Hints & Tips

Choose plant varieties suitable for the soil and location. The plants doing well in the same place and on similar soil are a good guide.

It is usually best to plant trees and shrubs in the autumn and winter when they are dormant and the ground is damp.

Cell grown trees are planted quickly and conveniently with a dibber - just make sure there is good contact between the cell and the surrounding soil. The cell top should be slightly below ground level.  Although best planted as soon as possible cell grown trees  can be safely stored provided they are kept upright, damp and reasonably sheltered.

Some form of protection to prevent grazing is usually necessary and also provides a micro climate that encourages early growth. We provide a variety of guards, wraps and spirals.

Controlling weed competition is very important. Mulching, weeding or spraying to remove weeds from close around the plants in the early years makes a big difference to survival and growth rate.

The usual recommendation for native hedging is a staggered row at four plants to the metre.

The Forestry Commission recommend planting broadleaf trees at one plant per two and quarter square metres  (2250 plants per hectare).