Yes, you SHOULD plant box hedging
Should you think outside the box blight?
Box blight. A headline grabber? A scaremonger? Yes, if you plant box hedging, you might be at risk of falling foul to box blight (which is treatable, by the way). But if you choose another plant species, you might just be opening yourself up to other dilemmas. So why not think differently when you’re considering what to plant, where to plant and why you’re planting – at allgrowth, we always do.
It’s simple to avoid planting box and substituting say, Pittosporum. But one hard winter? That’s the end of your hedge. A box hedge, planted correctly, watered sufficiently and in plenty of soil, stands a great chance of thriving and creating what the customer originally planned – a wholesome, hearty hedge boundary.
How about Ilex Crenata? All well and good, but not if your hedge is in the South Eastern quarter of the country – it won’t grow on clay soil. Besides, there are less of these available and they’re more expensive.
Back to the box hedge then? Why not? Even if blight becomes a factor, this can be sprayed and controlled. Reduce the stress in the plants and feed them, and the hedge will flourish.
“How about Prunus lusitanica? We’ve got loads of these on the nursery.”
Aah yes. The Portuguese Laurel. No box blight there. But hang on….there’s still the chance of shothole, vine weevil and don’t get us started on the plant passporting and health of this and other rosaceae varieties.
We’re not obsessed with box, but we will always offer the best plant to suit what the customer is trying to achieve – and if it’s box, it’s box. Cornus could be a good hedge proposal; it’s easy to trim and coppice, it grows tightly, gives great Winter stem colour and pretty Summer flower colour. It’s vigorous. You can plant it in swathes. It’s cheap. It’s available. It works.
Keep it simple. You want an evergreen hedge? Box. A fast growing but manageable border? Box. Widely available and affordable? Box. Alternatives? Yes, plenty. Better than box? Probably not.
Big trees | And we mean BIG
When we say we supply big trees, we mean REALLY big. For a landscape that wants to look finished, established and stunningly impressive from the day it is completed, large semi-mature trees are really the best option. Highly sought after, particularly as there are very few growers and suppliers of these most spectacular specimens in the UK, large trees require specialist growing knowledge, treecare, machinery, lifting equipment and trained personnel. Not only that, their selection and supply must be planned to perfection – when a large tree arrives on-site, it’s definitely a job you want right-first-time.
And that’s us. Big trees. Fantastic varieties in full splendour, here in the UK. Selected, nurtured, managed, maintained, lifted, delivered and planted – to perfection. All with the allgrowth sparkle and support throughout. The right trees, in the right place, from the right grower, for the right purpose, when and where you need them.
These big, beautiful birch trees are a case in point. Betula ermanii to a private estate in Hertfordshire.
Expansion for shrub lines | Cash and Carry in Bedfordshire
Shrubs: A new cash and carry collaboration in Bedfordshire
2017. New year, new prospects, new developments. We’ve been working on one for the past few months which is a perfect partnership between two successful businesses with the customer at their hearts.
Just 8 miles away from our tree nursery in Gamlingay is Savin Wholesalers, a family-run horticultural wholesaler. Fuelling the wholesale florist fraternity with cut flowers on a cash-and-carry basis since 1988, the similarities between Savins and allgrowth are immediately apparent. We both thrive on swift, comprehensive service and that good ole one-stop-shop philosophy. And guess what? We needed extra space and they’ve got space. It’s sheltered with great irrigation and it’s ideal for both Savins and allgrowth. It adds shrubs to Savin’s armoury and gives allgrowth that extra wriggle room for plant stock, extending by over 2000 shrubs as 5 and 10 litre specimens.
So, if you’re a gardener local to Bedfordshire and want to dip into allgrowth plants on a cash and carry basis, you’ll be off to Savin’s, right?! (and don’t forget it’s Valentine’s Day soon [nudge, nudge])
A breath of fresh air | Trees in AirPots
Trees grow in soil. They grow in the ground or you can grow them in a pot, too. You may have even seen some growing in bags. But a plastic sleeve with a texture like an egg box? Are you sure?
Yes. The AirPot. A growing system that has been in the marketplace for tree producers for over 15 years. We pride ourselves on being somewhat of a pioneer in this area and have been huge fans, promoters and growers of trees in AirPots since they first featured on the treescape in those early days.
