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Replace conifers with fruit trees?

We have two conifers (about 20 ft tall) that we'd like to cut down and plant 2 or 3 fruit trees instead (maybe apple, plum, cherry).  Problem is we can't get any heavy machinery to that part of the garden as it's accessed by steps.

I've never tried to remove a tree (roots and all) before. Any idea what I'm letting myself in for?

Also, if I'm planting a fruit tree where a conifer used to be, do I have to do anything particular to prepare the soil? Is it even a good idea to do this?

Posts

  • Zoomer44Zoomer44 Posts: 3,267

    I'ts hard workimage.

    I cut down two conifers as tall as the house some years ago. You'll need to cut the tree down first but leave enough of the stump for leverage to loosen the roots when pulling it up, at least 3ft of stump.

    I cut all the branches off a few at a time into managable sizes. The roots go deep and are spread out so expect to dig a hole around the bottom of the tree at least two foot from the stump all the way round. It seems alot but makes it easy when you try to get the stump and roots out. If you can dig a bigger hole do so.  

    Then dig down to uncover as much of the roots as you can. A fork will help loosen the soil and a spade to get the soil out of the hole but I took to using a hand trowel to get at the roots lower down. You'll still find some thick roots, use the stump as a level to rock the remaining plant which will help to loosen the roots further. Any thick roots can be cut with a saw close to the rim of the hole.

    The more of the roots you can dig out the better the ground will be for,planting anything new.    

    The ground is likely to be very dry where the conifers grew and so digging in a lot of well rotted manure will give new plants a good start. I'm sure another poster can help with advise about planting fruit tree's.     

    Good luckimage

        

  • chickychicky Posts: 10,410

    To add to this advice, there was a thread about removing conifers a couple of days ago - I will bump  it up the forum list for you Blueboots

  • gerrykgerryk Posts: 24

    if you have never cut down a large tree before start with side branches cut as much as you can then go as high as you can and then cut in sections untill you get to the stump then happy diggng

  • BluebootsBlueboots Posts: 100

    Thank you all!  I didn't think of leaving a decent amount of stump to act as leverage. I imagined cutting it at the base. To be honest I didn't really know what was involved and wondered if you could get the roots out without a stump grinder (whatever that is). I'm going to print out the thread so I have all the advice to hand. There will be two of us, I'll be doing it with my husband.

    The compost angle is covered. We inherited a largish compost heap when we bought the house a cuple of years ago - and it's in the wrong place. We'll use it up on the site of the conifers before we plant fruit trees. There's a nearby farm where we can get manure.

    If we take out the conifers soon do you think we should plant fruit trees in the autumn or wait till after winter?

    I'll take before, during and after pictures when we do it and post them.

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