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The Country Smallholder
|October 2025
English Woodlands say prepare to plant your trees & hedges, to reap multiple rewards
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Every farmer, smallholder, landowner and estate manager knows that there are very few quiet times during the year, in terms of workload. The less-hectic periods between seasons presents an opportunity for planning, however, and this is the time! Now is the moment to plan your planting programme and to pre-order bareroot plants. They can be planted from November, throughout the dormant season. Need some help? Please contact English Woodlands for advice, if required.
WHAT ARE BAREROOT PLANTS?
Bareroot plants provide the most efficient and inexpensive way to plant hedges, woodland, shelterbelts and wildlife corridors. The young plants have been grown in the ground, then lifted whilst dormant so that they can be transplanted. They are supplied without soil and are transported. These plants are available from English Woodlands, specialising in UK grown stock. They can be pre-ordered now, for delivery between late November and April when the plants are dormant.
HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE PLANTING PROCESS
It really couldn't be simpler! Prepare the soil by removing weeds/grass and mixing organic matter with the soil, where required. Ensure the ground isn’t waterlogged or frozen and when it comes to planting time, make sure the roots of your young plants are not dry. Use Rootgrow mycorrhizae for optimum root establishment and bonemeal as a slow-release fertiliser. These should be applied during planting. At this point, ensure the depth of the plant is the same as when it was previously growing. After planting, keep weeds away from your plants and conserve moisture in the ground by using a mulch such as bark, straw or matting. Nature should supply the water during autumn and winter, but during exceptionally dry periods, you might need to water your plants until the roots are established.
WHY YOU SHOULD BOTHER WITH A HEDGE RATHER THAN JUST FENCING
This story is from the October 2025 edition of The Country Smallholder.
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