Hi again, so I've had a good clear out of weeds (and actual rubbish) and am left with this now. There are so many large rocks, I've left the very low down ones but I'm really not sure what the best thing to do is to tidy it up. I was thinking if I take up all the rocks on the higher side and just rake the dirt so its tidy, it would allow me to feed the tree etc when needed. Do you know if all the rocks may have been put there for a reason? If I did that with the dirt, could I place the rocks back around the tree?
Also there's some plastic band around the very base of the tree trunk, I gather its been there a long time. Should I remove it or leave it? Is it to do with preventing pests?
Last question, there is some kind of weed membrane under the dirt so I don't know whether to pull that up or leave it. I guess if I leave it I can't put any manure or feed though? Sorry for all the questions, just have no idea what I'm doing but very keen to learn and take care of our lovely trees.
Also any other suggestions of how to make it all Tidy and look nice much appreciated. We're having a lawn up to the trees but obviously not all around or under the tree.
I think the membrane was originally put down to suppress weeds but as it now has a layer of soil over it, it no longer serves that purpose so is best removed (at least from the area around the trees.) The plastic was probably a grease band at some point but is only likely to cause disease now, so remove it.
After removing the membrane and putting down manure or other fertiliser, I would put down a mulch of bark chippings which will help to make it look tidier as well as suppressing weeds.
As far as the rocks go, maybe the soil is higher on the other side of the fence and they were put there for stability? If not, 'different strokes for different folks' and the previous owner may have liked them as a feature?
A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
Hi again, so the relocated apple tree has started to blossom and has a few new leaves in it. Nothing like the other 2 that are now covered in green and blossom but it's a different type of apple. I can only hope this is a good sign and maybe its going to survive? Is there still a chance it might die or do you think its likely to make it? Its been in it's new location now about 2 weeks.
Sounds promising! The transplanted tree will now be concentrating on putting out new roots and healing the damage to the bark, so I wouldn't expect it to do much for a couple of years, but as long as leaves keep growing, it has a good chance. If any fruit sets, I would remove it this year so the tree can put all of it's energy into recovery. Do keep watering it with at least a couple of bucketfuls each week until it goes dormant next winter, as it will be stuggling to take water in through the inevitable root damage which occured when you moved it, and the trunk damage means it also has fewer 'pipes' to get it up to the leaves until that has healed over.
A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
Great thank you! When you say remove the fruit, would this be as soon as it appears? We've been watering it well especially as it's been so hot. Will carry on :-)
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Also there's some plastic band around the very base of the tree trunk, I gather its been there a long time. Should I remove it or leave it? Is it to do with preventing pests?
Last question, there is some kind of weed membrane under the dirt so I don't know whether to pull that up or leave it. I guess if I leave it I can't put any manure or feed though? Sorry for all the questions, just have no idea what I'm doing but very keen to learn and take care of our lovely trees.
Also any other suggestions of how to make it all Tidy and look nice much appreciated. We're having a lawn up to the trees but obviously not all around or under the tree.