Welcome to Village Connect

I once read that the best time to plant a tree was thirty years ago, the second best time
is now… So let’s talk trees!

It is true that the best time of year to plant a tree is the Autumn, the soil should still be warm from the summer, but Autumn rain should stop the tree drying out and save manual watering. Lots of ‘shoulds’ in there I know, but that is the theory despite our topsey turvey weather patterns.

Choosing which tree to plant can be the most diffi cult part, planting it is the rewarding and fun part. When choosing the tree it is best to go through a set of straightforward questions: Fruit or Ornamental? Large or Small? Deciduous or Evergreen? Flower or Foliage Colour? Shady or Sunny Position? Clay or Sandy Soil? Will the roots be a problem to foundations or drains? Once you have answered these questions, there will probably only be a few trees that will satisfy your position and these will be identifi ed by asking advice from a member of our plantaria team, reading books or trawling the internet.

For a ‘normal’ sized tree, i.e. one between 1 and 4 metres in height and in a pot with a volume of up to 30 litres, you will need a spade, fork, tree stake, tree tie, sledge hammer, tree planting compost and fertilizer. First of all, we need to dig the hole, so using the spade remove the surface layer and dig a hole about 50% bigger than the pot that the tree is in.

If planting into grass, then lay a plastic bag down and put all the soil onto that - it is much easier to clean up afterwards - and lay the turf you have cut out upside down on the grass ready for replacing back around the tree. As the action of digging with a spade can ‘smear’ the sides and bottom of the hole, forming a smooth almost waterproof skin, it is important to break up the sides and bottom with a fork.

Next, put the stake into the hole and position it to one side, importantly on the windward side of the hole; this prevents the wind from pushing the tree onto the tree stake and causing the bark to be scuffed off.

The stake should be knocked in so it is fi rmly in the ground and no more than a metre high, it is important to stake the tree to stop the roots from moving in the soil, not to stop the top of the tree swaying. This swaying action will help to strengthen the tree trunk, so it is important not to stake too high. Mix some of the soil removed from the hole with tree planting compost and a handful of bonemeal fertilizer to form the material to be backfi lled into the hole. Put a little of this mixture into the hole so that the rootball will fi nish slightly proud of the existing ground level, position the tree in the hole so it is upright, in good contact with the mixture in the bottom of the hole and close enough to the stake for the tree tie to fi t.

Don’t forget to take the tree out of the pot! Then backfi ll around the tree roots with your planting mixture, fi rming with the heel of your boot a couple of times as you fi ll. Empty a watering can of water around the roots to help it establish, tie the tree tie and either replace the turf around the stem or put down a layer of mulch to help prevent moisture loss.

Finally take a photo of the children or grandchildren standing next to the tree - that way, in future, you will be able to say: “I am glad I planted that tree thirty years ago!”

BOSWORTH’S Nurseries & Garden Centre
01536 722635
Only minutes from J10 off the A14 and midway between Kettering and Wellingborough

OPEN: Mon-Sat: 9am - 6pm
Sun: 10am - 5pm • Disabled Access

All Credit Cards Accepted

NOT JUST A GARDEN CENTRE