PLants On The Move...................

Hi

Where did  the Weekend Go to ....!!!

I had every intention of writing this on Friday morning but the sad thing is the day just flew past without any quiet time and there hasn't been any since.  Suddenly there was a multitude of trucks delivering trees and plants that all had to get put away before the weekend and then the day and weekend was gone.

Now friends of ours were thinking of getting a tree from some other friends that was growing in the wrong place.  From what I can gather it was an Elm of some sort that was ultimately going to get too big for a townie section.  The dimensions of this tree are 3m plus high and approx. 2m wide. Now whilst it's reasonably large there is every chance that it could be shifted and by hand, but just so that you know, there is a special tree spade operated by a tractor that can used to shift  large trees. I do have to add here that one should only attempt to move trees that you can physically carry and move and plant into a new position yourself or with a little help.

The beauty of this time of year is that trees that have lost their leaves are in a dormant state and you can literally, just dig them out and move them.

The proper way to go about moving such a large tree is to wrench it in the April or May which means cutting the roots in the autumn close to the trunk to generate new roots close into the tree, Even if you don't wrench the tree, it will still probably move, but you have to get in a do it now. Once the sap has started to rise and buds open its too late.

Digging a large tree out needs a little technique, that makes it easy, esp if your like me and the ole back doesn't hack the pace like your still only twenty. Start by pushing your spade in and cut all the side roots around the tree. Your distance out from the tree needs to relevant to the size, but small enough that you can still lift it. Now for a larger tree I start to dig a trench and then empty all the soil out of it. Once the soil is out, I can the start to cut in underneath the tree.  With a larger tree, be armed with some lopers and and small pruning saw to cut through those roots that may be larger than what you can manage with a spade.

Once the tree is loosened , you can feel where the roots are still holding it and thats where you need to target. It always helps to remove the soil as thrusting a spade through loose soil loses impact and take so much more effort. As I tell my team its all about technique and not just brute strength. The other tip I can offer is to use your thigh muscles as they must be the strongest with the most weight behind them.

Once replanted a large tree or shrub may need to be anchored with a solid stake or with guy ropes and pegs until its roots have regrown and the plant can again hold inself in the ground.

So if there is a tree that you need to move so that you can fit in another plum ot two or even a peach, nectarine, apple or pear then get onto it and do it now.

To view new seasons fruit trees  Click here

NEW IN THIS WEEK

White Hellebores, I just love white Winter roses and in the pics above are two different species of white winter rose. The first one is Ice queen and is an orientalis form. So often with seedling winter roses you get quite a lot of variances in the flower but these must be 'tissue made' to get such a uniform plant and so icily white. Niger is the other species and White magic is the cultivar and these are just as gorgeous though probably prefer a drier position.

Daffodil Tete et tete A fav of mine. I just love these miniature Daffodils and they lend themselves to be grown in a pot. Enjoy them on a table outside where you can see them through the window. Hyacinths are also pretty and stunningly fragrant. I would haver to have them inside where there fragrance will fill the room.

Asparagus. Sweet succulent and tender and of course you can grow your own. Now you have to remember that Asparagus is a true perennial and so needs its own spot in the garden. I reckon that if you have the space make a dedicated Asparagus patch.  Plant the crowns now to get well establishe before the summer. As with most perennials the crown will get bigger yielding more spears as the years go past. They love lots of food so feed them

We need the space and so these Teucrium cones must go. They are big chunky plants that will be perfect as a feature in either a pot or in the garden. They were $120 but out they go for only $20.00. Sorry but they are too large to be couriered so pick up only.

Cheers, Lloyd and Harry and the team