Tree Care

originally from beechlife.co.uk

This care guide will help ensure your trees and plants look great and last a long time.

Delivery:

When they are young, trees and plants are more susceptible to excessive hot or cold weather, which may result in some browning and shriveling to the leaves.

Because our trees and plants are grown outdoors, they may show some imperfections which should not cause any long lasting damage to the strength or appearance of the product.

Keeping Trees in Pots:

It is vital to keep trees and plants in pots well watered, and fed with fertilisers or their natural alternatives. Pots should be kept weed free, and guarded against harsh frosts and winter conditions.

Trees may not survive indefinitely in a pot, as their roots can become too restricted as the tree gets bigger and needs to take up more water.

Keep trees trimmed down when kept in small pots and they should survive for a few years providing the root system does not become restricted. For best results it's usually best to plant into the garden if you want trees and plants to grow bigger and last longer than pots and containers may allow.

When to Plant:

As a general rule, trees grown in pots can be planted at any time of the year, except when the ground is frozen. Late autumn is the best time for trees to go into the ground because the roots can develop before leaves emerge and the tree starts taking up water in the springtime.

If you are planting outdoors during the spring and summer, it is vital that young trees and plants are kept regularly and well watered for the first season.

General Guide to Planting Pot Grown Trees:

Dig a hole at least twice the diameter and half as deep again as the container.
Remove the pot carefully and tease the roots out with fingers, so they are encouraged to grow outwards into the surrounding soil.
Add water and some leaf mould or well decayed manure to the hole.
Holding the tree upright, place it into the hole with the top of its root collar level with the ground.
Return the soil, adding more fertiliser to it if required, especially if soil quality is poor. Press each layer down with feet or hands to ensure tree is securely in position.
Water again, and keep fed and watered during hot and dry periods, especially during the first season until the roots are well established.

Tree Care and Support:

Protection of newly planted trees may be needed if you are aware of rabbit populations or grazing animals. Most local garden centres supply a variety of protective tubing or fencing. We can supply larger quantities by special request.

Strong or constant prevailing winds can cause newly planted trees to blow over and suffer damage. In exposed sites, young trees may require a supporting stake until the roots become established. Trees should be tied loosely to the stake to avoid the bark rubbing against the stake. Again, most local garden centres supply purpose designed ties.

Weed control around the tree will reduce the competition for light, nutrients and water, so help the tree's survival and growth rate. It's best to either mulch or use chemicals 1 meter around the tree to keep the weeds away, but hand weeding or strimming will increase light.

Most vitally, keep the ground and roots well watered for the first season, or until the roots become established.

For more information, and detailed guide visit www.treecouncil.org.uk