We wrote once before about Bountiful Harvests that are only fit for the bin, last time it was about the grapes on our vine over the bottom patio. This time it is something far more annoying...
Sycamore seedlings.... Arrrrggghhhhh
The large old Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) at the bottom of the garden featured recently in a blog when we cut it back, but it seems it knew what we were planning and got its revenge last autumn...
For this year we have had literally hundreds, and probably thousands of small sycamore seedlings, and if we don't get them out then they will soon take over.
We always get quite a number to remove, but for some reason we got so many, we were not sure why? Perhaps it was the late start to spring kept the area brighter as the various shrubs and over herbaceous plants were late in coming into leaf and gave the seeds more light to help them germinate.
Whatever the reason its blooming annoying! but with many of the branches removed that were over hanging this part of the garden maybe we won't get the same number next year.
Heres hoping anyway!
Gaz
Sycamore seedlings.... Arrrrggghhhhh
The large old Sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus) at the bottom of the garden featured recently in a blog when we cut it back, but it seems it knew what we were planning and got its revenge last autumn...
For this year we have had literally hundreds, and probably thousands of small sycamore seedlings, and if we don't get them out then they will soon take over.
We always get quite a number to remove, but for some reason we got so many, we were not sure why? Perhaps it was the late start to spring kept the area brighter as the various shrubs and over herbaceous plants were late in coming into leaf and gave the seeds more light to help them germinate.
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| Bag of bounty |
Heres hoping anyway!
Gaz
This gardening blog follows our journey as we create our Tropical and Exotic themed garden. We hope you'll enjoy the journey as much as we do. We started our Exotic Garden in 2005 and this site will show its development, as well as our travels, both abroad and within the UK to gardens, nurseries and friends.
Ah, the gift that keeps on giving. I have the same problem every year with our Pittosporum tobira hedge and to a lesser degree our Acer palmatum (those seedlings die quickly, though, if they don't get enough water).
ReplyDeletePittosporum tobira self seeding, made me smile :) to have mild weather like yours here would be lovely!
DeleteI literally pull up seeds by the hundreds of thousands from neighbors silver maple plus whatever their other tree is I am pulling up seedlings by the thousands. It's a narrow seed that comes down. So I know the nightmare of what you are dealing with. It's the worst part of my trying to garden.
ReplyDeleteCher Sunray Gardens
A nuisance indeed Cheer! Ahh well, all part of garden maintenance I suppose...
DeleteI have the same problem with elm tree seedlings. They are everywhere, and if I don't get the entire seedling out, it just returns the next year twice as big. Now, if I really wanted to grow an elm, I bet it would be almost impossible! ;)
ReplyDeleteLol! Now isn't that an irony indeed! That's the only thing with not getting them all the first year, they will still be there the following years, only they just get bigger..
DeleteWhat a pain! Doesn't it feel good to have that chore out of the way for another year?
ReplyDeleteIndeed Peter, but we still need to keep checking as they seem to sprout at different times of the growing season too
DeleteI have a similar issue with laurel seedlings, I've wondered if I just leave them be would they die in the heat and dry of the summer, then again I'm not sure I want to find out the answer is no. So like you I pull them, not fun but at least a job to cross of the list.
ReplyDeleteIndeed Loree, but I do wish the germination rate of this tree wasn't this efficient
DeleteAsh seedlings are the problem here. A rock climbing friend and I pollarded it a couple of years ago, no mean feat given it was a high as the house and all we had to work with was an ordinary saw and axe. Still the seedlings come. I have mixed feelings about ash die-back.
ReplyDeleteThe big tree had a recent trim so hopefully it won't self seed as much as it did this year
DeleteI feel your pain, we had the tree surgeon in last week to thin out the crown of an overhanging sycamore as stage one, next year I think its going to have to go. Bring me the axe!
ReplyDeleteHi Paul, I wish we had that tree removed now when we had the chance to do so, when we just moved and there were plenty of space for the debris.
DeleteWow, I thought I got a lot of sycamore seedlings, but that is an impressive haul! I fear I have made it easier for the wretched things to seed in my garden having removed so much ground-smothering ivy. I hope it doesn't get to carrier bag levels though... I am trying to persuade our neighbour to convince her other half to lose the sycamores growing in their garden - they have 4, right on the boundary!!
ReplyDeleteOuch, 4 sycamores! One is bad enough....
DeleteUgh...I can so relate to this...I'm endlessly pulling up Oak, Black Walnut and Tree of Heaven seedlings...blurg!
ReplyDeleteTree of Heaven...shudders...
DeleteI have a terrible habit of potting up tree seedlings ,in the hope one will be something I actually want . So far no luck....
ReplyDeleteHi Linda, perhaps you may find a seedling or two in the future that you'd like to keep :)
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