PRUNING & PLANT CARE

HOW TO PRUNE TREES

Depending on the tree and the nature of the problem to be resolved, there are several potentiual tree pruning methods.

Tree Preservation Orders

A Tree Preservation Order is an order made by a local planning authority in England to protect specific trees, groups of trees or woodlands in the interests of amenity. Such an order prohibits the cutting down, topping, lopping, uprooting, wilful damage
and the wilful destruction of trees without the local planning authority’s written consent.

Owners of protected trees must not carry out, or cause or permit the carrying out of, any of the prohibited activities without the written consent of the local authority. As with owners of unprotected trees, they are responsible for maintaining their trees, with no statutory rules setting out how often or to what standard.

The local planning authority cannot require maintenance work to be done to a tree just because it is protected. However, the authority can encourage good tree management, particularly when determining applications for consent under a Tree Preservation Order. This will help to maintain and enhance the amenity provided by protected trees.

Advice from competent contractors and consultants, or the authority, will help to inform tree owners of their responsibilities and options. It is important that trees are inspected regularly and necessary maintenance carried out to make sure they remain safe and healthy.

CREATING THE RIGHT ENVIRONMENT FOR PLANTS & FLOWERS

If you've ever been lucky enough to receive a fresh flower delivery, you'll know all about the process you then follow to give them the best chance of lasting as long as possible. Cut flowers like these require this care and the right conditions, and live, bedded flowers and plants are no different. Failure to care for foliage will simply result in them dying prematurely, which is not why they were planted.

The first principle when designing and maintaining a bed is to ensure the plants and flowers are nicely spaced out. If they don’t have enough space, they will not be able to grow and flourish. In extreme circumstances, beds will become particularly congested, with the plants and flowers smothering each other.

A second key factor to consider is exactly where in a garden beds are planted. Not all plants and flowers are the same and they don’t all demand the same amount of sunlight. Would you believe that some prefer morning sun while others revel in the warmer afternoon rays. There are even plants and flowers that love all types of sun no matter when it arrives and others that thrive in shaded areas.

A further factor generally difficult to control initially is the soil used in beds. Some soil is not particularly suitable for planting flowers, so it may be necessary to add a suitable fertiliser. Soil testing kits are available which can help determine the best flowers for the soil in place.

Suitable Fertilisers

The fertility levels of typical garden soil reduces over time, leaving its plants to struggle with inadequate nutrients. Identifying signs of lower soil fertility is key to taking action and applying suitable fertilisers.

We believe the best and most effective fertilisers for flowers are in water-soluble or liquid form. Some fertilisers are known to 'burn' plants when used in the wrong way (e.g. when high volumes are dispersed or applied at the wrong time).

The best fertilisers for typical garden plants and flowers contain the widest range of nutrients needed, and that continue to be released weeks and months after its application.

Weed Control

In short, weeds compete for the finite resources available to all welcome foliage in a garden useful plants, and in doing so, can host pests and diseases. For treasured plants and flowers to thrive, weeds must be removed from a garden.

It is also possible for certain types of weeds to block drainage pipes.

Disease Control

Much like garden pests, diseases are can be harmful to all plants and flowers. Most typical diseases are triggered by different types of fungi, bacteria and viruses. Such diseases common in our area include anthracnose, arbutus leaf spots, ovulinia petal blight and white rust.

Generally speaking, fungal diseases can be prevented by over-hydrating a garden. Equally, diseases caused by bacteria and viruses can be deterred by professionally using clean, quality tools for maintenance. When plants become infected with a form of disease, it is likely that appropriate chemicals will be required to terminate the micro-organisms forming the disease.

Animal Protection

Herbivores are obviously drawn to the appetising contents of a well-stocked garden. It doesn't take them long to begin destroy plants and flowers when feeding. Other carniverous and ominiverous domestic animals such as cats and dogs are also potentially destructive to gardens and their plants - for largely different reasons. 

There are many theories and techniques for protecting a garden from animals, but installing suitable barriers is a standard and effective solution. Barriers include wire fencing, which provides good protection while not completely destroying the appearance of a garden.

Pest Control

Pests can kill flowers and plants with relative ease, so it is important to prevent them from invading gardens. Some pests can be deterred by maintaining a weed-free garden which is clear of waste and other domestic refuse. Other pests can be averted by installing different types of barriers and traps. Common Some pests that you should be aware of include bugs, mites, aphids (such as greenfly and blackfly) and lily beetles.

Various techniques are suitable depdning on the pest involved and the scale of the infestation; including use of appropriate pesticides to control their spread.

Pinching & Pruning

Pinching is the process of removing stem tips from plants to encourage lateral growth and help them develop a pleasing shape. Pinch back plants is a very useful method which increases the likelihood of extra branches and flowers to grow.

Differently, pruning is the process of cutting back overgrown branches to control and restrict the growth and scope of plants. It is inevitable that most plants will become unruly and wayward over time, and quality, knowledgable pruning can help to maintain aesthetically pleasing, uniform heights and shapes.

Thinning & Culling

Thinning is the process of removing plants from a bed or area which have been identified as superflous or excessive. The primary purpose for thinning a garden is to create room and free resources for the growth and expansion of the plants which have been designated as survivors.

Alternatively, culling is the process of removing plants which have been identified as inferior in some way and unwelcome (often thosw which are weak, infested or diseased). Like thinning, this process creates more room for the remaining plants, but also seeks to control the spread of pests and diseases.

Staking

Staking involves fixing a stake, stick, cane or rod in the ground at the foot of a plant, and tying to the stem to provide support and rigidity. Clearly this a process which needs to be undertaken for plants with weak and drooping stems or where it is necessary to encourage plants to grow in a particular direction.

Bamboo sticks and other types of light wood are generally most effective, alongside tying material such threads, tape or cloth.

Deadheading

Deadheading is the process of removing dead (or soon to be dead) flower heads from plants. It is a technique known to encourage and achieve further blooming. There are different ways to deadhead plants, even using fingers for small quantities or a shearing tool for higher volumes.

Soil Renewal

Garden soil gradually loses its beneficial properties over time, make it less and less suitable as a fertile nurturing ground for plant growth. If garden soil is showing signs thant it can't support its guests, the soil is often best replaced.