knowhow

Large plants save so much time in waiting for plants to grow, giving the garden the look of maturity straight away. Today, many of our clients do not want to wait for their garden to grow – and indeed some people will have moved house and started a new garden before their existing one has reached a maturity. Our range of large plants include: Magnolia Philadelphus Cotinus Photinia Myrtus Elaeagnus Laurels Ligustrum Pittosporum Camellia Taxus We are one of the leading stockists of large plants in the area and the specimens listed above is just a small selection of what we have available at Arundel Arboretum. The process of buying large plants can seem a little bewildering at times as there are so many factors to take into account, and it is an investment, which you want to get right. Good quality mature plants will enhance your garden and the look of your home – possibly adding value at the same time as providing a very pleasing outlook. Choosing the right specimen Large plants can offer environmental benefits throughout their lifetime. It is important to select the right variety for the site conditions that will benefit the plant and the homeowner.  Plants must be able to thrive in their environment and the conditions of the site are key to their survival. As you will see from our About Us page, we consider all this when advising you on the best species for your garden. Large Plants Functions High-quality plants, when planted and properly cared for, can become a long-lasting asset to your garden. A large, evergreen shrub will provide screenage for privacy or a windbreak if your site is exposed. Large deciduous trees will provide an elegant outlook during the summer months whilst in leaf and during the winter months, you can admire their silhouette and formation when the leaves have fallen. Choosing the correct form and size It is very important to remember that when you buy large plants they will continue to grow and therefore you must always consider the space you have available, together with the future maintenance that the large plants will require.   You could consider the following shapes: A low spreading tree e.g. Prunus Serrula A narrow evergreen e.g. Cupressus sempervirens A clear stem standard tree e.g. Photinia Red Robin Planting of large plants It is vital when planting established plants and trees (and indeed all trees and shrubs) that the top surface of the root system is left proud of the surface of the soil. Failure to do this will stunt the growth of the plant, stop it from flowering or eventually even kill the plant. Maintenance of large plants Maintenance of any tree or shrub for your garden is highly important, especially in the first year. This is the time the tree or shrub is undergoing the most stress. It is vital that you are aware of your ground conditions for watering. Any new plant will require watering when it is first planted. We recommend that you allow the ground to start to dry out before watering again. In some ground conditions, you will be watering every day or every three to four days.  You need to work with your ground conditions. We would always recommend adding fertiliser to the ground after planting. Add around the root system not on top of the roots. Adding fertiliser around the root system will encourage the roots to spread out further, thus creating a stronger root system. The first feed should be approximately 6” away from the roots, then 12” – 18” and so on for the first year. We would recommend feeding approximately every 4 weeks for the first growing season. Please do call in and visit us to see the extensive range of large plants that we have available. Our staff are always on hand to advise you and assist with your choice of plants.

