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Notes for current slide
  • Greetings & welcome to The Backyard Forest
  • This is section 6, all about the canopy layer, the big trees
  • Before we begin, couple of things to be aware of
    • Slideshow always available online
    • Press p for notes
Notes for next slide
  • Course divided into 3 parts
  • First 3 are about watching & thinking
  • Next 3 are structural planting
  • Last 2 are filling in the structure

Canopy layer

Plant the big trees

Looking up at leaf canopy

The Backyard Forest by Jake Rayson

natureworks.org.uk/backyard/canopy

Press P to see notes and credits
Work licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike, embedded work may have other licenses.
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  • Greetings & welcome to The Backyard Forest
  • This is section 6, all about the canopy layer, the big trees
  • Before we begin, couple of things to be aware of
    • Slideshow always available online
    • Press p for notes

Course overview

Looking up at leaf canopy

  1. Introducing
  2. Plan
  3. Design
  4. Protect
  5. Perennial Veg
  6. Canopy πŸ‘ˆ
  7. Ground Prep
  8. Shrubs & Ground Cover
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  • Course divided into 3 parts
  • First 3 are about watching & thinking
  • Next 3 are structural planting
  • Last 2 are filling in the structure

What you’ll learn

Looking up at leaf canopy

  • Choosing tree species
  • Planning trees
  • Tree planting
Species β€” Planning β€” Planting
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1. Species

Species β€” Planning β€” Planting
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1. Species

Treeline of oaks

  1. Choose πŸ‘ˆ
  2. Fruit trees
  3. Nut trees
  4. Other trees
Species β€” Planning β€” Planting
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1.1 Choose

Prickly Sweet Chestnuts

  • Crop πŸ‘ˆ
  • Size
  • Position
  • Wildlife
Species β€” Planning β€” Planting
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  • Fruit, nuts, leaves, sticks, firewood

1.1 Choose

View up Italian Alder’s trunk

  • Crop
  • Size πŸ‘ˆ
  • Position
  • Wildlife
Species β€” Planning β€” Planting
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  • Choose for size of garden
  • Small garden can have trees, depends on size and shape eg Italian Alder

1.1 Choose

View of meadow & wooded valley

  • Crop
  • Size
  • Position πŸ‘ˆ
  • Wildlife
Species β€” Planning β€” Planting
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  • How exposed? Make shelter!
  • How close to buildings, utilities, neighbours?

1.1 Choose

White froth of hawthorn flowers

  • Crop
  • Size
  • Position
  • Wildlife πŸ‘ˆ
Species β€” Planning β€” Planting
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1. Species

Treeline of oaks

  1. Choose
  2. Fruit trees πŸ‘ˆ
  3. Nut trees
  4. Other trees
Species β€” Planning β€” Planting
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1.2 Fruit trees

Hand cradling newly grafted apple tree

Species β€” Planning β€” Planting
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  • Consider training fruit tree for smaller space

1.2 Fruit trees

Species β€” Planning β€” Planting
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1.2 Fruit trees

Close-up of crabapple blossom

Species β€” Planning β€” Planting
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1.2 Fruit trees

Man with hat with pruning saw, pruning bare tree

Species β€” Planning β€” Planting
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  • Learn how to prune! Find local workshop.
  • Cultivated fruit trees need pruning
  • Increases harvest, prevents disease
  • Overloaded fruit tree can damage tree

Photo is Martin Hayes, working with The People’s Orchard in St Dogmaels, Pembrokeshire

Unusual fruits

Hawthorn haws

  • Hawthorn πŸ‘ˆ
  • Sea Buckthorn
  • Cornus
  • Juneberry
  • Elaeagnus
Species β€” Planning β€” Planting
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Unusual fruits

Orange Sea Buckthorn berries

  • Hawthorn
  • Sea Buckthorn πŸ‘ˆ
  • Cornus
  • Juneberry
  • Elaeagnus
Species β€” Planning β€” Planting
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Unusual fruits

Cornus kousa fruit

  • Hawthorn
  • Sea Buckthorn
  • Cornus πŸ‘ˆ
  • Juneberry
  • Elaeagnus
Species β€” Planning β€” Planting
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  • Cornus capitata, Benthamβ€˜s Cornel
  • Cornus kousa, very ornamental

Unusual fruits

Close-up of round Juneberries

  • Hawthorn
  • Sea Buckthorn
  • Cornus
  • Juneberry πŸ‘ˆ
  • Elaeagnus
Species β€” Planning β€” Planting
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  • Some Amelanchiers beautiful trees, A. canadensis, A. lamarckii
  • Shrubby Saskatoon A. alinfolia more productive

