Shade and Privacy
I'm already getting ideas about strategic use of shade and enhancing privacy. The main problem with the south fence is that it's all tall trees. This puts a lot of shade high in the air where it can affect a lot of the property. Meanwhile, everyone can see right past the trunks and watch us walking around and going about our lives.
I'd like a lot fewer trees on the fence line. And I'd like more vegetation at less than ten feet tall. I'm thinking trellises with blackberries, grapes, passion vine, hops, that sort of thing. To be fair, a lot of that cover would go away in the winter, but some is better than none. I'd have to be sure that whatever goes there is harmless to horses.
Meanwhile, I'd like more, shorter trees elsewhere. Good pruning can keep them manageable sizes, keep the branches accessible. And also help prevent gigantic branches dropping on us from fifty feet during an ice storm.
Most of the trees are towering oaks and pecans, some of them diseased and crumbling. I'd like to have figs, persimmons, pawpaws, native plums, mulberries and all sorts. Not just your usual apple, pear, peach that folks often go for, though a few of those might be nice too.
#PermacultureDesignCertificate #PDC #OregonStateUniversity #permaculture