How NOT To Take Down A Damson Tree...

So with winter nearing it's end I still had one more tree job to complete this year - to take down a damson tree and replace it with a pear. 

I planted this tree ten years ago and it has reverted back to it's rootstock and never produced any fruit. So I decided enough was enough and it was time to take it out. I had purchased a Black Worcester Pear to go in it's place, on a big rootstock, so I needed to get a move on before it started to grow where I had healed it in. 

I wanted the pear to go in pretty much where the damson had been though, and I knew if I just cut it down the damson would sucker like mad and throw up lots of shoots. So I took the drastic measure of pushing it out with the digger. 

 

Hopefully this new tree will establish quickly and grow well. I couldn't quite believe the growth of the damson over the last ten years - you could almost grow that for a timber tree! I've put the trunk and big branches to one side and hopefully I'll make something from it later in the year. Damson is a lovely wood to work with. 

Watch the video above and let me know what you think. 

The Mixed Hedge Year 2

The hedge that we planted last March is looking really good!

Looking over the whole hedge I think out of the 500 or so trees we planted that only about 3 have died! A result I'm really pleased with. 

The 14 damson, plum and bullace trees we planted are also growing strongly. Most have little fruitlets on already, although I'm not sure how many will make it to my belly! 

I'm looking forward to watching this grow over the years. Be a while until I have to lay it though. 

Trouble With My Damson Trees

 So if you have read this blog for any length of time you'll know that I love damsons. When ripe they're up there with some of my favourite fruits. One reason why I put about another 14 in this year in our new hedge in the second field. 

Unfortunately, other than the one in the photo above (a Merryweather - my favourite as it is a "freestone" damson), the others don't seem to be doing so well in the orchard that I planted 8 years ago. 

Over 500 Trees Planted!

I'm so pleased with the last week - we have a new fence and hedge in! Woop! 

We did this years ago with the first field nearest the house, to separate off the footpath from the field and make things more private. We kept thinking about doing this with the second field as well, but it was during lockdown and seeing how few people kept their dogs on leads and could control them that made us decide that this was the right thing to do. 

Making Damson Jam/Jelly

Damson Jam is easily my favourite jam to eat. Sweet bit with a hint of sharpness! 

But with so many stones it can be a pain to make.

Here's a video of how we make it and make sure we have no stone in it!

Let me know what you think!

What's your favourite type of homemade jam?

Planting Damsons & A Tree Monster

To atone for my sins of cutting down two trees over the last couple of weekends I planted three damson trees today.
I think these will be the only damson trees I'll plant on our smallholding as there is only so many damsons you need (although that said I know what I'm like with fruit trees!)
 

The three varieties of damson - Merry Weather, King of the damsons and Langley bullace



I quite like the moody sky in the background (10ft whip of a tree nearest in photo)

 Last weekend I cut down another tree. It was a horrible fast growing fir so don't feel too bad for it. Whilst cutting the branches off I noticed something furry about half way up.

Sitting pretty

 I had no idea what would sit there whilst I was hacking all around it with a chainsaw. I poked it gingerly with a stick (this was before all the branches were gone you understand) nothing. I climbed up to inspect and came face to face with this:

It made me jump when I first saw it.

 

Evil eyes?

I've no idea how long he's been up there but he looked a bit sorry for himself.

He's still attached to his branch even now pooor little guy didn't want to leave it - just his branch is now in the wood pile!

Digging In the Dark

It's a good job we haven't got many neighbours. There would have been some twiching of curtains tonight if we had, as I trapes down the pitch black garden carrying a spade. I then proceeded to dig a hole in the dark.

Some Damsons from my fathers farm - It was better than a picture of me digging in the dark!

On Monday I collected the last of my trees I've ordered. A couple for my mother - a mulberry and a humbug pear, and a couple of damson trees for our little homestead here. The hole was to heal them in as unfortunatly I haven't managed to plant a single tree yet, the ground is just too wet.

When added to the other order I've three damsons to be planted in total and three different varities: King of the Damsons, Langley Bullace and Merryweather.

My parents farm (where I grew up) had a little old damson orchard and I've always loved the fruit. When I was younger my sister and I would pick and sell carrier bags full of them making extra pocket money. I still love making rock hard damson jam as well (easily my favourite jam) so I'm hoping in a few years we'll be able to make our own and maybe my daughter will be able to sell bags of damsons as well.