Trees for a bank.

[Darwin.]

There's a steep bank at the side of the house and I've tried different things with it for the last few years I let it grow wild now but I've decided to plant trees in it for a little privacy any to strengthen the bank.

It's at about a 45 degree angle and is about 2.5 or high of a drop. I don't want terribly tall trees but I suppose 15' ish would be alright as the bottom 4' to 5' would be below the level of the driveway. I had considered fruit trees but with the new additions in the orchard I'll have about 20 of those already.

Im thinking now that I want normal Irish trees. The bank is about 25 m long and I'd like to plant them close enough that when they're grown the branches will interlock but far enough apart so they won't kill each out her off.

Im not sure how many I'll fit or what to get, any suggestions?

[Creemteez]

Something with berries? Mountain Ash - or Rowan - have fab berries that blackbirds and thrushes love. Blackthorn for sloes and masses of white blossom, Hawthorn, Elder. None of them are massive and all attractive to birds and insects - and easy on the eye. Don't know if the'd qualify as "normal Irish trees" - but they are natural British ones.
(Someone is going to come along now and tell me that they aren't natural British - odds on!)

[Darwin.]

Well as long as they're native to this part of the world or have been for a few hundred years. I'm getting a Rowan for the orchard anyway, I must look up images of Elder. Things with berries to attract wildlife would be nice although not essential. I wa thinking about a holly or two but they might grow too big.

[RedThorn]

What about some nut trees? and your older less common fruits eg quince and medlar? Hazel for coppicing?

Edit and greengage....

[veggiechicken]

What about hazel for the nuts Rowan and hawthorn are good choices, silver birch maybe or crabapple?

[Darwin.]

I have cobbnuts, those are like hazel aren't they?

I'll have to look up quince and medlar to see what they are.

What's does coppicing mean? I'm very much a novice gardener so don't understand some of the terms mentioned on here. I had thought about hawthorn for the mixed berry hedge down the back but a tree might be nice instead.

I'll give silver birch a look up this evening too.

[veggiechicken]

Read all about coppicing here What is coppicing? | coppice.co.uk

[RedThorn]

VC's link is good, the bottom line with coppicing(for me anyhoo's) is replacing bamboo and using the coppiced sticks for wigwam's etc, and natural fencing with the coppiced wood

here's a pic of the fencing I meant
http://www.woodlands.co.uk/blog/wood...aking-hurdles/

[Creemteez]

Silver Birch is beautiful - often referred to as "The Lady of the Forest", but she can get to be a big girl...
Elder has flowers - for cordial and champagne and berries for jam, wine, vodka, gin.......

[bearded bloke]

Substitute the Hawthorn for Blackthorn then you will have your own supply of Sloes for making of the gin/vodka

[veggiechicken]

Or make hawthorn brandy, eat the young leaves, use the flowers for something ?tea and make jelly and ketchup from the berries.

[RedThorn]

bumping this so you can get more idea's

[Darwin.]

Elder, Holly, Quince Medlar and Rowan are definitely on my list so far, blackthorn and hawthorn are possibilities.

I found mention of a strawberry tree and I'm definitely getting one of those for the orchard.

[Darwin.]

Elder, Holly, Quince Medlar and Rowan are definitely on my list so far, blackthorn and hawthorn are possibilities.

I found mention of a strawberry tree and I'm definitely getting one of those for the orchard.

[RedThorn]

de ja vu! de ja vu!