ooohhhhhhh my gosh.. the first people that owned my house (25 years ago) planted their first christmas tree in the front yard.. it got HUGE and its been an eye sore to EVERYONE on this street.. it grew up about 25 feet and started going sideways towards the street.. all of my neighbors kept talking and talking about it.. I cut it down last week lol wish I was at work right now i'd post a picture of how big it was!!
Hi Lesley, It's sad that your tree is having such a hard time, but it seems to recover! It will survive you'll see, but it will loose a lot of it's beauty (not it's character ofcourse).
We are having lots of rain here and it's washing even more of the old dead needles off but also giving life to that fresh new growth. As always we remain optimistic. These big trees support such a lot of life. Thanks Jeroen, Lesley
Clean all the needles under the tree, lets the roots get more air, use the pines as mulch around some other plant if ya like. Watch out for spiders. Trim off some lower branches so more air get under the tree. Don't be afraid to trim up 5 feet high. She'll be recovering in no time. The new growth shows strength. Back to me mutinish varments.
We don't have to worry about spiders here in the UK thankfully. Thanks for the tip I will make sure that we have a clear area up to the 5 foot mark to open it out. Sometimes pruning gives things a kick start. Cheers, Lesley (get that cat out of the bag 'n' scare some obedience in LOL)
We had a terrible frost in spring this year that killed every Ficus tree in town. I thought a Ficus was tough too! We have giantic pines that kill everything underneath them, too.
Yeah pines don't have much that will grow happily underneath because of the shade and the chemicals released when the needles drop. How awful that the Ficus' got frosted. Wierd weather always causes problems. Cheers, Lesley
Would love to hear a song about a tree named Bob. Talking to plants is meant to help but maybe singing a song will really motivate it to pull through. Cheers, Lesley
There's a lot of green growth at the tips so I'm hopeful. Just don't know whether it will be enough to pull it through if the summer isn't great. I suffered you pixillation problem too Chris with my vid. Thanks for stopping by. Cheers, Lesley
the forests in the mountains of Southern California have been devastated by bark beetles.....
always makes me sad when a tree dies!! hope yours gets weel soon. (hmm...maybe Betty is on to something there with the ladybugs! (maybe you call the ladybirds?)
When a little plant dies I feel sad but when it's a tree it's awful 'cos they are so much bigger and older. The birds nest and court and sing in this tree. There is so much life supported by it and we enjoy it's shade. Aw well it's just life. Cheers, Lesley
I've heard "ladybirds" too. I was wrong about the insect solution for Lesley, though. Honestly, aphids have had a field day in my own yard this year, and I haven't done a thing about it. True confession no. 381. :-)
Hi Lesley! Short comment about beneficial insects as a possible answer: Ladybugs love to eat aphids, as do the larvae of green lacewings. I think both are inhabitants of the UK, but I'm not certain. I'm a fairly strong proponent of beneficial instects for the general solution, but I don't know if this is your answer. Just a thought. :-)
The aphids came very early in the year before the ladybirds were awake. There was nothing to stop them so there was a huge population explosion. Now the aphids are gone but so are most of the needles on the tree. Cheers, Lesley
I agree with you that nature's way of biological control usually works the best. I have kids and lots of wildlife like hedgehogs so I don't use chemicals. My gardens' the best restaurant around but I'd rather see holes in leaves. Lesley
ooohhhhhhh my gosh.. the first people that owned my house (25 years ago) planted their first christmas tree in the front yard.. it got HUGE and its been an eye sore to EVERYONE on this street.. it grew up about 25 feet and started going sideways towards the street.. all of my neighbors kept talking and talking about it.. I cut it down last week lol wish I was at work right now i'd post a picture of how big it was!!
SimplyMelissa101 4 years ago
Hi Lesley, It's sad that your tree is having such a hard time, but it seems to recover! It will survive you'll see, but it will loose a lot of it's beauty (not it's character ofcourse).
Love to see you talk about your tree so caring.
cheers, Jeroen.
woodenshoesjeroen 4 years ago
We are having lots of rain here and it's washing even more of the old dead needles off but also giving life to that fresh new growth. As always we remain optimistic. These big trees support such a lot of life. Thanks Jeroen, Lesley
flydarling 4 years ago
Clean all the needles under the tree, lets the roots get more air, use the pines as mulch around some other plant if ya like. Watch out for spiders. Trim off some lower branches so more air get under the tree. Don't be afraid to trim up 5 feet high. She'll be recovering in no time. The new growth shows strength. Back to me mutinish varments.
Armagoden 4 years ago
We don't have to worry about spiders here in the UK thankfully. Thanks for the tip I will make sure that we have a clear area up to the 5 foot mark to open it out. Sometimes pruning gives things a kick start. Cheers, Lesley (get that cat out of the bag 'n' scare some obedience in LOL)
flydarling 4 years ago
We had a terrible frost in spring this year that killed every Ficus tree in town. I thought a Ficus was tough too! We have giantic pines that kill everything underneath them, too.
debstef 4 years ago
Yeah pines don't have much that will grow happily underneath because of the shade and the chemicals released when the needles drop. How awful that the Ficus' got frosted. Wierd weather always causes problems. Cheers, Lesley
flydarling 4 years ago
Good video Leslie although it is sad. I think I will name the tree Bob and write a song about him, then again maybe I'll just marvel from afar.
freakofmoo 4 years ago
Would love to hear a song about a tree named Bob. Talking to plants is meant to help but maybe singing a song will really motivate it to pull through. Cheers, Lesley
flydarling 4 years ago
Aww..I do hope that beautiful Christmas tree can rejuvinate itself. Makes me sad. Yet, nature is miraculous, so take heart Lesley. hugs, Chris
bugsinrug 4 years ago
There's a lot of green growth at the tips so I'm hopeful. Just don't know whether it will be enough to pull it through if the summer isn't great. I suffered you pixillation problem too Chris with my vid. Thanks for stopping by. Cheers, Lesley
flydarling 4 years ago
the forests in the mountains of Southern California have been devastated by bark beetles.....
always makes me sad when a tree dies!! hope yours gets weel soon. (hmm...maybe Betty is on to something there with the ladybugs! (maybe you call the ladybirds?)
LeSaMilano 4 years ago
When a little plant dies I feel sad but when it's a tree it's awful 'cos they are so much bigger and older. The birds nest and court and sing in this tree. There is so much life supported by it and we enjoy it's shade. Aw well it's just life. Cheers, Lesley
flydarling 4 years ago
I've heard "ladybirds" too. I was wrong about the insect solution for Lesley, though. Honestly, aphids have had a field day in my own yard this year, and I haven't done a thing about it. True confession no. 381. :-)
kalacaw 4 years ago
Hi Lesley! Short comment about beneficial insects as a possible answer: Ladybugs love to eat aphids, as do the larvae of green lacewings. I think both are inhabitants of the UK, but I'm not certain. I'm a fairly strong proponent of beneficial instects for the general solution, but I don't know if this is your answer. Just a thought. :-)
kalacaw 4 years ago
The aphids came very early in the year before the ladybirds were awake. There was nothing to stop them so there was a huge population explosion. Now the aphids are gone but so are most of the needles on the tree. Cheers, Lesley
flydarling 4 years ago
I'm sorry Lesley. That was me being presumptuous. That's just true, but I am very sorry about your trees. :-(
kalacaw 4 years ago
I agree with you that nature's way of biological control usually works the best. I have kids and lots of wildlife like hedgehogs so I don't use chemicals. My gardens' the best restaurant around but I'd rather see holes in leaves. Lesley
flydarling 4 years ago