Do
you have a question related to horticulture, forestry
or gardening? You are welcome to call us on 01869
340342, but first of all, see if your question
is listed below . . .
How
many plants do I need for a hedge
This will depend on why
you want to create a hedge - is it for a border,
to define an area of your garden or land, is to
to act as a screen to block something unpleasant
from view and enhance the privacy of your garden,
or perhaps you're looking to create a hedge to
restrain livestock? Another consideration is the
speed with which you want your hedge to become
established, and for it to fulfil the function
you envisage for its future.
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These
factors will, to some extent, determine the species
of plant you use to create your hedge, and that
too will have a bearing on how many individual
plants you will need. Some are more decorative,
while others are more effective in forming a visual
or physical barrier. Some varieties are more vigorous
and fast growing, and you may also need to take
into account whether you want a deciduous hedge
(one that loses its leaves in the Winter) or an
evergreen. Once you have given some thought to
all these variables, give us a phone call or email
our hedging specialist and we'll be happy to assist
in the rest of the process. Ask to speak to Tim
Shardlow, Mike
Tustin and Niel
Nicholson, or click on their names
here to send an email direct to one or other of
them.
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What
species are in a Saxon Hedge?
The Saxon Hedge is the name
now given to what is often considered to be the
traditional English rural hedgerow. There is no
hard and fast rule about the plant species that
should be used, and it may vary from region to
region anyway, but we tend to recommend a mix
consisting of 60% Hawthorn and 40% mixed native
shrubs (such as Blackthorn, Guelder Rose, Spindle,
Dogwood, Field Maple etc). We would suggest a
mix of at least four or five different species
of shrubs, planted in groups within the hedge.
These should be set at four plants per metre in
a staggered double row. In most cases rabbits
will be a problem while the young plants are becoming
established, so we would advise protecting the
plants with clear spiral rabbit guards and canes,
at least for the first two to three years after
planting.
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Will
I need canes as well as spirals for my hedge?
You don’t necessarily
need to use canes, but we would advise that you
do. The cane not only holds the spirals in position,
and supports the young plant during the early
stages of its growth, but the canes also help
to keep the site looking tidy and act as a visual
aid to identifying a new hedgerow.
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How
long does it take to order in plants that are
not currently in stock?
We do hold a vast stock
of plants at our nursery in North Aston, and we
grow most of our plants from seed or cutting on
site, but there may be times when a particular
variety is temporarily unavailable. This can depend
on the type of plant you have ordered and the
time of year, but we will usually be able to fulfil
back orders within one to two weeks during the
winter season, but perhaps a little longer in
the summer. You will be advised and kept informed
if this happens. Please also bear in mind that
plant availability may be seasonal.
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Can
you give advice on disease prevention or cure?
Yes we can. If you believe
you have a problem with any plants in your garden
- and especially if they have been purchased from
our nursery – please ring or email and we
will try to help.
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How
far afield does Nicholsons work?
Although Nicholsons is based
in north Oxfordshire, Nicholsons provides services
throughout the UK. Nicholsons' vans may be seen
travelling widely in order to meet customer requirements
in Buckinghamshire, Warwickshire, Northamptonshire,
Gloucestershire, Berkshire, Wiltshire and Worcestershire,
as well as further afield, including London and
the South East.
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Is
Nicholsons able to plant single trees, or do you
only plant in large numbers?
We aim to help with all
jobs, and no task is too small. We tend to charge
by the hour, since have found that this is the
fairest way to tackle these smaller jobs.
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How
can I block out views of my neighbour's very tall
fence or wall?
There are many ways to tackle
this, and we would generally prefer to discuss
individual cases and assess the pertinent factors,
but a hedge is a safe bet. There are many options,
but evergreen will give the best possible screen.
See our page dedicated to Screening,
and also the later FAQ on Evergreen
Hedging.
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How
long can I keep my bare root plants before planting?
We would generally recommend
that you plant bare-root plants as soon as possible
after collection or delivery, but they can be
safely stored in our coextruded bags for at least
a week, provided they are kept away from wind
and sun (which will accelerate desiccation) and
in a frost-free environment. If you need to keep
them for longer periods than this, then we would
suggest that you heel them into some loose ground
where they can be stored for periods of several
weeks.
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How
much mulch do I need?
