Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 Sep 21, 2010 3:46 pm Ok...where to start We have Palmetto in a section of our front yard. We want to plant a feature tree - leaning towards a Manchurian Pear but open to suggestions The problem I have is we also have underground irrigation under the turf so I am wondering if this is going to cause a problem when we dig out the section of grass where we want to plant the tree. Will the roots ruin the irrigation pipes of the surrounding lawn? Also to make it look a bit neater we were thinking of building a merbau type square shaped garden bed thingt hat the tree can sit in. What size would you recommend this be (length x width x height) and is this a good idea or will the Manhurian Pear outgrow the 'timber garden box'? I hope I am making sense - was hoping to get this project started in the next few weeks My karma ran over your dogma Re: Feature Tree in Lawn 2Sep 21, 2010 11:22 pm You need large areas cleared around your trees preferably. The lawn will compete for nutrients with the tree. Ideally a good 2m around the tree would be needed. If you do the box around the tree make sure that it isn't going to interfere with root development in the future. I'd just take out the lawn. The box might look pretty but not a practical option for a healthy tree. Dig carefully if you suspect pipes are in there. Have some glue and some parts ready just incase. If you put the spade through a PVC pipe, you can cut a section of the same size pipe, cut a bit out of the bottom and pull it over the top of the damage with a heap of retic glue over it and on the pipe before you stick the patch on Re: Feature Tree in Lawn 3Sep 22, 2010 6:28 pm Thanks Fu Hmmm not sure I can get 2m. The lawn area we have is only about 6 m deep so it might not look right....DH loves his lawn - he won't budge. I quite like it too I just want some height in the front garden..... I thought because it is only a small feature tree it would be ok... My karma ran over your dogma Re: Feature Tree in Lawn 4Sep 22, 2010 7:39 pm I'm going to link back to another thread about Manchurian Pears - viewtopic.php?f=19&t=28836&start=0 As for the grass sacrifice - if you look at a park with trees that have been there long enough, you'll see that on average, the grass that is under it's canopy is poor. Both from shade and from nutrient competition. So if you are planting a tree in a lawn, I would want to be able to 'lose' at least half the width of the tree in lawn (as in, a circle half the diameter of the canopy). In most cases, a big/medium tree will cost you a lot of lawn eventually. Therefore, if someone is attached to the lawn, look for a small tree, and/or one whose canopy is not dense or broad. I don't have a green thumb; the above is just my thinking and not based on any kind of experience. Status: sold our first house, moved in with parents, bought our second in Pakenham, still planning to build in a few years time. Re: Feature Tree in Lawn 5Sep 23, 2010 8:44 pm Hmmm I think in all circumstances there is an answer to everything with plants. Can you PM me and I'll give you my email. hmmm id assume youll get hit with the "natural product therefore variation in colour etc" excuse. How bad are we talking? One could argue that if none of the displays or… 3 2454 the leaves that are now underground go yellow, the tips that poke through photosynthesise and have chlorophyll, same reason they grow rhubarb in the dark. 5 4864 |