As you may recall, I have been hoping to have the weeping willow in my garden pollarded for some time. Well, at last the weather decided to be kind, and the father-in-law agreed to be the under-lumber, so my darling Mark, and his father Ivor, made a date of Sunday 29th March to give my tree a light pruning. Here are a couple of shots of the tree in question. It is far to big for our small garden, and it is a job that should have been tackled a couple of years ago, but after various quotes ranging from £150 to £400, which we couldn't afford, we put the plan on the back burner....until now. ( photo / image / picture from EJ's Garden ) ( photo / image / picture from EJ's Garden ) 10am the action started. A lot of tools and safety equiptment was gathered, and a lot of standing, discussing the plan of action whilst drinking coffee and eating hot cross buns took place. Then, before 11am, Mark was up the tree and made the first cut. ( photo / image / picture from EJ's Garden ) The pruning continued in ernest all morning. I meanwhile was in the kitchen rattling those pots and pans. Roast beef and roast pork for lunch with roast spuds, parsnips, carrots, spinach, cauli, brocolli and yorkshire puddings. ( photo / image / picture from EJ's Garden ) ( photo / image / picture from EJ's Garden ) Mark really enjoyed himself. I thought I heard him humming, I'm a lumberjack and I'm alright on the wind as he worked. ( photo / image / picture from EJ's Garden ) ( photo / image / picture from EJ's Garden ) As the menfolk took a break, the chimps, I mean children, decided to build nests in the branches and settle down for a rest. Well, they had been working hard to. ( photo / image / picture from EJ's Garden ) ( photo / image / picture from EJ's Garden ) ( photo / image / picture from EJ's Garden ) We all enjoyed a hearty lunch, and after a slice of lemon drizzle cake and custard and a coffee, the lumberjacks went back to finish their work. By 4pm, the tree had received a light trim and I have to say, I am thrilled. I know it looks drastic, but the willow will come back with avengance now, and it will be much more manageable, and most importantly, the sun is going to stream into the garden now, once I have cleared the couple of tonnes of rubbish, and I hope for the best show of flowers ever. ( photo / image / picture from EJ's Garden ) The whole event went off very smoothly. No bloodshed, no injuries, the only damage, my large loppers became bent in a struggle between man and tree. Also, I sat for a while when the inlaws had gone, and the children were settled, and watched my bird boxes on the trunk of the willow in the ivy. I knew I had blue tits visiting them, and I was worried the disruption would put them off, but I am glad to say a for sale board didn't appear, and both Mr and Mrs Bluey are back in residence, so all being well, we will hear the patter of tiny feet later in spring.
That looked like quite a project! Glad it went well! You will be glad to have it done. Taking trees down is so much easier when they don't have all the leaves on. That will certainly bring more sun into your garden.
What a great pictorial. It was interesting to see how they went about the pruning and how things developed over time. You just saved yourself a bundle, didn't you! All it cost you was some tucker (delishious tucker too, no doubt). It was good that the kids had fun too. A good time was had by all, it appears. I was really happy to hear that the bluetits are still interested in the boxes. Well, it looks like the men did a good job. I know that you will be happy to get more sun in the garden. I shall be expecting lots of beautiful flower fotos this summer.
That was quite a pruning. I did not even notice your greenhouse until the last picture . Glad to see it survived intact. Glad to hear your birds were undisturbed.
Erm...are Mark and your his father available to pollard 3 or 4 sycamore trees up here in Scotland by any chance? We really should be getting them done but, like you, can't afford the prices tree surgeons take. Your garden will be able to take a deep breath, drink in the sun and produce lovely flowers for you this year now all that shade has gone. :-D
Wow! Talk about a hair cut. I bet your garden is really thanking you properly! Curious like Netty, do you have any plans for the wood and branches? I bet you can make alot of really great items from the willow wood.
Holy cow, that was a job. But a job well done. I too didn't notice the greenhouse until the last picture; maybe because I was so focused on the fact that what's left of the tree reminded me of a many fingered upturned hand. Something like a palm up to the precious sun.
With what you're paying I'd like to make myself available to help out next time you need something drastic done. It looks good, EJ. Congratulations!
Thanks folks. No real plans for the prunings at the moment. They are mostly very thin and whippy. A lot will be shredded and used for my paths at the allotment, and the kids play area at the back of the garden behind the tree. I have been looking at some of the thicker branches wondering what I could do with them. Problem is, I am not artistic, and certainly don't have the time to take up carving. I have asked around to see if anyone who has an open fire would like the logs to store for next winter. Some will definately end up around the border of the garden so they can rot down and be a home to bugs and critters - I have done that before. If I had more room, perhaps I could build a willow arch or something...but as it is with me, I never seem to have the time.
Your greenhouse can get some sun now too.That was a hugh job to tackle but the job went well.I know all your flowers can now take in some sun and enjoy blooming for you.Job well done EJ.Thanks for all the great photos.
This Saturday was the day to clear all of the willow debris. I have a friend who is a landscape gardener and he lent us his cruncher/shredder machine so, in the pouring rain, we spent the day crunching willow. The friend took a lot of the logs as he has a log burner, so will stack the wood for a year in his store. We still have a lot and I will ask around to see if anyone else wants any before it heads off to the recycling plant. As you can see, James was a very keen helper. ( photo / image / picture from EJ's Garden ) And yours truly mananged to get rather filthy. This was my second change of clothes!! ( photo / image / picture from EJ's Garden ) The chippings were all used in the kids play area. We have bought bark in the past, but this is soft underfoot, so it seemed the perfect place to use it. ( photo / image / picture from EJ's Garden ) And here is the lawn....or what's left of it, once all of the willow had been cleared. It doesn't look quite so bad in the piccy. I have to say, the lawn was in a rough state before because the willow completely shaded the grass, and with the leaves, then snow, it really had taken a pounding. I am going to rake it and rake it so get all of the moss and bits of tree off, then aerate the areas, edge the path and borders, top dress with topsoil and sharp sand, then sow some hard wearing grass seed. Hopefully I can post another piccy in 3 months time and show you a lovely green lawn. ( photo / image / picture from EJ's Garden )
