A popular theme among gardeners this year is to plant a tree to mark the Queen’s Jubilee – a tree is a more than fitting tribute to our Monarch since it has such grace and permanence.

The soil conditions are also ideal for planting at the moment – after the snow there is actually plenty of moisture in the ground – and trees planted in the next six weeks will root away before the usual Suffolk drought kicks in!!

We have supplied a number of Oaks to many parish councils in the last few months – and these will no doubt be gracing village greens and churchyards for many years to come.

Plans are afoot here at the nursery to celebrate the Jubilee in a number of ways – we will be announcing a Special Offer in due course on trees  - our Suffolk Show stand will also highlight this along with the Olympics – watch this space for more info!!!!!

UNTIL NEXT TIME,

RICHARD

A very different week on the nursery compared to last – today’s temperature is forecast to be 11C – compared to last week’s which was a heady -1C!!

There is still a little bit of snow laying around – but generally we have had a mild week.  It was though surprising how far the frost had got into the ground – the pots remained frozen solid until Tuesday.

Getting back to normal has allowed us to resume lifting of hedging orders – digging up plants revealed how much new white root growth there is on some items – quite surprising considering the weather.  But time is moving on - once we get into March there will not be very long left for planting bare-root items – so do not delay. 

Also this week – we had 17 intrepid people down for the first of our popular February PRUNING COURSES – this one was on SHRUB PRUNING.  Luckily the weather had just warmed up in time – otherwise we would all have been frozen to our secateurs – let alone pruned any plants!!

But a great time was had by all – learning about the different groups of shrubs and how to prune and look after them.   Next week will see the second of our PRUNING COURSES - this time on fruit trees – followed by a morning learning all about the ancient art of grafting – it’s a busy old time!!

UNTIL NEXT TIME,

RICHARD

What a week at the nursery!  From very mild temperatures last week to an artic blast – it has been a long and difficult week.

Apart from the usual hassle of the ice and snow – it means that our plants are all frozen into the ground – lifting of hedging and fruit tree orders has had to stop – causing a backlog in orders.

Fortunately we have tunnels that afford a little bit of warmth – so we can get on with one or two tasks  - and this is an ideal time to push on with those maintenance jobs that do not get done in spring when we are really busy – but really – like so many people – we are totally fed up with this weather – roll on spring!!

UNTIL NEXT TIME – STAY WARM!

RICHARD

We are proud and pleased to announce that our Online Shop is now up and running.

So many of our customers have asked us for this facility – and we have now begun – in a small way at first with a selection of ornamental trees and fruit – and if this proves as successful as we hope it will be – then we will add a much larger range of our products for autumn this year.

Please do let us know what you think of it – there may be a few teething troubles at first – but if you don’t tell us we cannot iron them out – so do let us know!!

UNTIL NEXT TIME,

RICHARD

Many years ago – East Anglia – and particularly Suffolk was the home of the Black Poplar – a wonderful majestic tree growing in river valleys – a feature of the landscape.  Sadly in the late 1960′s – many of these trees were destroyed – and as river valleys dried out – so the trees disappeared from our landscape.

However – as often – a few sentinels have survived – and we are pleased to be able to offer young trees – propagated from those survivors – that can be planted out to ensure the species once again grace’s the Suffolk skies.  We offer trees taken as cuttings from named clones throughout Suffolk – male and female trees that will either in the case of the male provide red catkins in spring – and if a female is nearby – fluffy cotton-wool like seedpods in summer.

These trees are available now – but only in limited numbers – so if you have space and a suitable site – why not help us to return the native Black Poplar to it’s rightful place in the landscape??

UNTIL NEXT TIME

RICHARD

What a bizarre week on the weather front it has been at the nursery.  They say that a football match can be a game of two halves – but this week certainly has been!!   On Monday it was 7c – but on Monday night – we had a very sharp frost – down to -5C – and that left the next few days at 3-4C – such a change – now – Saturday – we are back up to 11C – mild and windy!!   The plants just do not know where they are!!

