Author Topic: Thinking about planting some gorse (am I mad??) (Read 5091 times)

Creagan · « **on:** March 24, 2016, 08:44:34 pm »

I'm looking at ways of camouflaging a sewerage treatment system which sits in the field in front of a house I'm building. What's visible is a large (2x1.5m) plastic lid plus a short pillar sticking up. Whatever I do with it, I would like it to look natural, so my idea was to surround it with some stones to look like a tumbledown old wall, and then I was thinking of planting some gorse in and around it. I really, really, do not want to have to out a fence up around it as that will just make it stand out even more I think.

So, any advice on planting gorse?? I realise most people are trying to get rid of it! How deep are the roots- the sewerage system pipes are about 70cm below the ground.

I could consider planting hawthorn instead but I think it might be too slow to establish?

clydesdaleclopper · « **Reply #1 on:** March 25, 2016, 09:44:11 am »

How about rugosa rose instead. It grows pretty quickly and won't spread like the gorse. If you get a scented one it will also hide any smell.

Creagan · « **Reply #2 on:** March 25, 2016, 03:59:37 pm »

Thanks, I think that might be what i have growing up the back garden already actually!
With a bit of googling I'm finding that gorse is actually considered quite slow growing, which surprised me. Hawthorn, or at least 'quickthorn' appears to be quite a bit faster, but the rose might be the fastest of the lot.

If all else were equal I would prefer to do it in gorse because it would look the most natural. Most fields around here have a clump of stones with gorse growing in amongst them. Whereas a patch of roses would be a wee bit out of place! Perhaps I'll chuck in a mixture of all three and see how it goes.

waterbuffalofarmer · « **Reply #3 on:** March 25, 2016, 05:30:10 pm »

Be careful of gorse though, as it spreads very quickly. My land I have to keep harrowing and chopping because of gorse, a bloomin pain it is!

oor wullie · « **Reply #4 on:** March 25, 2016, 06:40:47 pm »

We have 2 gorse bushes that are only knee high and in the 4 years we have been here have never tried to spread. I don't know why, perhaps the ground is too acid and peaty?

I really like them and the yellow flowers but I can see why they could be trouble if they tried to take over.

I once saw an old machine (in Caithness I think)used for bruising gorse so it could be fed to cattle. Apparently it is quite a good feed (or perhaps it just seemed like a good feed when crofters animals were facing famine and had nothing else). Obviously it needs to be bruised fairly well.

CarolineJ · « **Reply #5 on:** March 25, 2016, 06:53:16 pm »

My horses and sheep are all partial to nibbling on a bit of gorse, even when there's grass around. Agree it doesn't grow that fast though.

Ghdp · « **Reply #6 on:** March 25, 2016, 07:23:48 pm »

A propos gorse growing - did you all know that if you squeeze the flowers it smells of coconuts. I didnt until someone told me so I thought I would post even if it isnt really on point!

SallyintNorth · « **Reply #7 on:** March 25, 2016, 08:01:04 pm »

Quote from: Ghdp on March 25, 2016, 07:23:48 pm

A propos gorse growing - did you all know that if you squeeze the flowers it smells of coconuts. I didnt until someone told me so I thought I would post even if it isnt really on point!

It doesn't smell like cocunit to me. The air smells like athlete's foot powder to me when the gorse is on bloom!

waterbuffalofarmer · « **Reply #8 on:** March 25, 2016, 09:12:18 pm »

Quote from: Ghdp on March 25, 2016, 07:23:48 pm

A propos gorse growing - did you all know that if you squeeze the flowers it smells of coconuts. I didnt until someone told me so I thought I would post even if it isnt really on point!

I understand where you're coming from on that one, it does have a coconut smell to it, along with a greenery smell to it too.

Hamish Crofter · « **Reply #9 on:** March 27, 2016, 10:09:07 pm »

I'm also thinking of planting gorse along the edge of my access road onto my croft. It's about 200 mtrs long but am a bit worried that even with annual pruning it could get out of hand. It looks natural and does have a wonderful coconut smell.

crofter 65 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 17, 2016, 10:32:34 am »

Beware Gorse can be extremely difficult to control, I have it on my croft and trying to get rid of it in places, it does give good privacy but it spreads very quickly keeping it in check is hard as cutting it only helps it grow.

Hamish Crofter · « **Reply #11 on:** April 18, 2016, 08:45:46 pm »

We have none close by and I'm concerned that any I plant will spread to neighbouring crofts and I'll not be popular!
Anyone got suggestions for alternatives

doganjo · « **Reply #12 on:** April 21, 2016, 03:33:55 pm »

Quote from: Ghdp on March 25, 2016, 07:23:48 pm

A propos gorse growing - did you all know that if you squeeze the flowers it smells of coconuts. I didnt until someone told me so I thought I would post even if it isnt really on point!

Gorse flower wine is delicious but it doesn't taste of coconuts

I wouldn't drink it if it did.

devonlady · « **Reply #13 on:** May 23, 2016, 09:06:25 am »

You can also pickle the buds.

Hellybee · « **Reply #14 on:** May 23, 2016, 11:41:17 am »

I smell coconuts

We have lots of it, great on banks for shelter. But we ve never planted it ourselves, and yes it does need keeping under bay. Ponies love the flowers.