RJ Trees and Hedging | Blog

10/05/2022

The characteristics and importance of pioneer tree species

It is important to understand which trees will succeed, especially in forestry and productive woodland planting and whilst by no means experts in this topic, this blog attempts to explain which of the tree species we grow are termed pioneer trees and in simple terms, what that means. The following tree species (all of which we grow) are generally considered to be of most use as pioneer trees when establishing a new woodland – goat willow (Salix caprea), aspen (Populus tremula), silver birch (Betula pendula), bird cherry (Prunus padus) and... Read More

28/01/2022

Facts you might not know about farm hedging

There are approx. 700,000km of farm hedgerows in the UK, approximately the distance to the moon and back. We’ve lost up to 50% of our hedgerows since the end of WW2. The main reasons for the removal of hedgerows were About 60% of those hedgerows that remain are not in good condition. Cutting every 3 years will provide 3.4 times the mass of berries as those cut annually (source People’s Trust for Endangered Species). It is better for wildlife to cut a hedge at the end of winter to provide... Read More

15/07/2023

An overview of poisonous hedging plants for livestock and horses

We have a wide range of species of hedging plants that are recognised as being safe for livestock and horses.  On any product page on our website we indicate in the bullet points under Key Features whether the species is toxic (some are non-toxic to livestock but are poisonous to horses so please read the text carefully).  If you are in a department page, there’s a filter on the left to tick and that will then only show you the product pages for non-toxic hedging plants. Our top ten selling... Read More

14/03/2023
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R J Trees and Hedging – thoughts on woodland creation

With grants at a new higher level (since January 2023), and the race to net zero requiring urgent action, more and more farmers and landowners are considering woodland creation and agroforestry. Broadly there are two types of woodland creation, with high degrees of overlap The species of tree planted varies between these two types of woodland but with overlaps (Beech, Oak, Birch, Sweet Chestnut and Cherry are good for timber production and also excellent for biodiversity).   There are also decisions to be made on whether to grow fast growing trees... Read More

02/03/2023
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Growing bare root trees by hardwood cuttings

We have just established new stock beds where we have permanently planted several species which are best grown from hardwood cuttings rather than from seed. Currently we are growing White Willow (Salix alba), Osier (Salix viminalis), Black poplar (Populus nigra betulifolia) and Common Privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium also known as oval leaf privet) and we plan to add more species in the coming years. The “mother plants” in the stock beds will be allowed to grow without pruning for a couple of years and then they will be sufficiently mature for... Read More

02/02/2023

Benefits of traditional farm hedgerows

Approximately 70% of UK land is farming land and hedgerows are a particular feature of the British landscape where they act primarily to mark boundaries and for stock management.  There are 700,000 km of hedgerows which is 1.5 times the distance to the moon. They offer the farmer and the local community many benefits – ecological, economic and environmental – a huge list that we have tried to summarise below. Wildlife There is no doubt that hedgerows make a massive contribution to wildlife via the provision of food sources, habitat,... Read More

28/01/2023
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Benefits of cell grown plants

Ray Jenkins has been growing bare root plants for almost four decades so you would be hard pressed to find anyone who’s more positive about the benefits of bare root plants and we literally sell millions of them each year …. but we also sell cell grown plants because we respect the benefits they offer See our blog for benefits of bare root plants. We buy in cell grown plants from a specialist grower.  We don’t keep them in stock.  They can either be delivered direct to you or they... Read More

28/01/2023

Tree Seed Provenance (where the seed comes from)

RJ Trees and Hedging grows a wide range of tree species for forestry and productive woodlands and each year, Ray Jenkins carefully selects suitable provenances of seed in the appropriate species. Choosing the right seed source is critical in forestry and productive woodlands as it can be many years before poor choices become obvious and by that time it is too late to do anything about it.  The implications for the yield or timber quality are enormous so we indicate for each species on our website which species are grown... Read More

16/01/2023
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A guide to the specifications of bare root plants

There are many names for what we grow – bare roots, whips, seedlings, field grown plants, transplants, undercuts – and in this article we explain what those mean and how to decide which specification is right for you. The National Plant Specification sets out all of this detail but it’s not in easy language for anyone who isn’t a plant producer – hopefully this guide will be helpful to plant purchasers. Further explanation on how these plants are grown is at the bottom of this article. If you are in... Read More

10/01/2023

A guide to amazing value bare root hedging plants

Bare root plants (sometimes called “field grown plants”) are the cheapest, most environmentally friendly, and natural way of growing hedging plants and tree saplings which, in our book, makes them amazing. Over 100 million plants are grown in Britain this way each year with even more than that quantity grown primarily in Holland, Belgium and Germany but also further afield.  They are delivered to customers “bare root” ie with no soil on their roots. They are sustainable and affordable. Bare roots are only shipped when they are dormant (November to... Read More

09/01/2023
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Benefits of hedgerow trees and how to plant into hedgerows

Historically, hedgerow trees offered farmers a source of income through the timber and hedgerow trees were carefully pruned and managed but when imports of cheaper timber became the norm and farm vehicles and buildings ceased to be made of timber, these trees lost their value and many were removed with the aid of grants, but today the tables have turned and farmers are again incentivised to plant and maintain new and existing hedgerows including the addition of hedgerow trees. Benefits of hedgerow trees Hedgerow trees provide an essential habitat for... Read More

bare root hedging plants 15/12/2022
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When (which months) can you plant bare root hedging?

Traditionally the season for planting bare root whips is November to March but in the last decade or so, that timeframe has been extended until April (and depending on the weather conditions for planting) sometimes even later into May due to the fact that stock is stored by growers like ourselves in cold stores designed to replicate the winter environment, and therefore the plants remains dormant even when, in nature, they would be budding and coming into leaf. What considerations are there for the time of year to plant bare... Read More