Unusual fruits

Cluster of red Autumn Olive fruits

  • Hawthorn
  • Sea Buckthorn
  • Cornus
  • Juneberry
  • Elaeagnus πŸ‘ˆ
Species β€” Planning β€” Planting
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  • E. umbellata & E. x ebbingei, pretty big to about 5m
  • Quite shrubby!
  • Goumi E. multiflora smaller still

1. Species

Treeline of oaks

  1. Choose
  2. Fruit trees
  3. Nut trees πŸ‘ˆ
  4. Other trees
Species β€” Planning β€” Planting
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1.3 Nut trees

Nut Wizard nut harvesting cage on a stick in action

  • Harvest πŸ‘ˆ
  • Squirrels
  • Hazel
  • Sweet Chestnut
Species β€” Planning β€” Planting
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1.3 Nut trees

Grey Squirrel standing up

  • Harvest
  • Squirrels πŸ‘ˆ
  • Hazel
  • Sweet Chestnut
Species β€” Planning β€” Planting
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1.3 Nut trees

Hazelnuts on the tree

  • Harvest
  • Squirrels
  • Hazel πŸ‘ˆ
  • Sweet Chestnut
Species β€” Planning β€” Planting
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  • Good choice for UK, grows natively

1.3 Nut trees

Sweet Chestnut, in opened casing

  • Harvest
  • Squirrels
  • Hazel
  • Sweet Chestnut πŸ‘ˆ
Species β€” Planning β€” Planting
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  • Brought to UK by Romans, very hard wood used for roof tiles
  • With climate change, do well in West Wales

1. Species

Treeline of oaks

  1. Choose
  2. Fruit trees
  3. Nut trees
  4. Other trees πŸ‘ˆ
Species β€” Planning β€” Planting
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1.4 Other trees

Close-up Italian Alder bark

  • Nitrogen fixing πŸ‘ˆ
  • Windbreaks
  • Habitat
Species β€” Planning β€” Planting
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1.4 Other trees

Stormswept Osier Bed

  • Nitrogen fixing
  • Windbreaks πŸ‘ˆ
  • Habitat
Species β€” Planning β€” Planting
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1.4 Other trees

Oak tree

  • Nitrogen fixing
  • Windbreaks
  • Habitat πŸ‘ˆ
Species β€” Planning β€” Planting
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My top 10 trees

Species β€” Planning β€” Planting
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2. Planning

Species β€” Planning β€” Planting
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2. Planning

Young Sweet Chestnut in background, mature nuts in foreground

  1. Map πŸ‘ˆ
  2. Windbreak
  3. Spacing
  4. Pollination
Species β€” Planning β€” Planting
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2.1 Map

Screenshot of Plan lecture title slide

  • Make a map πŸ‘ˆ
  • CAD or paper
  • Symbols are light
Species β€” Planning β€” Planting
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  • Make a map!
  • Not essential but damn sight easier
  • Make the big mistakes first

2.1 Map

Paper forest garden plan

  • Make a map
  • CAD or paper πŸ‘ˆ
  • Symbols are light
Species β€” Planning β€” Planting
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2.1 Map

Closeup of CAD plan showing tree circles

  • Make a map
  • CAD or paper
  • Symbols are light πŸ‘ˆ
Species β€” Planning β€” Planting
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2. Planning

Young Sweet Chestnut in background, mature nuts in foreground

  1. Map
  2. Windbreak πŸ‘ˆ
  3. Spacing
  4. Pollination
Species β€” Planning β€” Planting
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2.2 Windbreak

Young Cornus windbreak leading down to polytunnel

Species β€” Planning β€” Planting
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2.2 Windbreak

Yellow flower of Broom

Species β€” Planning β€” Planting
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2.2 Windbreak

Dead hedge in action

Species β€” Planning β€” Planting
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2.2 Windbreak

Screenshot of protection lecture first slide

Species β€” Planning β€” Planting
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2. Planning

Young Sweet Chestnut in background, mature nuts in foreground

  1. Map
  2. Windbreak
  3. Spacing πŸ‘ˆ
  4. Pollination
Species β€” Planning β€” Planting
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  • Photo by Visjesh K on Flickr

2.3 Spacing

β€œClimax Vegetation” illustration

  • Mimic woodland edge πŸ‘ˆ
  • ΒΌ to Β½ average canopy diameter
  • Choose the right rootstock
Species β€” Planning β€” Planting
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Climax vegetation. Woodland edge is near where cool temperate garden β€œwants” to be