We would recommend that
mulch is used both as a weed suppressant and also
to help with moisture conservation. To be truly
effective, mulch should be added to a depth of
approximately 7cm, and in the case of single trees,
this would be as a circle, radiating to a diameter
of one metre around the stem. We can supply the
mulch in two grades – Border
Bark – a coarse grade for
good weed suppression and Fine Composted
Bark – a more Ornamental grade
with good moisture retention properties but one
that may need regular top-ups.
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What
species do you recommend for an evergreen hedge?
The soil conditions will
dictate this to certain extent, and we have more
details in our Forestry section under Hedging,
but species to consider are: Leyland, Yew, Box,
Holm Oak and Laurel.
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Which
trees are the faster growing varieties?
If you are considering deciduous
trees, then Poplar, Sycamore and Birch all grow
quickly. If you want year-round greenery, then
nothing (much!) grows faster than the evergreen
Leyland.
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What
Garden Tree should I plant?
This is the million dollar
question! It depends on so many variables that
it's impossible to answer here, but we'd be very
happy to offer individual advice over the phone,
or please feel free to pop in to our Plant Centre
and discuss you individual case. In the meantime,
have a look at our page on Ornamental
Trees.
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What
time of year do you plant bare-root trees and
hedging?
The safest bet, to ensure
your new plant has the best possible chance of
becoming well established and flourishing, is
to plant when there are no leaves on the tree.
That means November through to March.
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How
do you stake trees?
We have a Planting
Guidelines page that includes a diagram showing
how to plant and stake trees.
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What
tree protection should I use?
We will soon have a page
on the website dedicated to Tree Protection –
Follow the link to learn more.
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How
fast does it grow?
How long is apiece if string!!!!
The speed at which any plant grows will depend
upon three major variables: light, the availability
of nutrients, and the moisture content of the
soil. How these affect a plant's rate of growth
will also be determined by the species itself,
since the individual requirements and preferences
of that particular variety may differ significantly
from another. Some plants grow best in an alkali
soil, others prefer acidic conditions. Some are
drought tolerant, and will continue to grow even
when the soil is dry, while others need generously
damp conditions in order to thrive. If you'd like
specific advice, please give us a call.
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The
short answer is; it's impossible to say. The slightly
longer answer is to recommend that you check on
the individual preferences of the species you're
considering and try to achieve the optimum growing
conditions for that plant. It will then grow as
quickly as it can to please you! Conversely, if
you haven't yet chosen your plant, then review
the prevailing conditions in your garden - check
the soil for nutrients, moisture and chemical
content, and then select a species that will grow
best under those conditions. This is often the
cheapest option, since altering the environment
for the sake of one plant can be an expensive
process.
If you want more specific advice, then please
feel free to contact us by telephone or email,
and we'll do our best to help.
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Do
I need permission to fell a tree in my garden
or woodland?
If the tree is in a Conservation
Area or is the subject of a Tree Preservation
Order, then you will need to get permission from
the District Council before you can fell a tree.
We can help with this. If the tree is particularly
large, has significant amenity value, and is a
prominent feature of the landscape, then you may
also find that the Council will want to have some
say in its fate, and you would be best advised
to contact them first before setting-to with a
chainsaw.
For
larger areas of woodland you may need to get a
Felling Licence. If in doubt please give us a
call.
If the tree is not yours, but it belongs to a
neighbour, then you might like to check out our
page on High Hedges.
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Do
I need to water my plants and how much?
See our leaflet on Watering
Guidelines.
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What
site preparation do I need to do prior to planting?
This is another of those
questions to which there is no definitive answer,
since the extent of site preparation necessary
before planting will depend greatly on so many
prevailing conditions - is it bare ground?; has
the plot been planted previously?; what are the
soil conditions?; how accessible is the site?;
what species do you propose to plant?; what have
the weather conditions been like over recent weeks?
These and many other factors may have a bearing.
The best start might be to give is a call and
discuss the individual site details with us, either
by phone, or face-to-face.
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What
grants are available?
We have a page devoted to
this question, which is also reproduced in our
current catalogue. This is available to download
or collect from the nursery. Please follow the
link to Grants.
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If
your query is not answered here, please don't
hesitate to Contact
us. Also, see our other specialised advice pages
linked from the Information
main menu. |
Fax:
01869 340350