[bisgedyn]

Hi forum,

I've begun putting in some fruit trees/bushes and would like some advice. I have 1 small apple tree which was growing in a pot and I've now planted out, plus 3 new fruit bushes: gooseberry, blackcurrant and redcurrant.

I've searched through the forum archive and have read the advice about leaving plenty of space between, and adding manure.

However I'm after advice on the following:

1. How should I go about preventing the bushes being taken over by weeds? I had some in the past that just got swamped by grass and bindweed in the summer.
2. I've started planting them out in a semi-shaded area at the back of the plot, since they are low-maintenance and I'm reserving more accesible areas for things that need more attention. Should I move them somewhere sunnier or will they be OK?
3. Past advice suggests adding well-rotted manure, but I currently have none, only access to fresh manure or compost. Would compost be worth adding instead?
4. (last question!) I'd like to net to stop birds taking the fruit, but the plastic mesh netting I've used before not only gets tangled with grass, I've also been told that it can be a hazard to wildlife such as frogs, which apparently can get stuck - any alternatives available?

Thanks - sorry it's a long post!

[shaun]

teram membrane will last forever

[richyrich7]

and bung some bark/wood chippings over the top, makes it look a little better. Not too deep else the cats will love it 

[millymolymandy]

I put taran matting down under my gooseberry bushes a couple of years ago to let them get established, I was going to take it up and put some compost under them this year to plant poached egg flowers, which are supposed to help with pollination, they look pretty too, i don't know if it will work though, I might have to go back to the taran if it doesn't.

[lacewing]

I use thick cardboard under all my fruit bushes to stop weeds and retain moisture, it works a treat!. I collect it from skips, back of supermarkets, or along the street on dustbin day. It will break down eventually, I just replace it with a new lot.

[bisgedyn]

Thanks very much for all the advice.

[Stripey_cat]

How shaded is semi-shaded?  If you think you could grow lettuce or something there, you should be OK, although things will ripen more slowly than in full sun.

[Trillium]

Yes, compost will do nicely as feed if you haven't old manure.