[Clondoolusk]

Hi, any suggestions on what to plant for a small wooded area, we have a small area which is low lying which we will never use as lawn so the idea is to create a wooded area which someday might be nice and full looking with bluebells planted etc...it also deals with an area which would need big work and filling to raise to level of rest of site. All ideas welcome!

[john1412]

either of the two native Birches, some Black Alder and maybe some Willows, i'm assuming that your "low lying" means that it a damp or wet area? if you want on the outsides of the area if it's dry put some Beech too, or if you don't want beech on the outsides and if it's wet try some Ash trees or Mountain Ash too, and if you want some green over the winter maybe a few Scotts Pine, however these will grow very tall and might not be suited or match in with the area where your planting

[Greengage]

Trees , Rowan, Birch, Pine, Holly Hawthorn, fushia and Hazel
Bulbs Bluebells, Snowdrops, snowflakes
Foxgloves, Arum, wild garlic, wild carrot, Trilliums.
here is a pic ogf one i have been working on for the past three years its approx 8 metres wide by 40 metres long

[Clondoolusk]

That's excellent looking greengage exactly what we want, how old are your trees?? Our dimensions are very similar to yours. We want a nice mixture of trees we would really like some pine for the evergreen during winter but it can be prone to holding water not much but it is damp during winter months.

[john1412]

[Clondoolusk]

Greengage, would love to see a fewore pictures if you had some to post.

[Greengage]

I inherited it but it was a big big mess which you could not access, I raised the tree canopy and removed briars trash, fallen branches and a couple of sycamores and pollarded all the hazels, No one approved as it was a serious mess when I finished now everyone thinks its brillant why didnt we do this before and all want credit for my work.

[medieval knievel]

very nice work indeed.
i'm hoping to do similar, but with a much smaller area - probably 20 foot by 40 foot; there's a leylandii hedge to come out first. one problem i have may be soil fertility; it might simply be too fertile, it's where the previous owner let years and years of cuttings rot down.

there is one tall (40foot) birch there already, but i have more birch, hazel, rowan, holly, hawtorn and yew to go in - tallest currently about 30 inches tall.

i'll be following this thread with interest.

[Greengage]

In a woodland leaves and branches constantly fall improving soil fertility, it is important to have some dead wood to increase biodiversity, fungi insects etc..
I think the most important thing is to have small leaved trees to allow dappled shade and light to the understory, once the soil is rotavated whatever seed is stored in the soil will germinate once it gets light, lift the canopy so it is easy to walk under and create a path to walk along I created this one by just driving a lawnmower over it, then leave it to nature

[Sive]

That is so lovely, greengage. These are the sort of photos that just put a smile on my face....definitely a feel-good moment, thank you.

[tippben]

Plant your trees as it is. Forest soils should be fertile, so don't worry about tree detritus rotting down. Use tree shelters (https://www.google.ie/search?q=tree+shelters&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=8pygUfPjIYqp7AbD6YHYBw&sqi=2&ved=0CDcQsAQ&biw=1024&bih=552), as they help protect the young trees from adverse weather and bark damage from humans and animals. Plant about 2 metres apart, and then thin out the ones you don't want in 5 years. Can you add photos of your intended area?

When thinning out, look at a 3 metre square. If you have three trees, remove the largest (wolf tree), and the smallest, leaving the middle one to grow on. There is a difference with things like Hazel, which you want to coppice. Coppice stools should be at a 2m equidistant spacing. Existing hazels (and also Castanea sativa - sweet chestnut) can be layered (bend an existing branch down in winter. Damage the bark with a knife, then peg the damaged bit to the ground 2m from the stool. Cover with forest floor humus. After a year, you'll have a new plant and can cut the connecting rod). Cherries and Sloes will sucker. If you cut them, new shoots will arise from the root system, which have to be managed as they grow by a constant war of attrition in spring.

[medieval knievel]

i had understood that if the soil was too fertile, the understorey flora would have trouble competing with the likes of nettles.

i think i read about it here:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Collins-New-Naturalist-Library-100/dp/0007202431

[tippben]

Tree clippings, leaves and branches, don't contain much nitrogen. They are broken down by fungi and insects, which is a different process to ordinary composting. You shouldn't get too many nettles, but if you do get a large stand of nettles in one spot, don't worry! They are excellent food for butterfly larvae, humans, and make a great liquid plant food. In time, they will be replaced by other plants when they've sucked up all the nitrogen.

[Good guy]

What a beautiful job you have done, Greengage. Well done! I wish I had the space to do something like that. However, when the children have outgrown their play area I might manage a miniscule version......

[Greengage]

havent time now but will post pic of micro one im working on too,