Thinking of planting trees in your garden or on your land? This beginner-friendly guide walks you through planting and caring for cell-grown saplings -from choosing the right spot to watering, mulching, and protecting young trees in their first year.
The gifting of trees during the Christmas season has gained popularity as a fun, sustainable and meaningful gesture. Trees by Post offers a wide range of Christmas tree gifts that can be sent to friends, family, and loved ones, allowing recipients to plant them in their gardens. This practice not only enhances the beauty of outdoor spaces but also contributes positively to the wider environment.
Planting tree saplings in the UK at this time of year can be ideal for a variety of reasons. We look at some of the key reasons why now might be a great time to plant tree saplings: The cooler, wetter seasons (autumn or early spring) provide an excellent environment for sapling root establishment, minimizing stress and giving them a head start for future growth. Additionally, the benefits of planting trees now contribute to long-term environmental and ecological health.
Hawthorn Hedging is the perfect wildlife hedging. Look no further than a Hawthorn Hedging Hedgerow ! Hawthorn Hedging, also known as Crataegus monogyna (Latin name) or May Tree, Whitethorn or Quickthorn, is a popular choice for garden hedging due to its attractive features and benefits. Hawthorn hedging is popular here in the UK. Known for their thick, dense leaves, delicate flowers, and fast growth. Hawthorn hedging is one of our most popular deciduous hedging plants, thanks to its fragrant white blossoms around May time...
Native mixed hedging and wildlife hedging are important aspects of the UK's ecosystem.
Native mixed hedging involves the use of a variety of native shrubs and trees that have adapted to the UK environment over thousands of years. These hedging plants include Hawthorn, Field Maple, Hazel, Hornbeam, Yew, Beech, and Box.
Wildlife hedging in the UK aims to create a habitat that supports a diverse range of flora and fauna. Hedges provide shelter, protection, and food sources for wildlife, particularly nesting birds and hibernating insects. They allow wildlife to move between gardens and other spaces such as fields, woodlands and other gardens, and provide feeding and breeding opportunities.
Bare root saplings are trees and shrubs that have been lifted from the ground and have most of their soil removed from their roots. They are usually cheaper and easier to transport than container-grown, cell grown trees or rootballed hedging plants, but they also have some potential problems that can affect their establishment and survival. Some of the common problems with bare root saplings are:
- Poor root systems: Bare root saplings may have lost a significant amount of their roots when they were dug up, which can reduce their ability to absorb water and nutrients from the soil. They need regular watering and weed control to help them grow new roots and survive.
Here's all you need to know about Rowan jelly! Rowan jelly is a type of preserve made from the berries of the Rowan tree, which is also known as Mountain Ash, Witch Wiggin tree, Keirn and Cuirn. Rowan berries are bright red or orange and have a bitter and sour taste when raw, but they become sweet and tangy when cooked with sugar and pectin. Rowan jelly has a deep orange colour and a distinctive flavour that pairs well with game, lamb, cheese and bread.
Rowan jelly has a long history and folklore in Britain and other parts of Europe, where the rowan tree was considered sacred and protective by the Druids, Celts and Vikings.
Bonsai is the the Japanese art of growing miniature trees and shrubs. Bonsai can be a rewarding and relaxing hobby, as well as a beautiful way of displaying trees. There are many different species of trees and shrubs that can be grown as bonsai, but some are more suitable than others.
Some of the best UK native saplings for bonsai are -
Scot's Pine (Pinus sylvestris): This evergreen conifer has long needles that can be reduced in size by pruning. It has a thick and textured bark that adds character to the trunk. It is very hardy and can grow in poor soils and windy locations. It is one of the most popular bonsai species in the UK .
Funding and grants for planting trees is currently available in the UK (England, Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland). Below we've highlighted the main funding currently available for the creation of rural, urban woodland plantings, larger schemes and smaller scale schemes under 2.5ha..
As part of the UK drive to improve both air quality, natural habitat and reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere, tree planting and woodland creation grants are available for planting projects depending on the size, location, and purpose of your project. Please read on to hear about the main grants and funding currently available.in England, Scotland, Wales.& Northern Ireland.
Cell grown trees are trees that are grown in containers or trays of compost cells, rather than in the ground. They have a complete and intact root system that allows them to be planted almost all year round and to establish quickly in the soil. Cell grown trees are often used for forestry, landscaping, hedging and environmental planting .
Some of the benefits of cell grown trees are:
Cell grown tree seedlings and bare root tree seedlings are two different stages of development for young trees. They have some similarities and differences, such as:
Here are some steps to plant cell grown tree plugs:
- Choose a suitable site for your tree saplings, preferably with good drainage, sunlight and shelter from strong winds.
- Prepare the soil by removing any weeds, grass, stones or debris. You can also add some organic matter or fertilizer to enrich the soil.
- Dig a hole for each tree plug, about twice the size of the plug. You can use a bulb planter or a small spade to make the holes in the ground. It takes seconds.
- Place the tree plug in the hole, making sure it is at least 1cm below the top of the soil level.
