An overgrown acre

[emordnilap]

Trouble is, left alone, most land will get choked with nettles and brambles and extremely tough grass,

In the longer term, land reverts to woodland if left alone

Yes, in the longer term, this is also true.

[biffvernon]

I think there's a really big issue to be tackled over how we managed our little plots. Some 98% of our wild-flower rich meadows have been lost over the last half century. By maximising the number and diversity of native wild plants on our plots we really can make a contribution to the sustainability of the invertebrates that for such an essential role.


Take, for example, the hedge mustard Sisymbrium officinale, a scruffy little weed with tiny yellow flowers that is pretty common throughout Britain but universally overlooked. It's a food plant for many creatures (including humans in extremis) and, as a cabbage, may divert 'pests' from the cabbages you want to grow.

Of course you need to keep your cabbage weeded - an area big enough for your cabbage to feel no competition for water, nutrients and light - but beyond that, let the wild flowers blossom.

[hardworkinghippy]

On an acre, the first thing I'd do if the land were mine would be to plant a few fruit and nut trees then work the rest of the growing space around them.

[extractorfan]

On an acre, the first thing I'd do if the land were mine would be to plant a few fruit and nut trees then work the rest of the growing space around them.

What nut trees would you plant? just out of interest.

[biffvernon]

If you go for hazels, take care with choosing the variety. Some are good for nuts, others are good for coppice wood.

(All are too damn good for squirrels.)

[hardworkinghippy]

Too true !

On a small plot I'd steer clear of walnuts, they secrete juglone which helps to prevent anything growing to close to their canopy. (Black cherries do the same thing to an extent.)

It depends where you are and what your soil is like but you can grow almonds (Be wary of frost), filberts, hazelnuts and sweet chestnuts in some parts of the UK. Check with the local gardeners.

Chestnuts are great but the tree grows very tall and will take over. Perhaps you can find free chestnuts near you anyway.

I love hazelnuts, they're small easily kept trees and you can use the whips for the garden or use them for cuttings, so I've planted a lot over the past few years - this "Merveille de Bollwiller" is only three years old and got an handfull of good sized nuts from it this year. I'm still waiting to see nuts from the "Longue d'Espagne" I planted at the same time.



I planted one red variety, Rouge de Zeller which is pretty in leaf but the nuts are smaller than the other two.



There's surely a good variety of hazels to choose from where you are - I think hazels are indigenous to the UK and grow well there. Ask around and someone may have some cuttings.

[biffvernon]

They don't take easily from cuttings. You have to pleach them.

See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp4m7zvSFDg