Grow

On a slope too steep to walk without staggering, where the wild strawberries (Fragaria Vesca) have stubbornly conquered almost half the ground and, prior to this Spring, where hundreds of Spanish Bluebells pernicious in their spread once ruled, stand six apple trees.

This bank of earth, dividing the two garden spaces is too narrow to plant four trees let alone six (seven if you count a stray sapling), their branches overlap, tangled together and this overcrowding must be one of the causes of their suffering..

Twisted and gnarled, they are all sick. Suffering from a history of poor or incomplete pruning with gaping holes that collect rainwater to rot them, limbs that scratch and rub overhead and, clogging up the cracks and crevices from late Spring to Autumn is the sticky white fluff of the Woolly Aphid. All these afflictions can be healed with some judicious pruning, greasing and washing. Unfortunately the tell-tale signs of Canker (splitting bark exposing the hard grey dead wood) I’ve seen of late ratchet up the concern somewhat. I’ve read the RHS Advice on Canker and plan to rid as much as I can this Winter although such is the spread in two of the trees that I have thought of grubbing them out.

The old men of the garden gave a great sulk this year. The crop was shamefully light — six trees and only a small basket of fruit. Last year I decided to reshape the trees to begin cutting out the canker and inward growing branches (plus all the usual twiggy pruning). I’ve since learned that a tree’s store of energy is matched to support the growth of the size of tree before pruning. If a large amount of growth is removed then the excess energy feeds the vigorous growth of whippy stems, suckers and water spouts (thin branches that usually grow straight upright) instead of fruit or spur growth.

As for the fruit, four of the six share the same variety. I searched through the list on Orange Pippin resource and narrowed it down to either the Catshead or the Calville Blanc D’Hiver. I’m plumping for the Catshead though, certainly the apples match the variety’s angular, ugly ridges and coarse texture. Originating in the 17th Century I’m pleased that they are a heritage variety despite being diseased and not especially attractive. The other two trees produce apples that are larger, have an orange blush on one side and again are not an eating variety but their identification eludes me.

I’ve lifted the woven clods of loam that were slung on the new raised beds and raked out the excess soil. From the four lines of garlic sown in early November only three plants survived the five day build project. The construction of the new raised bed – a chunky ‘L’ shape now taking up half the top garden and laying of paving was less intrusive as I feared but there is still plenty to clear up and prepare for the planting season. At least I’ve started – making good use of this mild tail end to Febraury – Incredible to think that only a fortnight ago I was hacking away the inches of crusted, icy snow from our steps.

Last year I stalled early on as I struggled with first finding the time and then the gumption necessary to construct my greenhouse. To cap it all I spent too long deliberating over the layout and materials of the vegetable garden settling for a half-hearted attempt to cover the grass with bark and some shoddy square beds. The grass grew through the chippings all too quickly and the beds, whilst functional were never loved – looking as if they were dropped on the ground and not grown out from it.

I’ve started to dig in manure and rake over to remove the larger stones but the vegetable bed isn’t the only area that calls for attention. I have to make a start on the culling of the Spanish Bluebell horde before they riot through the the garden. Then there is the pond and it’s unloved, rose and fern bank surround, the tired and worn grass square, another L-shaped bed empty save for clay and weeds and finally I’d like to cut the grass verge near the roadside to neat, clipped edge. And for that I’m going to invest in a new tool – An edging spade.