Everyone loves a tree; right? Not if it is a Leylandii (Leyland Cypress) These fast growing trees have been the subject of many bitter disputes between neighbors and has led to punch-ups and even some deaths source
As you can see in the first photograph it can grow very tall. Not exactly the kind of thing you would want in a suburban handkerchief sized lawn. It is more at home in the landscape as a wind break for fields or as a cash crop for construction timber.
Most people we must assume buy them when they are just a few feet high but in just fifteen years they can grow to this height! (15 metres or 45 feet) Could you imagine a row of these planted as a garden hedge?
There are more Leylandii in Britain than there are people but it's not all bad news especially if you are into growing forests for profit. This species of tree is a hybrid that was engineered in the 19th century
As is often the case with newly developed strains of invasive species of trees that are introduced to make a quick buck. Once they get a foothold they compete with the native trees and usually win.
As we have seen in many countries around the world. There is now an effort to remove these aggressive but profitable (for some) trees.
In South Africa there is an ongoing battle to remove the Port Jackson tree and in the USA they have passed laws to eradicate certain invasive trees
Native British trees are pretty rare to see these days. They cannot compete with the Leylandii and other introduced species for profit.
My post for @old-guy-photos #treetuesday friendly competition and the #landscapephotography initiated by @juliank.
PS I'm not against profit but there is a much bigger issue here. The destruction of the natural habitat!
Swipe image to enlarge
| Category | (Landscape photography) |
| Camera | (Canon EOS 70D) |
| Exposure | (1/320) |
| f Stop | (f/8) |
| ISO | (100) |
| Lens | (Sigma 30mm) |
An informative essay with great pictures. I wish people were more aware of how we’re all being manipulated to these non-native species.
The invasive species issue goes beyond trees too. In America, there are actually bylaws in home owner’s associations (HOAs) requiring manicured lawns with less than 15% weeds. And the kinds of grasses permitted are controlled too. The problem is that these bylaws almost always EXCLUDE native grasses and relegate native plants to the category of weeds. The HOA in our old neighborhood categorized jasmine as a weed. We love jasmine! My husband is from Iran and jasmine is grown in everyone’s gardens. To meet these HOA requirements, there is simply no environmentally sound way to maintain an expanse of non-native green lawn and eradicated so-called weeds.
This obsession with green expanses of cultivated, non-native grass lawns is ludicrous. For example, tall fescue grass is a lush growing, naturally seeding grass native to the midwest of the country. In the midwest, those HOA bylaws require your lawn to be kept trimmed below a set height, eliminating the ability of the grass to put out those seed heads and naturally reseed itself. So, chemical weed control and fertilizers are used when purchased grass seed is laid down EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
Another problem with tall fescue, is that it’s become the go-to grass/sod for real estate developers all over the country. So, it’s planted here in North Carolina, for instance. It comes in fine in the Spring. But, the weather here is just too hot for it, so it dies back from the heat by the end of June without constant watering. Even with watering, it still browns in the withering swelter of a Southern August. When it dies back like that, weeds take off – which means more poison-for-the-environment weedkiller or fines from the HOA.
HOAs would do well to require native species whenever possible. For example, in the Missouri neighborhood where we lived before moving back to North Carolina, the HOA should not have encouraged the planting of St. Augustine grass – that grass is difficult to cultivate just about anywhere outside of Florida (the grass is named for the city of St. Augustine in Florida). People here in NC struggle to keep it healthy – it just takes so dang much watering. But, it is very heat tolerant – not a necessary nor even beneficial characteristic in Missouri, where it doesn’t come in until almost summer – and then it dies back very early, by the middle of September; which then requires much more weed control.
It’s so bad I don’t even know what the native grass species is in NC. I think it’s in the Burmuda family of grasses, but those are all deemed weeds by HOAs. Y’know, when I was a kid, green-green grass was everywhere from early Spring until Autumn. When the trees were displaying their colors, the lawns turned golden. I remember running through the tall grass, up to my knees as kid. When the grass was cut, it was still above my ankles. Now, everyone’s lawns are required to be kept so close trimmed they never come above the soles of our shoes – even though keeping it trimmed that short makes room for weeds to take hold easier, thus requiring more bad-for-the-environment treatments.
It’s all just so illogical.
Well I suppose you have answered the reasoning behind this behaviour.
There is no profit in native species. As they grow naturally in that location.
"The problem is that these bylaws almost always EXCLUDE native grasses and relegate native plants to the category of weeds."
Astonishing that no one has joined up the dots on this one.
Excellent comments @momzillanc on this sorry state of affairs. 100% upvote.
Interesting article @molometer but sad to read. Reminds of our poor native bluebells trying to survive against the Spanish invader and the grey squirrel invasion. 😢
I didn't realise that Leylandii were an engineered hybrid. It's amazing what you can learn on Steemit!
Thanks largely to the Victorians, we have a lot of invasive species as you have mentioned.
The Red squirrel is now virtually gone and is restricted to Scotland.
I guess it shows nature is brutal and there is a constant evolutionary war taking place every minute perhaps. Is it true also with the black squirrels there as well?
Nature is red in tooth and claw as they say.
Survival of the most adaptable is just the way it is and always will be.
Whatever the case, I think diversity should be preserved:)
Yep monoculture is a dead end. Diversity is the way to go.
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Playing with nature is a dangerous game.
Very true and we have been doing it far too long.
An interesting variety of trees. I have not seen these. Thank you for the interesting information about the trees.
I love trees! Trees are good, specially now, to combat the global warming.
Our city is having problems with certain trees here. One is multiplying too fast.
very remarkable (tree) this friend. @molometer with such a short time this tree could have a very large size.
I can see why those would be a problem!