I have recently prepared a plot for growing on and it's ready for planting in, as a result I've cracked on with clearing a lower level plot to fix as a garden before planting as all the shit has to be dragged across my ready plot; anyway, the dilemma is that in terms of sunlight this plot is better situated than the prepared one but has a huge pine tree at one end. Is there any point planting there or will the pine win out every time?

The answer to this dilemma means I've got a couple of days work left or potentially a couple of months!

I have flowers and another tree not far from the pine I have, it hasn't effected their growth at all. Specially when they are all watered well and good. I can't imagine the pine in your area effecting your garden if you water it properly. Lots of rain always helps. And if you know any woman who is due to give birth, ask if you can have the placenta (if she has no intention of turning it into pills or jerky), plant it near (not right on top) of where your plants/tree's are, great for causing them to shoot up/spread out and good for the ground in general. Sorry if that was TMI, but I've done it and have trees that have doubled in size after burying it in a trench line that runs water to them as a result...I can see it doing wonders for a garden as well.

StarsChildren wrote:
lol

erm...thanks?!

Suddenly Monsanto doesn't look so bad eh?

hey, i think pine needles are acidic. maybe.
but some plants hate that and some love it, eg blueberries like acidic.
i have a huge pine tree in my yard and flowers grow around it but no grass or anything. they have shallow roots too thats why they are more likely to blow down.
i think chop it down, sell the wood or keep it for fires, and get your kids to plant real trees

Sorry oi (and andy), didn't mean to gross anyone out... where's dubs at? He's always got some kind of advice for gardens.

feather wrote:
Hehe...or he could always go for some conventional animal shit!

If thats a no go, I suggest the next best thing, id go with pure technical grade fertilizers from yarra.

www.yara.com/products_services/fertilize...al_brands/index.aspx

Complex is a great all round www.yara.com/products_services/fertilize...brands/yaramila.aspx

www.yara.com/about/where_we_operate/greece.aspx

of course manures, fish or seaweed slurries are always better for stuff we want to eat!


Re the pine tree...depends how close is it? Got a photo?

Also depends on how much water you will be adding (irrigation) or if you are relying on rainfall.

Things can grow ok near trees with adequate water...but if there isnt much water to go around, the tree can win out. Depends how far away it is of course.

I have the same situation on a block of land, I have many pine trees on it...but they are skirted high off the ground...things even grow directly under them even if they are given plenty of water, because the sun gets in for most of the day. And you said you aint got a sun issue either.

Cut the water off though and they get dry really fast...whereas they dont as much away from any trees.

Same goes for commercial tree orchards where you might have thousands of trees planted really close...just about anything still grows under or near the trees, if its on or near a dripline and gets water, (if there is enough sun)...then once you get a foot or two away from the dripline, nothing much grows at all!

Its all about the water, Stars said the same from her experiences, and i'd have to agree.

Cheers y'all. I've got some decisions to make...

I suggest you stick to your original plan. If the plot you have dug has a bit more shade that's a good t hing. the pine will be sucking huge amounts of moisture from the ground,leeching nutrients and generally not helping a veg plot too.

dubmeup wrote:
I could kiss you! I was resigned to a whole load more digging.

Um, please don't Oi

Pitiful resistance.

oioioi wrote:


I'll ave that if she's not interested. Thanks.

Harrumph!

Got some brocolli, cauliflower,onions, 2 types of cabbage this morning, had to carry out all the dry leaves n pine needles from the lower garden before I could plant them, I'd dragged a 3rd of it up 2 flights of stairs and disposed of it then the heavens opened, which would be great for the plants if they were planted!

I didn't laugh really

Well, half my plot is planted now but photobucket isn't logging me in so I can't share my new baby with you

i thought you lived in the middle of an inferno?

batou wrote:
It's Autumn now.