The green and rolling countryside of Worcestershire, England, is home to the cider apple orchards which surround the gardens of Pear Tree Cottage. They enjoy a sunny south westerly aspect with sweeping views across to Martley Hillside, Woodbury and Abberley clock tower. The Teme Valley lies just over the hill and, not far away, is the Herefordshire border. Although our climate is temperate, our seasons are often uncertain and always a challenge to a gardener! This began in 2010 & follows the weekly ups and downs of garden work chronicling both successes and failures but, above all, demonstrates the fun enjoyed by three people who regularly garden in all weathers

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24 January 2025

Pruning and Pollarding.

 Who says there's not much to do in te garden in winter??

Even with other ongoing indoor and outdoor building/decorating projects, time was found for pollarding ornamental trees and fruit tree pruning.  First up was the Liriodendron (Tulip Tree).  

This tree was first pollarded back in 2013 and then again in 2019.  If left, it casts much shade on some favourite roses adjacent to the terrace and it generally romps away into the Magnolia and over the well.  This year with a new expert on the job, we found
some damage to the bark in areas and also the heartwood didn't look a picture of health.  The decision was made to reduce its height further thus lessening the stress on its root system.  

As is usual with trees, clearing up the brash and logs took far longer than the actual pollarding!  I'm sorley tempted to plant a climber against it but the don't want to hamper future pollarding!  Desisions! DECISIONS! At when it comes to pear tree pruning there are no difficulet decisions and as for our apple tree, ALL decisions were left to the expert!!  The young apple is a Bramley grafted on to a Lord Hindlip.  Hopefully it will be groaning under the weight of fruit later on in the year !!

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