Still – it does mean that the ground is in very good workable condition for planting  - probably the best January for planting new trees and shrubs we have seen for a long time – certainly very different to last year!   The jury is still out as to whether there will be any real ‘winter’ this year – my guess for what it is worth – is that there will be a little bit of snow in mid-February for a few days – and that will be that – we will then run straight into spring!

What remains more of a concern though continues to be the lack of decent rainfall – and there is talk in some parts of Suffolk of drought orders in March if nothing arrives – worrying really – it is always said that Suffolk rain comes in winter – and at the moment it is pretty dry!   Let’s hope the old saying – ‘February fill dyke – black or white’ – comes true – because the ditches or dykes – most of them are dry – and have been for a long time.

On the nursery this week – has seen the grafting programme of ornamentals progressing.  Also there has been a useful period of maintenance of tunnels on an actual wet day  - we have been waiting for three months for one of those! – also a lot of rabbit fencing has gone on.   The one really frosty day also revealed some nibbling of fruit trees – they just cannot leave them alone!   If you have any newly-planted trees or shrubs – do not skimp on the protection from rabbits or deer – they really are a problem – and can destroy a newly-planted tree in one nocturnal visit – you have been warned!

UNTIL NEXT TIME,

RICHARD

Happy New Year!!    Into 2012 – and we are pushing on with our work programme.   Besides all the usual stuff – this week has seen us starting our Grafting season.  From now until late March – Liz is locked away in her little shed – splicing together pieces of wood to form new trees in a few months time.

It is a fascinating art – and it is still incredible that a root and a shoot can grow together to form one.  If you would like to learn more about this – we do run a course on grafting where you can come to the nursery – and learn the theory – and then have a go and graft a tree to take home with you!!  Check out the Courses Page.

The weather has changed from one extreme to the other since Christmas – we had several days of gale-force winds which caused some damage on the nursery – mostly minor stuff – but extra hassle!   But most of the time – it has been incredibly mild – and only today – and apparently over the next few days – has it turned colder and frosty.

This is however – an ideal time to plant new trees and shrubs or hedging – the soil is not as wet as it normally would be at this time of the year – so anything planted now will root quickly – and be partly-established before the spring – and get off to a flying start so get cracking!!

UNTIL NEXT TIME,

RICHARD

The nursery will be closed from 12.30pm on Friday December 23rd – and re-open on Tuesday January 3rd.   Any messages outside these times can be left on the answerphone which will be checked regularly.

We would like to wish all of our customers a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. We thank you all for your custom over the past year – and look forward to seeing you in the New Year!!

UNTIL THEN

RICHARD

So into December – and a blast of winter seems to have arrived!  From incredibly mild temperatures in November – we are now into a more seasonal pattern – which although no doubt unpopular with some – is actually quite welcome on the nursery since it puts things back how they should be.  The trees are now at last losing their leaves – and going into dormancy – and can take a well-earned rest until spring!

No rest for the staff yet though – a very busy week at the nursery – we have dealt with hundreds of orders on hedging and fruit – and have now cleared the back-log – we have had new stock in of Raspberry Autumn Bliss which has proved incredibly popular this year – along with Damson Merryweather – all these items are now available again.

We have also sent out a huge order of Buckthorn for an offer in association with the Suffolk Butterfly Council, Ipswich Borough Council and the Suffolk Naturalists Society.  The Buckthorns are the host plant of the brimstone butterfly – and we all hope to encourage far more of them into East Suffolk.  For more info visit suffolkbutterflies.org.uk or email brimstone@suffolkbutterflies.org.uk

As we get closer to Christmas – many people buy trees and plants as lasting gifts for loved ones – what could be better than a fruit or ornamental tree that will give years of pleasure!!

We do also offer Crown Nursery Gift Vouchers which also make excellent gifts for those who are unsure which tree or plant to give!!   Ideal for that last minute bit of Christmas shopping!!!

UNTIL NEXT TIME – STAY WARM!

RICHARD