Working upwards, I first chopped down the numerous shoots and suckers from around the base so we could position ladders, then gradually clipped from underneath. Found a beautiful old birds nest hidden inside. Ian's job as my lovely assistant was to hold steady first the kitchen steps, then the full sized stepladder and pass me the relevant loppers( choice of 4 from sturdy ones for cutting through branches to telescopic ones). The main problem was the tangled vines of Clematis 'Balearica' with which it was smothered - besides raking it off, Ian was tugging hard at a length of it while I snipped until he staggered back with an armful of the stuff. It's never like this in the gardening programmes! 
After 2 hours work, got to the point where my upper arms were aching too much to continue. You never seem to have quite the right tool for a job - I could have done with some cheap and nasty lightweight telescopic loppers, the 'professional' ones were heavy to wield for so long. There's a few annoying straggly twigs out of my reach that will have to wait for Ian to bring back a pole pruner from his parents.We are however very satisfied with the final result and we're not the only ones- our next door neighbour Dee came out especially to admire our handiwork and ask whether the tree had always been there!
4 comments:
You've both done a good job there! I do like the metalwork beneath.
And have you put some of the leaves in the airing cupboard to dry so you can put them in your bolonaise sauce and stew?
We have one in our garden I grew from a little plant from an offer on a muesli box donkey's years ago. I planted it near the back door, not thinking 15 or more years later DH would worry about the roots against the house. but he has been trimming it in a similar way as you have done.
Sandy
You have inspired me, I must give my bay tree some breathing space and care and it might grow up as big and strong as yours.
Its never like that in the gardening programmes because they don't have to do it all themselves! The nest is just so beautiful
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