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Post by 4pygmies on Apr 26, 2007 10:10:16 GMT 1
I'm now sourcing the fruit trees for my school project and I would LOVE some suggestions for the orchard area. I have room for maybe 2-3 apples, a Pear, a sweet Cherry etc. There is a wild Apple tree very close so I'm hoping pollination won't be a problem. The site is fairly open, soil is sandy dry and awful (lots of enriching to do first) and as it is right next to the playground I'd like it to look as attractive as possible. Any ideas anyone please? Here are 2 views of the site - all the anonymous shrubs are being dug out but the birches are staying.   |
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Post by Sleepy on Apr 26, 2007 10:34:10 GMT 1
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Post by 4pygmies on Apr 26, 2007 10:41:55 GMT 1
Oh, they look interesting. Do you know anything about them Sleepy? Like how tall they grow for example....I would prefer "proper" trees rather than ones designed for patio gardens. I can't see anywhere which says anything about their growing habits.
Just found it! I think they're too small unfortunately, M26 rootstock is only 8' high. They'll be smashed to bits......I want trees on M106 I think. They'll be much bigger eventually.
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Post by Sleepy on Apr 26, 2007 10:59:28 GMT 1
Oh, they look interesting. Do you know anything about them Sleepy? Like how tall they grow for example....I would prefer "proper" trees rather than ones designed for patio gardens. I can't see anywhere which says anything about their growing habits. Just found it! I think they're too small unfortunately, M26 rootstock is only 8' high. They'll be smashed to bits......I want trees on M106 I think. They'll be much bigger eventually. I've just spoken to them, and although they stock family trees on M26, you can order family trees on MM106. They will not be ready for despatch until Jan/Feb 2008 though Cost if ordered by 31st July (this season's prices) will be: £10 for base tree with rootstock and one variety. £5 for each variety grafted for you. So, an MM106 tree with 4 grafts (5 varieties) would cost £30. An MM106 tree with 2 grafts (3 varieties) would cost £20. You could pick the varieties you want - and they will happily give any advice you need. Delivery costs for 1 tree is £10 - for 6 to 8 trees would be around £15. |
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Post by Sleepy on Apr 26, 2007 11:07:18 GMT 1
Oh, they look interesting. Do you know anything about them Sleepy? Like how tall they grow for example....I would prefer "proper" trees rather than ones designed for patio gardens. I can't see anywhere which says anything about their growing habits. Just found it! I think they're too small unfortunately, M26 rootstock is only 8' high. They'll be smashed to bits......I want trees on M106 I think. They'll be much bigger eventually. I've just spoken to them, and although they stock family trees on M26, you can order family trees on MM106. They will not be ready for despatch until Jan/Feb 2008 though Cost if ordered by 31st July (this season's prices) will be: £10 for base tree with rootstock and one variety. £5 for each variety grafted for you. So, an MM106 tree with 4 grafts (5 varieties) would cost £30. An MM106 tree with 2 grafts (3 varieties) would cost £20. You could pick the varieties you want - and they will happily give any advice you need. Delivery costs for 1 tree is £10 - for 6 to 8 trees would be around £15. . And I reckon that if you asked your local Lions Club nicely they would buy them for you. |
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Post by 4pygmies on Apr 26, 2007 12:19:30 GMT 1
What a kind soul you are - working so hard whilst I was napping - thank you VERY much Sleepy dear. I do sincerely appreciate all that effort - they're quite cheap aren't they? It's a shame about the delivery being delayed but as long as I've ordered them and paid, it shouldn't affect the grant. Mind you with my rate of progress I won't have got the ground prepared until then.......I am NOT looking forward to sawing all the shrubs down and digging out the roots. I shall give them a ring soon. Cheers me dear!
I don't need their cash...but I could do with some brawny men to do the hard work - do they like gardening work - your Lions Club chapps..??
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Post by Sleepy on Apr 26, 2007 12:25:08 GMT 1
What a kind soul you are - working so hard whilst I was napping - thank you VERY much Sleepy dear. I do sincerely appreciate all that effort - they're quite cheap aren't they? It's a shame about the delivery being delayed but as long as I've ordered them and paid, it shouldn't affect the grant. Mind you with my rate of progress I won't have got the ground prepared until then.......I am NOT looking forward to sawing all the shrubs down and digging out the roots. I shall give them a ring soon. Cheers me dear! I don't need their cash...but I could do with some brawny men to do the hard work - do they like gardening work - your Lions Club chapps..?? They may very well do. Lions clubs vary, but when I was club president we were approached by a childrens nursery for a lawnmower. When we went to have a look they had very little lawn, most of it was worn away. So we laid a new lawn, and then bought them a lawn mower. |
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Post by 4pygmies on Apr 26, 2007 12:41:22 GMT 1
What stirling chaps! I want some! 23 would do....how do I lure them into the school shed.....?
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Post by plocket on Apr 26, 2007 12:45:58 GMT 1
4P you naughty girl thinking such things!!!!!
I had a thought btw, although not to do with your lovely orchard. If you buy Yeo Valley Organic milk they are doing an offer at the moment where you save vouchers and get trees. Would that help you with your garden? You could get the whole school collecting the vouchers and have a forest!!!
