I like my trees!

As I write this article we are getting drowned on again!

I mean I know that we should be watering our gardens, and evergreen trees and shrubs until it freezes. But for goodness sake I'm wet through!!

Been looking at my trees today.

I've been pruning my elms and oaks and as my pines get older I think they are shedding more -a bit like yours truly to be honest!

With those strong winds last week, I had a load of damaged branches that needed to be cleaned up and removed. The problem is that breaks in the branches allows insect and disease to get into them. That's why the broken portions should be properly pruned to branch collars or other appropriate points.

Trees are important you know - and I don't think we take too much care of ours in this country. Certainly I seem to be surrounded by people who see a tree as an opportunity to take out their axes and chainsaws.

But look after your trees and they'll look after you!

What is the world coming to?

I've a confession to make.

I'm no spring chicken!

In fact, your Garden Expert is probably closer to the Victor Meldrew generation than the Ant and Dec generation and the 'Long Suffering' is always chastising me about my 'What on earth is the world coming to?' protestations.

However even she almost choked on her Shredded Wheat this morning when she opened the newspaper to see a story about members of the public being asked to water a city's trees!

I kid you not!

The residents of that fine city of Derby are indeed being asked to help ensure that newly-planted trees survice - by regularly watering them.

And the reason?

Well, according to the chap from the council "The more money we spend on watering then the less we have to spend on planting trees so if the community are able to assist us in getting these young trees established, that means we can continue with the tree-planting programme," he said.

Oh.

Well that's all right then.

What next?

Feed your local schoolchildren so that we can spend more on books?