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Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2015 7:34 pm
by lutonlagerlout
got in from work tonight and a scene of devastation met my eyes
my wife (for now) had employed some Gardner type feckwit to cut the grass
all unbeknown to me
anyway I have 4 Himalayan birch that I planted around 10 years ago as 1.5m saplings all around 900mm apart
they know stand around 20 feet tall and look rather splendid
or did
dopey bollox has cut all the lateral branches back to the trunks up to around 7feet
the 4 trees now look like giant lollipops
she said that he said he was topping them?
question
will they die?
they look ready to blow over
I was under the impression you never really prune birch at least not until late autumn and then minimally?
I cannot begin to explain how angry I am that 10 years work has been annihilated in 2 hours by a clown with a chainsaw
and if by a million to one chance that you are reading this,please pop round for an informal chat
LLL
Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2015 8:17 pm
by michaelthegardener
It should be ok this time of year I think but I don't do trees sounds like hes made a right mess
One thing I do know for sure is that he hasn't topped them because as the name suggests to do that you take some off the top what he has done would probably be called lifting the crown
Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2015 10:40 pm
by lutonlagerlout
I managed to get hold of him on the blower (he was reluctant to come back) and he said the wife asked him to tidy them up
the garden was stripped and redesigned by a landscape architect 12 years ago
which I duly built to the drawing
10 years work down the tubes
I cant even talk about what he has done to other bushes and shrubs
LLL 
Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2015 7:14 am
by Forestboy1978
People often crown lift birches to achieve the lollipop effects.
You got lucky that it was done the latter part of the year, rather than early spring etc. Could be worse.
Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2015 7:17 pm
by lutonlagerlout
the garden was designed to have a slightly wild look
I dont like topiary
but its done now
lucky I couldnt put my hands near him last night or I would be locked up now
LLL
Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2015 7:05 am
by John156
What a muppet no wonder you're fuming. I'm not a tree surgeon but I do know a bit about trees and plants. Birches are sensitive, I have lost a few over the years for various reasons but I dont reckon yours will die. Have you got a pic?
Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2015 10:36 am
by Forestboy1978
He's only a muppet cos he's done something not requested. As far as timing goes, this is the time to prune them. As long as he hasn't taken more than 30% roughly from the trees and he's done nice clean collar cuts and using the appropriate oil in the chainsaw they should be fine.
If you want to get them back to wild looking in several years take the tops out of them to encourage side growth as long as you will be still not breeching 30% of total loss of the tree.
Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2015 5:37 pm
by lutonlagerlout
mrs lout as the main culprit here
she didnt tell me he was coming
she didnt make it clear what to do
I would say 40% of foliage has gone so we shall see
may do a pic but the wounds is still raw for me
LLL
Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2015 7:38 pm
by mickg
if you post a photo we promise we won't laugh ..... ???
Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2015 9:07 pm
by digerjones
mickg wrote:if you post a photo we promise we won't laugh ..... ???
I won't
Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2015 10:20 pm
by Forestboy1978
I'm not promising s**t
Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2015 9:30 pm
by rab1
for fecks sake post a pic, we will not laugh. snigger maybe :p
Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2015 10:00 pm
by lutonlagerlout
things are bad enough without you lot taking the p&%s
:;):
LLL
Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2015 9:25 pm
by rxbren
Always thought the rules were pics or it didn't happen lol
Posted: Mon Sep 14, 2015 10:44 pm
by lutonlagerlout
what happened?
LOL
LLL
