English Woodlands Burrow Nursery Blog

Last few weeks for bare root hedge plants!

Are you planning to gap up a hedge or plant a new one? We can supply  bare root hedge plants up to the end of March stocks permitting. So don't leave it too late if you want to order this season. We are happy to advise about species and quantities or you can browse our  website.

For small quantities of native hedging we offer our convenient hedge packs of 25 mixed native species - £38 for 60-80cm plants and £49 for the 90-120cm plants.

For quantities of over 150 plants we offer 40-60cm plants or 60-80cm plants, always 50% hawthorn and a choice of other species in bundles of 25s. See our website for details of our Rural Hedge Mix.

We can also supply single species of bare root plants depending on availability, telephone us or browse the website for details.

Please order in advance. We normally require 48 hours notice to prepare orders for collection and 3 to 7 days notice where delivery is required. We are not normally able to pack orders for bare root plants while you wait except for small numbers on Saturday mornings.

Multi-stem Himalayan Birch

Are you looking for something special for your garden?

A semi-mature specimen tree or shrub? A plant for screening or topiary for style?

We have new stock in the nursery now:

For screening we have a large range of evergreen shrubs from 60cm tall to 3m including Photinia Red Robin, Laurels and fast growing conifers:

We also have 4-4.5m Eucalyptus and standard Ligustrum japonicum for above fence height evergreen screening. Do ask for advice regarding ultimate height of trees for your requirements. For screening at lower levels we have smart ready planted troughs of Photinia Red Robin:

New topiary in to stock include Taxus (yew) cones, balls, pyramids and spirals; Euonymus Bravo balls, half standard Pines and half standard Viburnum tinus Eve Price:

We have a range of Espaliers 1m wide by 2m high - ideal for making secluded seating areas and division in the garden - species include the fragrant Star Jasmine - Trachelospermum jasminoides which flowers in July - pair this with Ceanothus shrubs with blue flowers in May for successional spring and summer interest:

Star Jasmine & Ceanothus

There are many more beautiful specimens in stock - do visit us!

Now is an ideal time to prune apple trees - if you need to. Newly planted trees have usually been formatively pruned in the nursery and shouldn't need any pruning, however as trees get older pruning may be necessary and it is easier to assess the trees after leaf fall and prior to bud break.

The aim of any pruning will be to reduce the risk of pests and diseases from crowded conditions ; encourage growth of younger productive wood and the production of good quality fruit.

First remove any dead, diseased or damaged branches - particularly those damaged by apple canker.

Prune out any crossing branches that can rub.

Shorten previous year's growth on main branch tips by about a third.

Leave side branches (laterals) unpruned so they can develop fruit buds in the second year.

Remove strong shoots growing into the centre of the tree - aim for an overall 'goblet' shape.

On old trees thin out any fruit bearing spurs that are congested to about 15cm/6" apart.

and don't forget to clean your tools after use!

Wishing all our customers a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!

We are open as usual from 8 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday 

and

8 am to 4 pm Saturday

The whole team at English Woodlands would like to wish you a
Very Merry Christmas and a
Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!

Thank you for your custom during 2018 and we look forward to seeing you in the New Year.

We close at 4pm Saturday 22nd December and
Open again 8am Wednesday January 2nd 2019

Our popular Quality Christmas Trees are now in stock!

Nordmann Fir - the 'non-drop' tree that retains its needles well, beautiful glossy foliage. 3' - 12' trees £25 - £135

Norway spruce - the traditional one with the fragrance of Christmas! 4'-12' trees £26 - £135

Some potted plants are also available including some very neat potted Picea conica - ideal for a small decoration at £19.99

Picea conica

We are open Mondays to Fridays 8am to 5pm
Saturdays 8am to 4.00pm
Sundays 10am to 4.00pm
New this year - late night opening
Fridays 7th and 14th December
5pm - 8 pm

Plants for hedges are supplied bare root from November to March when they are dormant. This is an economical way to plant new deciduous hedges. Our plants are well rooted, strong plants you may see cheaper on the web but would find it hard to get better quality.

Our Hedge Packs of 25 plants are ideal for small quantities (one pack is sufficient for 5 metres planted in a double staggered row) or are ideal for gapping up an existing hedge. Available in a 60-80cm size comprising 12 Hawthorn, 4 Field Maple, 3 Hazel, 3 Spindle and 3 Blackthorn.