Do you know anyone getting married this year or holding a special event? If the answer is yes, have they considered the hiring of trees and shrubs to decorate a church, marquee or another venue? We are finding that the hiring of our trees and shrubs for events, particularly weddings, is becoming more and more popular. The addition of trees and shrubs can give a more natural feel to your venue, and we’re able to offer most of our stock for tree hire. Trees available include: Multi-stem Standards half standards Topiaries If you would like to consider tree hire for your event, we would highly recommend a visit to us as far in advance as possible. You’ll then be able to see exactly what we have available. What we will need to know: The venue access and size The dates needed The theme/style of event Once we know this information, we can make informed suggestions for your event. We are unable to hold plants for hire until two weeks before your event but are always available to discuss possible alternatives to avoid disappointment. Delivery and collection service We offer a delivery and collection service of the trees and shrubs you hire. The prices are in accordance with our normal delivery charges. If you would prefer to collect and return your plants, this can also be accommodated. We are happy to position them for you, subject to the venue being ready for this. We recommend having the plants delivered two days prior to the event and normally collect as soon as possible afterwards. This is flexible and we will try to fit in with your requirements as much as we can. Water for the trees and shrubs The most important point to remember is to water the plants! This is vital and sometimes can be overlooked when you are busy sorting out the rest of your event. Failure to water may cause the plants to suffer. In the event of this happening, the hirer would be responsible for paying the full retail value of any plant that fails due to lack of maintenance, is damaged, or not returned. Decorations Our trees and shrubs are all in plastic containers. We are very happy for these pots, trees and shrubs to be decorated. We only ask that all decorations are removed before collected/returned and that the plants aren’t damaged in the process. At a recent wedding at Arundel Castle, the bride and groom chose Sorbus aria Lutescens to be displayed either side of the aisle. With their delicate pale green foliage, they looked stunning. We received a lot of positive feedback from this particular wedding. Another recent enquiry has been using fruit trees for an autumn wedding. If you would like more information about our tree hire service, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Mature trees play an important role in any garden design, so the type of trees you want to incorporate into your plans should be very carefully considered. Arundel Arboretum is a leading stockist of evergreen and deciduous mature trees. The term “mature tree” refers to the age of the tree rather than the height. Depending upon the variety, you can have a mature tree that is 70’+ (e.g. Fagus sylvatica) or 3’ high as can be found with some varieties of Japanese maples. There are therefore, mature trees suitable for all gardens. We have a wide range of mature trees that will create and enhance your garden design. At Arundel Arboretum, we are able to advise on the best choices for you, taking into account all of your requirements. A few points to consider include: 1. Evergreen or Deciduous An evergreen tree will give all year round screenage and interest, and your choices include standard (with a 6’ clear stem) or half standard (with a 3’ clear stem). The benefit of standards and half standards is that you can plant smaller shrubs underneath. A magnificent specimen standard tree is Magnolia Grandiflora (Bull Bay). Magnolia Grandiflora has glossy, green leathery leaves with a reddish-brown underside. It produces large, creamy-white fragrant globular shaped flowers in the autumn, rather than the spring like other Magnolias. A row of Magnolia Grandiflora look stunning and give an ideal screen. It does not grow quickly, and can be easily pruned to keep in shape. Overall, it requires minimal maintenance. It is best planted in a fairly sheltered position, with well drained soil, with sun or part shade. It would not be happy if it were exposed to cold, drying winds. A mature deciduous tree will provide shade during the summer months. It will bring a natural beauty and structure to any garden. Deciduous trees also have enormous benefits to birds and wildlife.  They can produce berries for the birds and bees will pollinate the flowers. A mature deciduous tree to consider is Crataegus persimilis ‘Prunifolia’. This is a variety of Cockspur Thorn. In our opinion, it is one of the most attractive of thorn trees. Crataegus persimilis ‘Prunifolia’ produces green, glossy leaves, which turn a blaze of orange\red\yellow in the autumn. It produces masses of white flowers in May, followed by bunches of large, rich red fruit from autumn onwards. This tree can stand heavy pruning and it is an exceptional tree for wildlife. It is a very hardy tree. 2. Planting and Watering The correct planting of any tree or shrub, is of vital important and will be the difference between success and failure. It is most important that the top of the root system is left slightly proud of the surface, so that the root system can breathe. Please see our Planting Guide for further advice. If a tree or shrub is planted too deeply, it will stunt the growth, stop it flowering and eventually kill the tree. Watering your tree during the first year of establishment is of equal importance. The tree should be watered when first planted, and then you need to work with your ground conditions, as everyone’s will be different. In some circumstances, you will be watering every day, others every other day or 3-4 days. As a general rule, if the ground is wet, walk away. When the ground starts to dry out, water and then check again in a day’s time, until you are happy that you are working with your ground conditions. 3. Maintenance Evergreen trees require little maintenance. It is advisable to lightly prune to keep the shape and remove dead, diseased or damaged branches. Despite the name, evergreen trees will naturally shed some of their foliage each year, so there will be some leaf clearance to undertake. It is wise to avoid pruning in late summer\early autumn, as new growth may be stimulated without time to harden off before winter. This could leave the tree susceptible to disease. A deciduous tree will require a little more maintenance, but this will help to keep the tree healthy and looking good and your garden will benefit from this. Pruning should be limited to removing broken or damaged branches or branches that are crossing others, or if they are growing towards the trunk. Fertilising evergreen and deciduous trees for the first year of establishment is very important. Our blog, Caring for your Specimen Plants will advise you on the correct fertilising for the first season. Our knowledgeable staff at Arundel Arboretum will be very happy to help you source your mature trees for your garden – please do pop in to see the extensive, quality stock we have available.

