A late spring now for a cool wet summer

As arborists we are very sensitive to how the  weather impacts on trees.

The late spring has been very benefical for trees, especially newly planted or transplanted trees.

Whilst we like nothing more that sunny weekends so that we can go out and about with our families and enjoy our gardens, but we really prefer cool, wet summers.

Trees get stressed by hot temperatures, especially when combined with dry winds and prevailing dry weather.    This can be multiplied when planted around hard surfaces / buildings (reflected heat) or when there is insufficent rooting area (unable to access moisture in the ground).

Newly planted / transplanted trees have to rely on humans to water them, whilst they establish (extend their root system to that of a normal tree). Often the will, resources and competence  are not available to these trees.

This lack of watering can have devasting results to these 'new' trees. When there are drought conditions, especially when the water table drops, even established trees can suffer.

Mulching of both newly planted/transplanted trees  can greatly assist trees, by retaining moisture within the soil, reducing competition from weeds and grass (which often have  root systems that can extend down as far as trees), slowly adding organic matter to the soil but most importantly increasing Mycorrhizal  activity by upto 15 times over grass.

Chelsea Flower Show

It should be an interesting Show this year, spring is around 5 weeks late, many of the trees and shrubs will not be doing what their designers hoped.

With the long winded design approval process, I wonder what the judges will make of it.

It will be a pleasure to meet any visitors to the show, we are in the top right hand corner of the showground (with your back to the Thames). Our stand number is MR1.

There are two exits to the showground, the Bullring to the south (Thames) and the one in the north east which takes you to Sloane Square Tube.  If you leave by this last one, you will walk past us.  If you enter from the north, turn left as you enter and we are 50 yds on the right.

The Planting 'Season'

Whilst there are some types of plants you have to plant during the  planting season (winter), such as bare root and rootballed specimens, container grown trees can be planted at any time of year.

The main drawbacks of container grown specimens are a) a (slight) premium cost to rootballed/bareroot plants, b) especially with larger trees there is less choice, c) some containers encourage girdlng roots i.e. black HDPE containers (Air Pot containers are the ones that encourage the best root systems).

It is always more favourable to plant early in the planting season, this provide plants with a longer period to establish prior to the following summer. However the advantage is incremental and planting at less optimal times, (even in Spring / Summer) can be compensated by marginal increases in aftercare.

You can therefore plant at any time of year and are not restricted to the November-March planting season.  Please remember if trying to plant just before the end of the planting season, it is not a date in the calender, it is when nature decides that a combination of longer daylight and temperature tells it that it is time for spring!