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Post by 4pygmies on Apr 26, 2007 12:48:09 GMT 1
But the heavy boxes of raised beds are in the shed!!  I'll have a look at that yeo Valley offer thanks Plocket. |
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Post by plocket on Apr 26, 2007 13:09:11 GMT 1
That's your excuse!!!  You need to collect 5 vouchers for one tree, or 8 vouchers for two trees. You can only claim two trees per household so you'll have to get other parents in on it. The trees you can choose from are Silver Birch; Wild Cherry; Rowan; Hazel and Hawthorn. |
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Post by Sleepy on Apr 26, 2007 13:28:21 GMT 1
What stirling chaps! I want some! 23 would do....how do I lure them into the school shed.....? What town are you in - I will locate the nearest club. 23 might be pushing it a bit  |
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Post by 4pygmies on May 11, 2007 7:01:01 GMT 1
Having spent hours trawling through all sorts of advice about apple trees and rootstocks, I am now totally confused so I've just emailed Deacon's and asked them to recommend apples, sweet cherry and ornamental varieties for me! Why is EVERYTHING so complicated.....? I'm going to order exactly what they suggest! Sleepy, as an enlightener of maidens (that's virgins to you), you may be interested to know that there are 1st year maidens AND 2nd year maidens...........spoilt for choice,eh? Do you think you could cope?? NB I DO like the word "maiden". Sounds succulent somehow... |
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Post by Sleepy on May 11, 2007 7:21:55 GMT 1
NB I DO like the word "maiden". Sounds succulent somehow... Oh, I have to agree there |
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Post by Sleepy on May 11, 2007 7:23:02 GMT 1
Having spent hours trawling through all sorts of advice about apple trees and rootstocks, I am now totally confused so I've just emailed Deacon's and asked them to recommend apples, sweet cherry and ornamental varieties for me! Why is EVERYTHING so complicated.....? I'm going to order exactly what they suggest! Are you going for 'family' trees? |
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Post by 4pygmies on May 11, 2007 7:25:41 GMT 1
Dunno yet - I'll see what they say. I just didn't realise apple trees were so tricky! I would like at least one family tree - they do sound intrigueing. The kids would like it too I think.
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Post by 4pygmies on May 11, 2007 7:26:48 GMT 1
Dunno yet - I'll see what they say. I just didn't realise apple trees were so tricky! I would like at least one family tree - they do sound intrigueing. The kids would like it too I think.
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Post by Sleepy on May 11, 2007 7:28:35 GMT 1
Dunno yet - I'll see what they say. I just didn't realise apple trees were so tricky! I would like at least one family tree - they do sound intrigueing. The kids would like it too I think. You can say that again ;D |
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Post by 4pygmies on May 11, 2007 7:53:41 GMT 1
 I'm having trouble with my keyboard this morning! It won't do as it's told at all.....
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Post by 4pygmies on May 11, 2007 13:39:33 GMT 1
I just had a really lovely email from Deacon's about my orchard trees. What NICE people. Makes such a pleasant change. People who grow things for a living are just the nicest folk!
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Post by sweetleaf on May 11, 2007 14:25:44 GMT 1
I just had a really lovely email from Deacon's about my orchard trees. What NICE people. Makes such a pleasant change. People who grow things for a living are just the nicest folk! Its easy to be nice to nice people isnt it ? ;D |
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Post by 4pygmies on May 23, 2007 6:42:34 GMT 1
I'm off to school this morning armed with a saw, my loppers and a wheelbarrow (got my car back at last - HURRAY!) to start the shrub demolition. I'm not very good at murdering perfectly good plants but this is for the greater good - once they've gone (digging the roots out aarghhh...) I can start to enrich the ground ready for the fruit trees.
Also got two boxes of wild flower plugs to put into the banks opposite the classrooms and in the wildlife garden. I've arranged for the infants and reception classes (and their teachers - do em' good to get stuck in) to spend an hour this morning planting them. Coo!
I've decided to buy the biggest apple trees I can find as I'm not convinced I can protect the 1st year maiden ones sufficiently well from the footballs.....no doubt I shall have to concoct some kind of wire cage around each one. It makes my back hurt just thinking about it all - me and my big ideas...I need locking up really!
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Post by sweetleaf on May 23, 2007 9:34:00 GMT 1
I hope you are taking care, all this could wreck all your other plans, if you end up laid up because of it, I do admire you for it though..sincerely! The wild flowers will look lovely when they grow, if the children plant them they are more likely to want to take care around them too, a stroke of genius! It sounds like theres a lot of them too, cant wait for the photos. |
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Post by 4pygmies on May 23, 2007 12:45:08 GMT 1
Well, I'm absolutely b****d but it was fun. Aren't little children WONDERFUL? We've been planting flower plugs, rescuing ladybirds and wood lice from the ponds and having a quick poke about all the pond plants I shoved in there a week or so ago. There's only 6" of water in the ponds but they are already teeming with life. They thoroughly enjoyed it and so did I!
I've started the ramp up into the pond as I found a load of bricks and slabs in a pile tucked out of the way so I've recycled them into the wildlife area. Two other stirling ladies have dug out a HUGE shrub and discovered that the soil is much better than I was expecting and we made a start on the dismantling of the old border where the herb garden is going.
I'm boiling hot and my back is rather painful but at least we've made a start.....
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Post by sweetleaf on May 23, 2007 13:50:38 GMT 1
Well done! I have come in for those same two reasons too hot and back ache! I have discovered that purple loosestrife is a weed of humungous proportions in my garden, and that Rhus is not as easy to control as I have been telling OH  |
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