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I hate to have to even ask this, but I have a small orchard with huge flower beds in it which I'm going to turn over entirely to food production over the next couple of years. Chickens and possibly a couple of sheep are currently on the cards. However, what I really have a problem with is the flower beds. On top of a number of apple, pear and plum trees (and the cherry tree I planted a few weeks ago) I have 8 laburnums along the east facing back wall, 2 magnolias in front of them and two Douglas first in front of the magnolias. I also have 4 Sumac trees and a large pine which sheds needles everywhere (these 5 are on the south wall). They're completely in the way of the beds and mean that the majority of the orchard is in shade for most of the day.

I hate to cut down trees and obviously I'd love to replace them with fruit or nut trees if that's what has to happen. Obviously being in the fens, the ground is very soggy, so the trees take a lot of the moisture out of the ground. Can anyone suggest what's best?

Thanks
Lynne

Willows will absorb a lot of your excess water, create a windbreak, and can be coppiced for basket making

Be careful removing the Sumachs, I believe they are vigorous suckerers (is that a word?) and if all the root isnt removed (or killed off somehow) they will be popping up all over the place

A friend of my husband's came over today and he happens to be a tree surgeon. He took a quick look at all my trees and told me how to cut them back so that I don't need to lose them and they won't get in the way so much. He actually recommended I set fire to the Sumacs! As for the others, he's suggested cutting them back to a single trunk (a lot of them have split) and even shown me how and where to cut so that they grow up and out rather than just out.

Just what I wanted. Gardening with a chainsaw! My favourite

Now that sounds like proper Fun