In what is becoming an unwanted pattern in the building of this garden, in 2016 I returned to another natural disaster. This time in the form of a storm that blew over the tree at the back of the garden (Looks like the fence didn't survive either). I came back to the tree literally lying on my rockery like it was taking a siesta on a hot afternoon in Las Ramblas. It was just about still rooted to the ground, but I knew what I had to do, and I wasn't gonna like it.... TIMBERRRR!!
That tree was a vital part of my initial design plans as somewhere to create a shaded seating area, however that dream was in tatters. Out comes the hand saw and in comes more tricep pain. I cannot remember what type of tree this was, but it had definitely seen better days. If you look back at my first ever post you can see that the trunk had split in two a few years back and from that point its fate was sealed. With the roots being so destabilised it was always going to happen, I just wish I could have saved it somehow.
I cut it down at an angle and proceeded to take it apart branch by branch, using either the saw or some strong hedge clippers. Temporarily placed the massacred tree on my veg plot, leaving only a little stump in the ground, which I wanted to keep as a sort of homage to my fallen lumber.
I was left with a slight problem now, as I had an abundance of wood with nowhere to put it, while also having new space opened up at the back of the rockery. Both issues will need to be addressed in the coming months. I could take this setback as either a big issue or a new challenge... I believe I picked the right option - 'knock on wood'.
[ GARDENING TIP ] Cutting down a tree can be tricky business and a lot of physical labour. Depending on the size of your tree you may just want to call in a professional to make sure no damage to your neighbours or your property occurs. I opted to keep the stump of my tree intact but if you want to remove it entirely you have a few options. You can dig it up, burn it away, use a stump grinder or apply a chemical to dissolve the stump. There are varying levels of difficulty with some being significantly quicker than others. Whatever you choose, stay safe and if in doubt, call in a tree surgeon who should be able to help you to your desired result.
