winter due to their trained
branches. Worth a hard look, I would have thought.

--
Spider
On high ground in SE London
Gardening on heavy clay

Hi Spider; that's a great suggestion! I have a concrete bock wall that is 5ft tall. If I were to implement your suggestion, I wouldn't have to yous the same planting location. So, provided that 5ft is enough height, then, yes, this is a definite possibility. At the moment my two trees are rather shapeless. They are both just vertical trunks/stems (about 15mm thick, with not much in the way of branches yet. One of them has literally no branched at all, just leafing nodes. I hope some branches will emerge next spring.

I find heavily-pruned pear trees slightly unattractive, because they look so unnatural, but the espalier idea would be a whole different thing, so this wouldn't apply. The wall I have would definitely benefit from something like this too, to improve its appearance. And it would be a learning experience!
JD

Hi JD,

I'm glad you like the idea. I should think 5ft would be ideal, much
taller and cropping (and thinning fruits) would become more difficult.

You should remove any grass or other plants/weeds growing near the wall,
so you have a soil border about 2ft wide. Dig the soil over well and
incorporate some good compost, because these trees are going to be there
a long time. You will need to plant the trees about 18" from the wall
(15" would do if you're short of space), so that the roots are not in
the "rain shadow" of the wall. When you plant you will be glad that you
dug over the whole border, because it will be easier to place the pears
exactly where you want them with their roots spread out. They will also
establish and grow away better.

Once the trees are planted, you could fill the remaining ground with
snowdrops, winter aconites, cyclamen coum, anemone blanda (esp. blue)
and crocuses to give you good spring colour while the trees are in
bloom. If you add cylamen hederifoilim for autumn colour, you will have
a very pretty and productive border.

A picture of the trees would help, but I'm hoping that they will branch
for you come spring.

--
Spider
On high ground in SE London
Gardening on heavy clay

Hi Spider!
Thanks for the additional suggestions. I just read them, and I'm happy to say I did implement your suggestions, almost to the letter, even though I had not read them until now. It's good to have your confirmation that I did it right.

I dug large square holes for the trees and mixed an extremely healthy mix of horse manure, compost, some of the original soil and some bonemeal. There is only one thing I wish I'd done differently: Until I dug the holes, I didn't realise the extent to which a block wall sucks the moisture out of the soil. If I'd had a bit more imagination at the time, I'd have inserted a sheet of plastic flat against the wall below ground level prior to back-filling to create a moisture barrier. Hindsight is a wonderful thing... ;-)

I like your suggestions for flowering plants to place around the base of the tree. I used a load of tree bark mulch, but I guess I could use both. Strangely enough, I did buy cyclamen the other day. I chose it to provide shelter for my frogs close to my frog pond.

If you'd could email me at my 'trancenotes1776' email address above, I would love to send you photos. I'd rather not post them publicly here because it would reveal my exact location which I'd rather not for privacy reasons.

Many thanks again for your great input!
JD
(No longer in SE London but still on clay!)

Hi JD,
Sounds like you did well with your planting! Pity about the
water-saving membrane. Before the trees really establish, is there any
chance of opening up the gap by the wall to insert some? Once the trees
start cladding the wall, such an operation will be almost impossible.
Another idea to aid watering is to sink a length of pipe (or a deep
clematis-type pot)in the ground next to each tree, so that water can
penetrate to the root zone. This obliges the roots to grow downwards to
obtain water, instead of rising to the surface to search for every
dribble and shower they are offered.

Your mulch is a good idea, especially if it was laid after a thorough
soaking of the ground. (This is a hint: please soak it thoroughly now if
you didn't at the time!) It is important, however, not to let mulch sit
close around the base of the trees (or the neck of lesser plants) as it
can cause rotting. If you've done this, just drag the bark mulch away
from the trunk so there's a circle of about 5-6" of clear soil. Check
this periodically because birds and visiting animals can scratch the
mulch back to the trunk.

I will reply to your email address, JD, but I've got to dash out just
now. Catch you later.

--
Spider
On high ground in SE London
Gardening on heavy clay

Hi Spider,
Looking forward to your email and will reply as mentioned. Your new tip about inserting pipes into the soil prior to back-filling really appeals to me. I have some lengths of 2" plastic pipe and will probably insert thee or four of them around each tree. I am in the process of planting a new cherry tree where this idea will be especially good, because the substrate seems to be very dry and powdery (consisting largely pulverized limestone, I think). I will cover the tops of the pipes with some kind of gauze to prevent snails from clogging the pipes. I also appreciate the tip about pulling the bark mulch back from the trunks. I've never heard that tip before, and I will definitely do it! When dormant season sets in, I will dig up the two espalier pears and insert membrane against the wall. That will also be an opportunity to insert the plastic pipes.

JD

Hi JD,
Well, I emailed you on the 24th (Saturday)and am wondering if you
received my email? I'm not being impatient, honestly, just hoping
nothing went wrong. I clicked on your email address rather than type it
out, so it should be right ....?

--
Spider
On high ground in SE London
Gardening on heavy clay

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