While the UK has vast areas of woodland it is worth noting that the proportion of hedgerows in the UK has fallen from 4.8% inuary to 3.8% in mid- summers. The overall decline has been faster than the decline in the average population of around 30 years, which is of course in proportion to the entire population of the UK which has declined by around 60 million in the same period.
The last thirty years have seen the erosion of hundreds of thousands of acres of woodland, and there is therefore an argument that the need for trees is reducing in the face of the growing world. The problem though, is that in many areas, rising temperatures and other factors may mean that forests will revert back to being ‘old Encrobles’ with large mature trees and a limited number of large mature trees. So the future may hold the same trees but with smaller mature trees, or even nothing at all. This is why many people are looking to make hedges which will provide not only year round cover but a form of ‘trees in place’ that will provide the right ecosystem between the present forest and the future landforms being developed.
For many the hope of a woodland habitat has been revived, once the chainsaw has been removed, and the saws sharpened. Once the woodland floor is clear we can dig and remove the rubble and weeds, and with a degree of confidence we can transplant those large trees which have been force-grown into the soil for any number of reasons.
What trees will we be choosing? Well this is a question frequently asked by new gardeners. There are strong opinions given on which trees are best for each soil type, and these will be debated for years. In the end the decision will probably be made by the home owner themselves, however I happen to think that choosing the wrong tree for a particular soil type is far easier than choosing a wrong tree for the wrong soil type, and so I would suggest that this should be the best place to start.
My reasons for this are a) the choice of tree should be determined by the land-bed size and its suitability for the tree to grow, b) the soil type chosen is more important that the individual soil type, and c) the practicality of the tree over the years. Choose a species with a spread of at least several feet and plan to keep it trimmed for many years. Find a farmer to help you and, if necessary, get his or her advice.
How to select the right species?
The positions where you are are now standing are likely to be similar to those where the tree was planted hundreds of years ago, so it will be useful to choose a species that will tolerate this type of soil. For example, the Common Silver Birch, a common choice, will do well in heavy clay soils, but it requires sandy soil to grow well. The Fern Cedar, which is a smaller tree, does well in light, sandy soils. It does not do well in very heavy soil.
How to plant the tree:
Before you plant you need to dig a hole. This is larger than the root ball, but smaller than the tree’s branches. Parsnip roots are large, so don’t make the hole too large. A good rule is to dig a hole twice as wide and half as deep as the roots. Then backfill the hole with garden compost to allow the soil to settle once you are done burying the roots.
The tree can be planted in a sideways position or trees can be planted in an up and down position. The former is straight, the latter often looks better. A tree can also be planted in a vase or a pot. This again depends on the kind of tree you have chosen.
Last step: Water. Water the roots well.
Enjoy your tree.