The tech bit
The AirPot is made from recycled and (recyclable – the pot that just keeps giving!) HDPE – that’s high density polyethylene to you or I. The sleeve has dimples like an egg box and each of the dimples has a small hole at the tip of it. A tree is planted (or transplanted) into an Airpot and as the outward-growing root tips reach the dimples, their cone shapes coax them towards the holes. Once they reach the air outside, they dry off. A constant, gentle air-pruning. This teaches the root system to send out more troops in the form of oodles of lateral roots.
Why do we love ‘em?
Simple. The rate of growth and the healthy, generous and plentiful root system. Quick-growing, strong, healthy trees. Good for us – great for you.
The roots are:
- Strong
- Fibrous
- Dense
- Keen to absorb water
And that means your tree is:
- Healthy
- Guaranteed to thrive
- Easy to establish
- Primed to grow and flourish
But don’t take our word for it. Here’s what a tree grown by Allgrowth in an airpot has to say:
I was repotted in the first week of June into an AirPot. My branch troops set on their way towards the dimples and the fresh air, with lateral roots in reserve for wave after wave of healthy root growth. Peter and the allgrowth team had a quick peek inside my AirPot after 3 weeks – and LOOK! Just THREE WEEKS.
Project Update: Waterside landscape | Hertfordshire
Think back a couple of months and you’ll have marvelled at one of our private gardens, a rockery to beat all rockeries and this waterside haven. Well, it’s now complete and, as we do with all of our projects, we’ve been back to check all is in order and to ensure our homeowner is happy (HINT: they are ecstatic!)
Most of our clients come to allgrowth with a canvas – sometimes blank, sometimes with part of the picture already painted. Sometimes there is a problem to solve – screening, sound-proofing, shielding. But there is always a purpose and reason – make a statement, fill a gap, create a masterpiece. And that’s where the allgrowth journey begins.
Waterside Landscape | The Customer Journey
We first learnt of the homeowner’s garden plans through a local landscaper, renowned for his garden construction in the Hertfordshire region. A knowledgeable, experienced artisan of landscaping, the landscaper reached out to allgrowth after the homeowner of the property in Letchworth shared with him his vision for a waterside landscape alongside his beautiful home.
The homeowner’s vision had key elements:
- Water
- Structure
- Planting
- Large trees
Large trees? That’s where we came in. The landscaper pitched his design and interpretation of the brief to the homeowner and we arranged to meet with them all at allgrowth to start their journey with us.
In the homeowner’s words, they “knew in 10 seconds” that the allgrowth birch trees would be the crowning glory. Aided and abetted in the choice of structured planting, alpines, shrubs and the birch trees by Peter at allgrowth, the landscaper had his client’s solution – all in one place.
Organically, the project developed, supported by the allgrowth team throughout.
Landscaper: “We need some herbaceous”.
allgrowth: “We’re on it”.
Herbaceous plants in colour, size, form and foliage were sourced, ordered and delivered and the ornamental planting completed.
Landscaper: “The old hedge has to go.”
allgrowth: “We’ll sort it.”
The homeowner favoured an instant taxus hedge. Sourced. Ordered. Delivered. Planted.
That’s the allgrowth way. Happy homeowners all round.
Longsands Academy Memorial Garden
The difference a tree makes at Longsands Academy Memorial Garden
The students, staff and visitors at Longsands Academy in Cambridgeshire are in agreement – this paved area has been transformed by adding an allgrowth tree or two. The birch trees were planted as a lasting reminder of two staff who have recently passed and will serve as a great memorial to sadly-missed colleagues and mentors.
An important gesture in the School’s healing process, we received a personal message of thanks for our part in creating the memorial garden:
“The trees arrived safely and almost to the minute. They have made a very significant impact within the memorial garden. The numerous comments are best summed up by the reaction of one young pupil “They look like they’ve been there forever”. We are all sincerely grateful for your generosity and kind spirit. You did us proud.”
Rockery large tree planting | Between a rock and a hard place
Rocks + big trees + allgrowth = Garden Glory
One of our latest creations is really taking shape in a stunning lakeside vista in a private garden in Letchworth, Hertfordshire. We’re nearing completion of this rockery and waterside garden, with some ornamental shrub underplanting and borders to create to add the finishing touches.
We couldn’t wait for the final flourish to share a few images of the story so far, so here’s a swift video to whet your appetite. Final pics to follow when the landscape is ready to flourish.
Click here or on the image below to view on Youtube.
Round the houses | Residential Planting
Going round the houses (and roads)
It’s not all big trees and bold garden statements with allgrowth. We supply shrubs and plants to add landscape splendour to commercial and public open spaces, too.
