Last week we completed the second of four full surveys of memorial trees that we carry out each year. Of course, being at Sun Rising most days, we are always looking out for anything unusual, but the survey days provide time to focus so nothing is missed. We are mainly looking at saplings less than 10 years old, but also cast an eye over the older trees.
One of the key tasks of the May survey is to remove tree guards. This happens when a sapling has grown sufficiently to cope without any protection from wind and weather. It is usually when the tree is around 7 or 8 years old, when the main trunk is around 3″ in diameter. This year, we removed around 45 guards. I always get a sense of the newly unwrapped trees feeling rather naked and exposed – but they soon toughen up. The guards are packed up and sent to be recycled.
Each year there seems to be one or two species that struggle. Last year it was the Wild Cherry (Prunus avium): weakened by a wet winter and saturated soil, followed by drought, in 2020, the cold spring of 2021 gave them a hard start, but this year they are thankfully looking fine.
Viburnum Leaf Beetle Damage on Guelder Rose
2022 is the year for our Guelder Rose (Viburnum opulus) to suffer. The problem is Viburnum leaf beetle (Pyrrhalta viburni), known as VLB. This native creature can be quite a pest. Both caterpillars and beetles are eaten by ladybirds and lacewings and insectivorous birds, and in the past decade since first seeing it at Sun Rising we’ve left the trees to manage. Very few have ever been badly affected. This year, the VLB has been way out of balance, though, affecting nearly half our eighty memorial Guelder Roses, and completely defoliating eleven.
Whether it has been the climate, the weather, or a population that has gently grown after years of being left alone, we don’t know, but with the help of some sturdy volunteers we have been squishing the little caterpillars, one by one. Those that have been defoliated at this time of year should have a new flush of growth, with healthy fresh leaves. But the trees can’t do that every year – hence our stepping in now to make sure that any future problem is less severe.
Nature is always a marvellous challenge. As I stand back and look at the areas of growing woodland, where birch, oak, cherries and other trees that we planted 15 years ago are now standing 15 to 20 foot tall, my confidence rallies. It’ll be OK!
If you have a Guelder Rose planted as a memorial tree here at Sun Rising and you’re concerned, do get in touch.
