Huge oak tree!

[ilovemyelectricblanket]

Hi all,
We have a decent sized garden but it is dominated by a beautiful old oak tree that is probably around 200 years old.

This lovely old beast chucks out so much debris that any space under it is unpleasant to walk on.

Meaning that we can only use 1/3 of our garden in summer (unless we mow the lawn first).
Im thinking of putting some kind of netting underneath to catch the debris??.... and wondered if any of you had any ideas to help me?
Im clueless but want to enjoy all of our garden this summer!
Any ideas folks gratefully received.
:o)

has it been seen by a tree surgeon recently? suggest its done every 3 or 4 years as otherwise you might find the debris is rather large! we had quite a large branch come off whilst i was hanging the washing out last year....nowhere near me, but still made me jump out of my skin - it was our fault as the branch was rotten and i should have got tree seen to earlier. if you get a surgeon in, check with local council first to see if the tree has a protection order on it. surgeon can still chop off dead bits, but anything dangerous but not dead would need written ok from council first

Our tree is so big that we cant afford to have it trimmed. We had a quote of £2000 and we are only allowed to trim it back by 20% as it is listed.

Very annoying. I don't really want to spend that kind of money for 20% of trimmage. If that makes sense.

Ive been looking at shade sails but I fear it would give us too much shade (we have plenty from the tree already).

What can I put under the tree to catch the debris? Any ideas most welcome.

where do you get the shade sails from as we have trouble with pigions roosting over one of our patios, under the tree and pooing on it?

i would strongly recommend that you get someone to go up and check the tree over periodically though....i would have died if i'd been under the branch when it fell

hello ilovemyelectricblanket
By debris do you mean leaves and acorns in the Autumn?
We have an oak tree in the garden with a preservation order on it. We spend a lot of time staring up at its canopy through to the blue blue sky.
DD thinks it protects us.
We grow roses up it (New Dawn, Pauls Himalayan Musk). Cyclamen, lily of the valley, crocuses, snowdrop,hepatica, acanthus mollis, digitalis alba, choisya, jasmine officinalis, shasta daisies and geranium johnsons blue grow beneath it.
The lawn doesn't grow very well beneath it because that ground is dry

I might plant some Solomon's seal there too just for fun

We have a v large oak too. We get kids involved in raking up debris which we burn. Sprinkler to try help grass. Pick up grass cuttings. Etc

V interested in rose idea.

I have oak trees all along one side of my garden. They are not on my land but down a bridle way which is part of a conservation area and all the trees are protected as they are over 180 years old.

They are Holm oaks so evergreen and drop leaves all year round and little bits of dead branch. I have bought a garden vac and hoover them up every now and again but it really is fighting a losing battle.

A branch of ash tree landed on our barbecue on Sunday, narrowly missing (and frightening the crap out of) the six people standing round the barbecue at that moment. It was a very calm day, not a breath of wind.

I second the recommendation to get your tree looked over by a tree surgeon.