Hedge packs are also available in the nursery at the larger size 90-120cm comprising 13 Hawthorn, 4 Field Maple, 4 Hazel and 4 Hornbeam.

For larger quantities our classic Country Hedge mix is available with 50% hawthorn and a combination of other species supplied in bundles of 25 plants.

Single species such as beech and hornbeam make attractive garden hedges . A variety of sizes are available, the largest usually used for hedging is 125-150cm. Evergreen plants are supplied at small sizes such as Yew 30-40cm and Box 20-30cm - well branched sturdy plants.

There are many advantages of hedge planting including benefits to wildlife - creating food, shelter and habitat; hedges provide design features in gardens, division of larger areas, shelter for seating areas and vegetable patches;  plus there is the benefit to the environment of soaking up air pollution in urban areas, and slowing wind and water erosion of soil.

Need advice? Follow the links above and telephone or visit to discuss your requirements.

Foliage colour is one of the highlights of autumn, this year has been one of the best due to the long hot summer and as yet we haven't had the gales to blow the leaves off the trees...

Whatever size garden - or patio - you have there is a tree that has beautiful autumn colour for you - from the smallest ornamental cherry to the largest oaks.

Prunus Kojo-no-mai is a small ornamental cherry showing good colour now, it is suitable for a container on a patio and reaches approximately 2m high. In contrast, the wild cherry Prunus avium can grace a woodland clearing or parkland and reach up to 20m.

In between, for small to medium gardens  - varieties such as Prunus Okame, Prunus Pandora, Prunus Kanzan and Prunus sargentii all have good autumn colour. Prunus Royal Burgundy has deep burgundy foliage in summer which turns bright red in autumn.

Oaks such as the pin oak Quercus palustris, red oak Quercus rubra, and scarlet oak Quercus coccinea are stunning large trees for autumn colour.

Many Sorbus (Rowan) trees show great autumn foliage including the yellow berried variety of Sorbus aucuparia - Joseph Rock, upright when young this is a hardy tree for a small garden.

One of the best trees for autumn colour is Liquidambar styraciflua and its cultivars, including Liquidambar Worplesdon which shows consistently good colour. Liquidambar has a maple shape leaf and the tree is also prunable so we also supply it as a stunning espalier 2m high and 1m wide.

Less well known is Nyssa sylvatica the Tupelo tree, a large specimen used to great effect in public gardens such as Sheffield Park here in Sussex. Parrotia persica, the Persian Ironwood is another unusual stunning large tree the leaves show an almost rainbow foliage effect in autumn.

And of course there are many Japanese Maples - Acer palmatum varieties to choose from with a range of red, orange and yellow autumn colour.

Enjoy the autumn colour this year and do come and visit if you are inspired to plant!

Great quality rootballed plants for Hedging are now available !

Yew, Taxus baccata and Western Red Cedar - Thuja plicata both make great hedges. They clip well and create thick hedges for divisions or can be used as a backdrop to other planting.

Field grown and pruned to create bushy plants we have a range of sizes from 60-80cm tall to 2.2m. Taxus baccata prefers well drained soil, Thuja plicata tolerates heavier wetter sites. Both tolerate shade.

We have a variety of sizes in stock from now through to March next year. Come and visit or see the website for sizes and prices.

Also just arrived rootballed Holly - Ilex aquifolium 100-125cm tall!

Big flavour for small spaces

There's nothing like picking fruit from your own tree - even in the smallest of spaces available - patio, balcony or small garden.

We now have a selection of fruit trees in stock grown on 'dwarf' or 'patio' rootstock which controls their ultimate size.

Apple varieties are grafted or budded on to M27 rootstock to achieve around only 6' or 1.8m high and still produce a good basketful of apples. Cherries are grafted on to Gisela 5 rootstocks and Pears onto Quince Eline.  Come and visit the nursery to see the selection, trees on other rootstocks are available as usual.

Apples in stock include Charles Ross, Fiesta, Red Devil, Scrumptious and Winter Gem. We have dwarf cherries Celeste, Morello, Stardust and Stella; Pear Beth and Concorde; Peach Garden Lady and Terrace Amber. They are all £39.99 available in containers now.