A Guide to successfully Planting Trees & Hedging
You have planted your Trees and Hedging, so now what could go wrong!!! Well, honestly a few things actually, if you don’t take care of them.
In our product descriptions and FAQ/Resources section of the website, we outline how to plant your trees and hedging. Here we address the problems that can arise after planting Trees & Hedging, what to look out for, how to treat problems and also how to prevent them.
Problems that can arise after Planting Trees & Hedging:
Wind Rock
Planting trees is generally done in the Winter months, when the weather is more unsettled, newly set trees and hedging plants should be walked in every few days for the first month to ensure that they are not blown around in the wind. This securing method ensure roots bed into the ground enabling the plant to establish a strong root system. Trees should also be Staked and a tree tie placed on to prevent them blowing around in the wind.
Laurel hedging plants are turning Yellow.
If you plant Laurel Hedging Plants late into the bare root season, as in March, April you WILL NEED TO WATER Laurels are a thirsty hedge and will need lots of water in the establishing years. Planting your laurel hedging plants early in the bare root season, November, December onwards can mitigate this issue.Laurels need nutrients to maintain the glossy green colour. It is advisable to feed your plants annually, usually in Spring before the growth season. Some people use an organic chicken manure pellet feed, others, a fish bone feed, or even nitrogen based fertiliser worked in to the soil at the base of the plants can provide the ground with the required nutrients. It is recommended to feed your plants in the days leading up to rain, allowing the rain to wash the nutrients into the ground.
Laurel hedging plants are losing their leaves
They need Watering and a feed. As per the point above, Laurels are a hungry plant and a loss of leaves or colour is a sign of stress. Water them and give them a feed and they will start to make growth again. When watering plants, it is advisable to water often and not sporadically when plants are visibly in trouble. Drowning a struggling plant with water every now and again won’t solve the problem. If there is a dry spell in the aftermath of planting you should water your plants every few days, preferably in the evening time.
Holes in Laurel Hedging Plants
Small shot holes can appear in cherry laurel hedging plants but it is not something to be overly concerned about. The small holes that appear in the plant are a result of a harmless bacteria. Shot hole often occurs where plants are grown in dense concentrations such as in nursery beds, or in damper wet conditions during times of reduced sunlight, i.e Winter months. The best treatment is to prune out affected leaves of the plant. Treatment with fungicide is ineffective. Feeding the plant would be more beneficial.
Woolly Aphids or Mould
Beech hedging Plants – most are harmless but may still warrant attention. Pruning out affected leaves or treating with a fungicide spray will minimise the occurrence of Wooly aphids. Well fed and maintained hedges tend not to be susceptible to disease and stress.
Rabbits
Rabbits eating new plants – unfortunately the only solution for rabbits is a good rabbit proofing fence. To prevent rabbits attacking the bark of your newly planted trees, you should cover the stem with a tree guard or even recycle some older piping to place around the base of the plants.