Round and round and round
This roundabout and roadside planting scheme accompanies a new residential housing development near Wickford, Essex. This is one in a long line of swift, professionally supplied contracts for this commercial client. It will be the centrepiece of the new housing area upon its completion later this Summer 2016.
Spreading the allgrowth word in Ely | Where’s Postman Pat’s van?
Where’s Postman Pat’s Van?
Working with private clients and homeowners with substantial gardens takes the allgrowth team far and wide across the UK. But sometimes, we stumble across a new customer right on our doorsteps here in Cambridgeshire. Peter Middlicott, chief allgrowther, was attending a track event in Bedford last month and overheard and recognised a voice he had previously heard on local radio. The voice belonged to Ross Taylor, owner of a local crisp firm in Pywood, near Ely, Cambridgeshire. Ross had been on the radio bemoaning the fact that one of the company’s publicity vehicles, a 1972 William micro-car fashioned into Postman Pat’s van had been stolen from their premises.
Missing Postman Pat Van
The red post van had been stolen from an outbuilding at Corkers Crisps and a reward of £2,000 or a lifetime’s supply of crisps had been offered by the owner for its safe return.
Trees for private gardens
Peter took up the conversation with Ross after recognising his voice from a radio interview. As with these conversations, they invariably turn to business discussions. allgrowth are now supplying trees for Corkers’ business premises, with the potential to work with Ross further on his own property and garden planting.
Can you help?
If anyone has any news on the whereabouts of Postman Pat’s van – including Jess the Cat – you can contact the company via their webpage. For the full Postman Pat van story, see the article in the February 2016 Ely News.
Expansion for shrub lines | Cash and Carry in Bedfordshire
Shrubs: A new cash and carry collaboration in Bedfordshire 2017. New year, new prospects, new developments. We’ve been working on one for the past few months which is a perfect partnership between two successful businesses with the customer at their hearts. Just 8...
A breath of fresh air | Trees in AirPots
Trees grow in soil. They grow in the ground or you can grow them in a pot, too. You may have even seen some growing in bags. But a plastic sleeve with a texture like an egg box? Are you sure? Yes. The AirPot. A growing system that has been in the marketplace for...
Project Update: Waterside landscape | Hertfordshire
Think back a couple of months and you'll have marvelled at one of our private gardens, a rockery to beat all rockeries and this waterside haven. Well, it's now complete and, as we do with all of our projects, we've been back to check all is in order and to ensure our...
Longsands Academy Memorial Garden
The difference a tree makes at Longsands Academy Memorial Garden The students, staff and visitors at Longsands Academy in Cambridgeshire are in agreement - this paved area has been transformed by adding an allgrowth tree or two. The birch trees were planted as a...
Rockery large tree planting | Between a rock and a hard place
Rocks + big trees + allgrowth = Garden Glory One of our latest creations is really taking shape in a stunning lakeside vista in a private garden in Letchworth, Hertfordshire. We're nearing completion of this rockery and waterside garden, with some ornamental shrub...
Round the houses | Residential Planting
Going round the houses (and roads) It's not all big trees and bold garden statements with allgrowth. We supply shrubs and plants to add landscape splendour to commercial and public open spaces, too. Round and round and round This roundabout and roadside planting...
Spreading the allgrowth word in Ely | Where’s Postman Pat’s van?
Where's Postman Pat's Van? Working with private clients and homeowners with substantial gardens takes the allgrowth team far and wide across the UK. But sometimes, we stumble across a new customer right on our doorsteps here in Cambridgeshire. Peter Middlicott,...
What are pleached trees? A stunning, versatile garden backdrop
What are pleached trees? Pleaching is way of taming and teasing tree branches to create a narrow frame, formal screen or hedge. Tree growers tie and interlace the supplest, young shoots into a frame. Why choose a...
Beautifully crafted homes deserve beautifully crafted landscapes
The landscape source, supply and plant service provided by allgrowth is in a different class. A whole different level. And our customers appreciate that - in fact, that's why they choose to partner with us in the first place. Beautifully crafted homes deserve...
An allgrowth customer journey: Walkthrough in pictures
It's all about the detail. And that means listening to our client from the very first conversation, inspecting and selecting planting stock on our nursery and from our network of suppliers across UK and Europe. We're on hand, on site and on our toes, assessing the...
allgrowth Ltd
St. Marys House
Everton Road The Heath
Sandy, Bedfordshire SG19 2YQ
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Contact: Peter Middlicott
Email: peter@allgrowthltd.com
www: allgrowthltd.com
Tel: 01767 650236
Mobile: 07525 652042