When you have a working relation for more than twenty-five years, it is painful to say good-bye no matter what the reason. In this case it is illness. My three plum trees are dying and there is no cure; so there is nothing for it but to completely remove them. The process is this- first the twigs and lesser branches, then the serious branches and finally the stump. But first, room must be made for the new plum that we will select from the nursery. What must go? Well, the Weigelia for one. The stump and root-ball: What made it all possible? This tool: Then one plum tree, a water brake…and the second plum tree. That last thick branch then the roots were lopped off and the trunk was set aside. Tea time!! Then the compost bin was emptied to make room for the coming leaf bonanza: Six Norwegian sacks set aside for the veggie beds next spring. Then the strimmer: What’s going on with the strimmer? It is the plate underneath. It is falling apart—what to do now? Last time this happened, we threw it away since it was out of the guarantee period. This one is only two years old. You can see where the orange knife is passing through its slot. Worn away. Time for the internet and research. We won’t be fooled again as Daltrey and Townsend said. An e-mail to the company telling our story, and they replied that they would send a new plate. Which they did, but no instructions. There are YouTube tapes, luckily. It was simple to do actually. I installed the new plate and I whacked a few weeds to test. Another job done. No time for that third plum tree, it’ll happen in a couple of days then. I have to remove more perennials from where the new Opal plum will go. I must make some beds ready, some of the removed plants will go where the plum trees were and I will just have to remove some plants to accommodate them. There are plans already made— now the elbow grease.
That is a lot of work. What an interesting tool that is. For cutting roots? I'm sorry to hear about the plums, but the exciting prospect of a new tree that will be productive must be nice. Love the bags of gold for next year.
Mel— yes it is a special spade for cutting tree or other types of tough roots. Yeah, it is too bad but there are going to be changes. Too right, Palu. It will take a while to get it all organised, but we have taken the first steps. Well, Odif— I am afraid that the Bride is insisting on a new plum tree. I want one as well. As for the other possibilities—well we are looking at possibly a new apple sort. The rest of the now open spaces, flowers will come there. Sort of like placing flowers on a grave.
Sjoerd you have a lot to do there but worth it, it's a shame when a plum tree dies but you can get a new one, i like the spade.
Cheers Loggie. You are right though, a new one will come, but finding one that is five or more years old may be a bit of a problem, but ach— I will search and see.
Will that have to be a spring planting Sjoerd? Or where you live, can you plant in different seasons? I meant to comment on your "strimmer" repair. ( what we call a weed whacker hahaha) - well done on your repairs. Especially with no directions.
Mel— the planting (transplanting) will be done this year, between now and mid-October. Other things I will see about in the spring. Thanks for the strimmer repair result compliment. I surprised myself on that one. The vid that I posted was in German, not Dutch but it was still helpful.
