Picking on Huw Richards Inspires Us to Make Better Tree Planting Videos At Ashridge, we feel a bit responsible for how well people plant trees. We are not the the Huw Richards police; we would never pick on him because he is YouTube famous and we want some of that. We totally agree with his… Continue reading Backseat Driving: Do I Need To Stake A Tree?
March Weather: Happy Bareroot Planting Days
March 2025 is looking to be an exceptionally good bareroot planting month
Ashridge Nurseries Service Reviews
Our customers review our service
What Are Bare Root Plants?
Bareroot means delivered dormant in Winter with no soil around the roots.
Planting a Garden Hedge Like Beech, Yew, Laurel
How to Trench Plant a garden hedge like Privet, Beech, L:aurel, or Yew in well dug soil
Planting A Bareroot Mixed Native Country Hedge
How to Slit Plant bareroot whips like Hawthorn in mixed native hedges
How to Plant a Tree With a Stake
Planting with a stake is optional but highly recommended.
Partial Self Fertility in Fruit Trees Like Summer Sun
One of our customers, M, got in touch with a fruit tree pollination question, asking about the difference between: M had bought a Summer Sun cherry tree, and noted that the RHS said she’s partially self-fertile, whereas we clearly state that she’s practically kinda almost self-fertile. Other top garden sites like Garden Focused lean toward… Continue reading Partial Self Fertility in Fruit Trees Like Summer Sun
Trim Lavender Around Late February / March
This post is a bit late for getting in a February trim, but since the weather has been fresh and plants slow to wake up, we got away with it. Our school of thought on clipping Lavender is to do it twice a year: The first trim needs to be done by early March. This… Continue reading Trim Lavender Around Late February / March
Can I Slit Plant Bareroot Hedge & Tree Whips into Grass?
Establishing trees & hedges should be kept clear of grass & weeds
RHS Dead Hedge In The City Video
The RHS has produced a dear little video that very sweetly promotes hedges over fences on the basis of their usefullness and environmental value. On a debatably even sweeter premise, I will offer my dear little criticisms in the traditional manner of my people, the backseat driving folk of Somerset: RHS Horticultural Advisor Nick Turrell… Continue reading RHS Dead Hedge In The City Video
Collecting Your Order From Ashridge
Park safely when you come to collect your order
Cutting A Chamfer Into Your Hedge When Trimming
An angled cut along the top corner of a hedge lets more light in
How to Say Coppice and Coppicing
The managed woodland is a copse (coppice), the pruning action is to coppice
Which Plants To Use in a Mixed Native Hedge
Most mixed native hedges are mainly hawthorn or blackthorn
Get As Many Fruit Varieties As Possible From A Small Area
Cordon apples & pears are even better suited to grafting than freestanding trees
Trimming Country Hedge Season & Cycle
Unlike garden hedges, country hedges are typically trimmed every 2-3 years
You Won’t Believe This Irish Hedge
Laying mulch fabric before VS after planting.
Do Hedges Block Road Noise & Other Sounds?
Hedges don’t reduce road noise
Countryside Stewardship Hedge Grants
The Countryside Stewardship new hedge grant BN11 covers the cost of a native hedge
Are My Plants Dead?
Bareroot plants can be very late coming into leaf & evergreens can drop their leaves
“Heeling In” Bareroot Trees & Plants
The best way to store bareroot plants is also usually too much work
Planting Bareroot Guide
New User’s Guide to Planting Bare Root
Planting in Frosty Weather & Frozen Ground
You can’t plant in frozen soil, and bare roots should not be moved when frozen anyway
Best Plants For Low, Small, Narrow Hedges
The Best Plants for Small Hedges Low Ornamental & Border Hedges Plants Low hedging is roughly shin to waist high, approximately 30cm to 120cm tall (between 1 and 4 feet). The purpose of low hedges is mainly ornamental: to create structure in or around the garden that frames borders and lawns without blocking the view.It acts… Continue reading Best Plants For Low, Small, Narrow Hedges
Formative Pruning New Hedges
Pruning Young Hedges While Growing to Mature Size Formative pruning of a new hedge is handled differently from trimming a mature hedge. Because you want your new hedge to reach the desired height, the general aim is to remove the tips of the stems all over the plant once a year, maybe twice for vigorous evergreens. Deciduous Hedges Evergreen Broadleaf Hedges Evergreen Conifer… Continue reading Formative Pruning New Hedges
Best Hedges For Shade
Best Hedge Plants for Shade If you look in our Hedging category filtered for Full Shade, you will see mostly evergreen plants, and some tough native plants.Most garden owners are looking for lush evergreens along a visible boundary, but Hornbeam is a good formal choice for shady areas where sun-loving Beech won’t grow well. Best Evergreen Hedge Plants for Shade Special Mention… Continue reading Best Hedges For Shade
How to Trim a Garden Hedge
Trimming a Hedge Means Mature Hedge: Cut off practically all the new growth (less than a year old), in order to keep a mature hedge at the desired size. It’s like shaving back to the same line every time. New Hedge: Cut off the tips of all the shoots, pruning back thin or straggly stems, to maintain bushy growth while… Continue reading How to Trim a Garden Hedge
Cutting Back A Pyracantha Hedge Hard
Pyracantha, like almost any broadleaf, hardwood hedge plant, can be hard pruned as needed to reduce its size and keep it tidy. In this video, we take the opportunity to show training it against a fence as well. You will need a good pair of secateurs, leather gloves, pruning saw or loppers and some garden… Continue reading Cutting Back A Pyracantha Hedge Hard
Double Staggered Row Hedge Planting Distance
Difference between a garden single row hedge, and a double row country hedge? Most garden hedges are planted in a single row, three plants per metre, 33cm apart. This page is about planting distances for a staggered double row with a total of 6 plants per metre. This qualifies for the BN11: Planting New Hedges Grant,… Continue reading Double Staggered Row Hedge Planting Distance
How Many Hedge Plants Per Metre?
Hedgerow Planting Density Hedge Spacing Used For Single Row at 2 Plants Per Metre Inside the garden Single Row at 3 Plants Per Metre Typical garden boundary: Intruder proof Single Row at 5 Plants Per Metre Used for Boxwood Double Row at 4 Plants Per Metre Good for any tall hedge over 4m, and for… Continue reading How Many Hedge Plants Per Metre?
How to Plant Rootballed Yew Hedging
Yew is the King of Hedges for good reason, but it grows steadily rather than vigorously, so a new Yew hedge takes a bit more time to reach the desired size. If it suits your budget, it makes sense to buy large Yew plants delivered with a rootball, rather than bareroot smaller size plants. Spacing Bareroot Vs Rootballed Yew 1.… Continue reading How to Plant Rootballed Yew Hedging
What Is Mulch & Why It’s Important for New Plants
What Does Mulch Do? Mulch covers the soil around a plant in order to: If it is going to be hard to frequently water and weed your new plants after planting, mulch is essential for your plants to thrive.Establishing plants must still be watered, but a good mulch allows you to water less often. Homemade… Continue reading What Is Mulch & Why It’s Important for New Plants