With the watering season finished, we thought it wise to reassess our previous plantings. As we only normally water for two years after planting, we do not often get the chance to look at our previous efforts.
We did indeed start at Pastures Road, but mainly to assess the planting done by Kings – the trees in the big square cages – that are near the old railway line. The Limes are growing well, but the Liquidambers and Silver Birches have mainly died. The last two hot dry summers seem to have finally defeated them. We will be looking to have these replaced in some way in the future. The new London Plane tree that was planted earlier in the year appears well and is, hopefully, getting its roots down deeper into the ground.
Off to the Park and the Cricket Ground, which was generally good news. One of the posts and cages were broken by the play area, so this was removed and replaced by a single slanting post. Several planting tubes from whips were also removed.
Along Town End Field the Alders were establishing nicely and the Dutch Elm Disease resistant Elm has already grown into a substantial tree. Some of the tops of the cages were trimmed as they were rubbing on the trees.
The Rugby club was a planting of whips along the rear boundary fence, that was watered occasionally after planting and is now beginning to establish nicely, with one Lombardy poplar around 6ft tall though most of the trees are 3 to 4ft. Standards including Oak, Lime, Beech, Poplar and Maple, with some planting in between.
Finally, along to the nearby planting from some years ago between the stream and the Humber Road estate. There were two areas of planting with three Field Maples each, planted as large trees as well as a variety of whip planting. The six field maples had established well, needing their cages removed, which was done in the afternoon. Some of the whips were almost as tall, though others had struggled with the local bind weed and other growth. These were generally cleared and overall, it was thought these were establishing quite well.
A useful day, though more time is needed to assess other previous planting areas.
Eric
3rd October 2019