Illustration used with permission from Agroforestry Research Trust

2.3 Spacing

Illustration of tree spacing in forest garden

  • Mimic woodland edge
  • ΒΌ to Β½ average canopy diameter πŸ‘ˆ
  • Choose the right rootstock
Species β€” Planning β€” Planting
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2.3 Spacing

Rootstock chart

  • Mimic woodland edge
  • ΒΌ to Β½ average canopy diameter
  • Choose the right rootstock πŸ‘ˆ
Species β€” Planning β€” Planting
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2. Planning

Young Sweet Chestnut in background, mature nuts in foreground

  1. Map
  2. Windbreak
  3. Spacing
  4. Pollination πŸ‘ˆ
Species β€” Planning β€” Planting
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2.4 Pollination

Beautifully lit white cherry blossom

Species β€” Planning β€” Planting
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3. Planting

Planning β€” Species β€” Planting
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3. Planting

Newly planted tree, wheelbarrow in background

  1. Plant πŸ‘ˆ
  2. Stake
  3. Mulch
  4. Protect
Planning β€” Species β€” Planting
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3.1 Plant

Tree roots cleaned with water, showing circular roots caused by pot

  • Wash off compost πŸ‘ˆ
  • Uncurl roots
  • Dig smallest hole
  • Water
Planning β€” Species β€” Planting
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  • No fertiliser!
  • Plant young specimens, establish better & quicker

3.1 Plant

Tree roots cleaned with water, showing circular roots caused by pot

  • Wash off compost
  • Uncurl roots πŸ‘ˆ
  • Dig smallest hole
  • Water
Planning β€” Species β€” Planting
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3.1 Plant

Planting spade upright in grass

  • Wash off compost
  • Uncurl roots
  • Dig smallest hole πŸ‘ˆ
  • Water
Planning β€” Species β€” Planting
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3.1 Plant

Filling watering can from tap

  • Wash off compost
  • Uncurl roots
  • Dig smallest hole
  • Water πŸ‘ˆ
Planning β€” Species β€” Planting
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3. Planting

Newly planted tree, wheelbarrow in background

  1. Plant
  2. Stake πŸ‘ˆ
  3. Mulch
  4. Protect
Planning β€” Species β€” Planting
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3.1 Stake

Tree staked low

Stake low. Don’t stake unless:

  • Dwarf rootstock
  • Older, 2m+ high
  • Very exposed
Planning β€” Species β€” Planting
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3. Planting

Newly planted tree, wheelbarrow in background

  1. Plant
  2. Stake
  3. Mulch πŸ‘ˆ
  4. Protect
Planning β€” Species β€” Planting
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3.3 Mulch

Newly planted tree with cardboard & wood chip mulch

  1. Cardboard & wood chip πŸ‘ˆ
  2. Weed & top-up
  3. Grow ground cover
Planning β€” Species β€” Planting
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3.3 Mulch

Small apple tree rather overgrown with grass

  1. Cardboard & wood chip
  2. Weed & top-up πŸ‘ˆ
  3. Grow ground cover
Planning β€” Species β€” Planting
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3.3 Mulch

Purple blue flowers of Ground Ivy

  1. Cardboard & wood chip
  2. Weed & top-up
  3. Grow ground cover πŸ‘ˆ
Planning β€” Species β€” Planting
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  • Ultimate aim

3. Planting

Newly planted tree, wheelbarrow in background

  1. Plant
  2. Stake
  3. Mulch
  4. Protect πŸ‘ˆ
Planning β€” Species β€” Planting
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3.4 Protect

Rampant grass meadow

  1. Grass
  2. Rabbits πŸ‡
  3. Ride-on mowers 🚜
Planning β€” Species β€” Planting
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  • Top tree killers!
  • And protect from wind!

Backyard Forest takeaways

Looking up at leaf canopy

  • Grow what you like
  • Think of the wildlife
  • Plant for final size
Species β€” Planning β€” Planting
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The End

Small edible forest garden, wooden planks and woodchip paths

hello@natureworks.org.uk

natureworks.org.uk/newsletter

Music: Chegsticks by I Am The Mighty Jungulator

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Course overview

Looking up at leaf canopy

  1. Introducing
  2. Plan
  3. Design
  4. Protect
  5. Perennial Veg
  6. Canopy πŸ‘ˆ
  7. Ground Prep
  8. Shrubs & Ground Cover
2 / 61
  • Course divided into 3 parts
  • First 3 are about watching & thinking
  • Next 3 are structural planting
  • Last 2 are filling in the structure
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