Does a tree know when it is dying, and put out a final glorious effort? Thus, in the spring of this year, a huge yew, for the first time in the forty years the inhabitants of the land had known it, put out a profusion of flowers. Low and high, but especially high and welcome on the lower reaches, almost touching the lawn. Then, a few weeks ago, a neighbour, who has a clear view of the eastern side of the tree, reported much browning of foliage and one big branch particularly affected. And, sure enough, even where the flowering had been at its most prolific, low down, the tips were in very many cases, browning.
Specialists have reported many cases of dead, dying or ailing trees after our recent extremes of weather, especially where shallow rooting trees like beech and birch are concerned. On the other hand, there have been early scares which have proved to be alarmist: trees do recover and there is often virtue in doing nothing, unless the tree is advanced in its ailing and is near a road. In the case of the yew, nothing is likely to fall on anyone, so wait and see.
In the meantime, a news letter from Southern Tree Surgeons throws up an odd word allelopathy, which tells you something about the struggle for life that many plants have. For some plants actually use a strategy that kills off rivals and thus ensures their own success by producing chemicals that inhibit the growth of other plants. That's allelopathy.
Everyone can work out for himself or herself that under very dense foliage or under trees whose branches sweep the ground, not much can grow. They instance lime or spruce. Black walnut, is apparently, a classic case in that it produces the chemical juglone, which inhibits the growth of many trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants.
But most important and least recognised, says the news letter, are some of the grasses. So, when you plant young trees, mulch from near the trunk to twelve inches beyond the rootball. And for at least three years after, extend the radius of the mulch from twelve to twenty four inches per year. And don't use fresh grass clippings or walnut chips for mulch. You never knew planting trees was such a delicate matter.