As we approach the end of another year, there are still jobs to keep us occupied in the garden such as digging and pruning. We are sure that everyone has felt this very cold spell recently, so why not warm up with a spot of digging? Fast approaching is the shortest day, so soon enough we can look forward to some slightly lighter evenings returning. Pruning is an important job for this time of the year, but please be sure to check the rules for when your trees and shrubs can be cut back. There are some varieties that must be pruned after they have flowered, please do check with a professional first if you are not sure. You may want to know that, yes, you can still plant and transplant your deciduous trees and shrubs, ensuring to check that you have a good rootball if you are transplanting. This will give your plant the best chance of survival. Other December gardening jobs include: Check your tree supports to make sure they are still secure Check that your greenhouse heaters are working efficiently Ensure your pond is not frozen Keep a water source for garden wildlife Keep your bird feeders topped up Consider getting your lawnmower and other garden machinery serviced to ensure it is ready for spring Continue to clear up leaves from pathways and patios to prevent a slip hazard, be sure to also remove from any grassed areas or lawns. Tidy up winter containers and remove yellow or diseased leaves If conditions allow, continue to plant including bare root and rootballed plants

Over the last two weeks fruit trees seem to be the trees to purchase here at the Arboretum. They prove popular not just because they produce fruit for gardeners to harvest and eat, but because they offer structure and interest to a garden and they invite wildlife too. Insect life can be a nuisance as it spoils fruits, but this depends on how perfect you expect your fruit to be. I like to see insect life on the fruit trees as long as they do not devastate the trees. The insect life is so important for our wild birds. If it does become a problem we can recommend a number of methods to minimise the amount of fruit spoiled. Our favoured solution here at the Arboretum is putting up nesting boxes for the birds (preferably south facing) in the hope that the birds will come and nest in them. The birds will pick the insects off the fruit trees and feed them to their chicks. A natural way to control insect life rather than using sprays. Why not find a corner in your garden that would benefit from a fruit tree? There will be a species suitable for your soil type and position and if you pop and see us we can help you make the ideal choice. Pop in and see us for one of the largest stocks of fruit trees in the area. Our website is just a small fraction of what we stock here at the Arboretum. We can give you advice and also offer a planting service to help give your fruit tree the best of starts.

If you are struggling to find that special someone a gift then why not look at something that will last, flourish and grow, like a mature plant for their garden. They make an unusual and thoughtful gift and are something that your relative or friend can plant in their garden and enjoy throughout the whole year. Many Christmas gifts are often unwanted and too many end up either at the charity shop or even worse left collecting dust in the spare room. With such a high proportion of people having a passion for their garden it makes sense to buy them a gift they will truly appreciate and despite the winter months many species make ideal gifts. We are proud to have one of the largest stocks of mature plants in the area and are expecting a delivery of mature plants to arrive shortly to add to our existing extensive range. Popular species here at Arundel Arboretum include: Magnolia Philadelphus Cotinus Photinias Myrtus Elaeagnus Laurels Ligstrum and so many more Not only do trees and shrubs make a nice gift but they are also a sustainable and environmentally friendly way to take part in the gift of giving. Man made gifts use the earth’s valuable resources but a plant does quite the opposite and with the added benefit of helping wildlife to flourish, something we are all too keen to encourage here at the Arboretum. Right now if you pay us a visit you will see fieldfares, redwings, buzzards, blue tits to name but a few. Why choose a mature plant over a younger specimen? Mature plants provide an instant impact and the garden can achieve the look of maturity straight away A mature, well planted garden can add value to a property Mature hedges and trees encourage wildlife to flourish A well established plant will stand a better chance of survival Visit us where you will not only find a large variety of stock but also friendly, helpful, experienced and knowledgeable staff who can assist you in choosing the right gift for your loved one.

