Much tree work

 

I do like an invoice with a sense of humour! "Much tree work" was the description given by Alex from Arborinati for the extensive amount of tree surgery his three guys did for us just in time before bud break this week. It's great to have professionals in who not only enjoy their work, but also carry it out in a personable and humorous way.

My fig is no more because it needed taking back after last year's super crop so that I can train it on the wall instead of it taking up a substantial chunk of the patio. Alex hadn't quite seen a fig like mine, being so happy despite being in a pot and he reassured me a total cut back instead of the one third per year usually given in gardening advice would be fine.*

The apple trees also had a much needed substantial trim so I can regain access to our garden shed ready for its replacement and I now see where I need to do some light summer pruning to train them into the weeping shape they're saying they want to be. I'm also rethinking the lawn below them and considering the possibility of using the huge bag of chipped wood I now have to protect the trees' tips and create a new pathway down to the shed.

Our Photinia's been crown lifted and I'm looking at the creation of a lightly shaded garden below instead of the barren wasteland the deep shade there previously provided. My corkscrew hazel is back on display instead of being dominated by the massive reversion behind it and the Weigela's been trimmed into a more pleasing shape. The total cut back next to the Red Windsor apple was only partially completed because a robin had already taken up residence in the ivy behind it, so I'll tackle that myself later.

The work was so quiet because they used battery powered tools from Stihl - someone 3 streets away had tree surgeons in at the same time who used petrol powered tools and they were much louder than our guys! It's something to bear in mind if you need to get someone in to look after your trees. Alex added it helps them too as they can talk normally instead of shouting at each other plus they no longer get burns on their work clothes from the equipment. It all makes for safer working.

It would have taken me weeks to do this myself. Getting the professionals in this time made perfect sense and I'm so pleased with the results: the garden's much lighter.

I'll leave the final say to Gus, one of the three who worked on VP Gardens. Looking up happily at his colleague clambering round a tall tree at the side of the garden he said: "Well that's one thing AI won't replace!" How true and something to bear in mind for any future career your loved ones might consider. 

* = he's right, I can already see the green shoots of recovery