A sorted orchard

Ta da.   Here is my orchard; ready for show at long, long last.

I have built new, complicated fencing around each tree. Four tomato stakes of wood hammered in deep, and then wrapped around with wire fencing to keep out the deer.

But my innovation is to have a gap at the bottom.   That way I can reach in and weed around the base all year.   And pile on lawn clippings as a mulch around each tree.

And by removing all the random stones that were propping up the old fencing, I can now mow closer to the base without my heart in my mouth worrying I would hit a rock.

There are two gaps where trees died. So I have to replace them with more robust Ardeche apple tree varieties this winter. Luckily there is just such an expert nurseryman who has a passion for the old varieties from the Ardeche and Cevennes.

I can celebrate by studying his online catalogue and planning the new orchard assault.