We are now at the beginning of October, and the mature deciduous trees at Arundel Arboretum are really getting into their splendid autumn colours now. Autumn is always a beautiful sight of so many leaf colours – reds, yellows and oranges. We have a large variety of mature trees for sale on the nursery at the moment – a few examples include Metasequoia glyptostroboides, Platanus acerfolia, Catalpa biganoides, Betula varieties and Sorbus aucuparia varieties. The Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Worplesdon’ always looks stunning and are starting to show their autumn colours along with Parrotia persica – the Persian Ironwood tree. Its green leaves turn crimson to gold in the autumn, which is followed by tiny clusters of crimson flowers during the winter. Mature trees can create a magnificent focal point to a garden as well as providing privacy and shade. Many people use deciduous trees for screenage if privacy is not an issue in their garden during the winter months. A visit to Arundel Arboretum to see our range of mature trees for sale in their splendid autumn colour is well worth it. We would be very happy to advise and recommend a suitable mature tree for your garden.

If you are looking to plant a shrub in your garden, then we have plenty of ideas for you. Over the past few years, we have become more aware of our customers’ needs for evergreen shrubs, as people often require an “instant” garden which large evergreen shrubs can provide for them. They can also provide all year round screenage as well as interest – whether it is leaf colour, berries or flowers. They are also a great haven for wildlife, attracting many birds and other forms of wildlife. We carry a large selection of evergreen and deciduous shrubs for a variety of planting needs. Whether you require a specimen shrub to enhance a specific part of your garden, or if you are looking to plant up a new bed of evergreen or deciduous shrubs, we have a great shrub nursery for you to find exactly what you are looking for. Some of our specimen shrubs include a wide range of Japanese Maples, Myrtles, Griselinia, Viburnum, Photinia Red Robin and Portuguese Laurels. They range in size from 3ft – 7ft. Smaller shrubs include Pittosporum, Skimmia, Osmaria, Rhododendron and Cistus. These range in size from 1ft – 3ft. Please do visit our shrub nursery nestled just outside Arundel village where we will be happy to recommend a number of quality specimens that are assured to enhance your garden.

Now that September is upon us, it is time to start thinking about hedge planting for the winter. Whilst plants for hedging can be planted all year round if they are in containers, traditionally it is the winter months when significant and effective hedge planting takes place. If you are looking to plant an indigenous hedge, and you are happy to wait for the hedge to grow and become established, the most cost effective method is to use bare root plants. For a completely new hedge, we recommend customers plant a mixed indigenous hedge, which will comprise of Crataegus monogyna (Hawthorn), Prunus spinosa (Blackthorn), Fagus sylvatica (Beech), Euonymous europaeus (Spindle), Acer campestre (Field Maple) and Viburnum opulus (Guelder Rose). When planting a native hedge, we recommend using 60-80cm whips, using 5 plants per metre, planted in a double staggered row. This will give a very attractive hedge, with lots of interest and great for birds and wildlife. We supply bare root hedge plants at our hedge nursery to order. Bare root plants are normally available from the end of November/beginning of December and are very dependent upon the weather conditions, which have to be right for lifting. Lifting cannot begin until the last of the leaves have fallen, and we are confident that the plants are in their dormant winter state. However, if you are looking to plant a hedge that will give screenage immediately, then containerised plants are for you. As we have mentioned in previous blog posts, we have all established plants in containers for this purpose. We are always able to advise on the most suitable plants for your needs, so do pop in to visit our hedge nursery just outside Arundel and browse the many plants we have available.