If you do not qualify for trade rates, immediate payment by credit or debit card via Sage Pay is required, or you may request contact from the office to make payment over the phone.
For customers who have been accepted for trade rates, we offer several ordering and payment options, including:
Immediate payment by credit or debit card via Sage Pay, our payment service provider.
Order on account (available to credit account customers only).
Request contact from the office & make payment over the phone.
Place order to reserve stock & request a call back to discuss timings, with payment only required upon despatch.
Note: Plant specifications and prices below relate to last season and will be updated ahead of the 2022-2023 season once availability has been determined.
Plants will be available to pre-order for the 2022-2023 planting season. Sign up to receive notification when pre-ordering goes live.
Minimum Order Value
Please note that there is a minimum order value of £50.00 + VAT, excluding delivery.
Delivery
Delivery to UK mainland is included for stock orders over £1500.00 + VAT (subject to postcode zones & surcharges). For full details on delivery please view our delivery page.
Native to Europe and the Caucasus, the Grey Alder was introduced to Britain around 200 years ago. A fast growing deciduous tree, it does well even on very dry soils, is often used to reclaim derelict land and spoil heaps, and in the wild it can be found in habitats as diverse as rocky mountain slopes and boggy riversides. The smooth, dark grey bark makes it an attractive choice for planting.
Site and soil
Although tolerant of a wide range of soils, the Grey Alder is especially good on dry, infertile soils where little else will grow. It does, however, need good light to do well.
Height and spread
Below are the approximate stages of growth, assuming sited in suitable conditions for this species;
After 10 years: 9m x 6m After 20 years: 20m x 10m
Leaf and bark
The leaves are ovate and sharply pointed, dark green and shiny, grey beneath and densely hairy. The bark is a distinctive smooth dark grey.
Flower, seed and fruit
Clusters of 3 or 4 yellow-brown catkins appear in late February, developing into hard green fruits in summer. The woody ‘cones’ remain on the tree over winter.
Uses
Alder makes an attractive specimen tree and can be used for windbreaks, hedging and screening. It plays an important role in the reclamation of derelict land.
Wildlife
The catkins of Grey Alder are an early source of pollen for insects, and the ‘cones’ provide food for birds in winter. Its ability to grow well on the poorest of soils – even on spoil heaps – where the nitrogen-fixing nodules on its roots improve the fertility of the soil, makes it invaluable for reclaiming derelict land.
The main reasons for buying protection is to protect the plants against:
Pests
Spraying
Strimming
Pests
When it comes to deciding what protection to choose the golden rule is to choose the product dependent on which pest you are protecting against. The below will help you in deciding what height of protection you will need.
Vole, Mice 20cm
Rabbit 60cm
Hare 75cm
Roe Deer, Muntjac 1.20m
Fallow Deer 1.50m
Pest & Minimum Protection Height
Protection Type Where more than one size is listed, the wider diameter protection is recommended for taller, bushier plants.
Support Required Taller support is recommended for use in sandier, lighter soils and wider/stronger support should be used at exposed sites.
Tubex tree shelters offer the benefit of not only protecting against animal damage, they also ensure that herbicides do not come into contact with the plants during spraying.
The main reason for spraying is weed control, however, there are other options available to suppress weeds, such as weed control matting.
Strimming
Young plants should be protected from damage caused when strimming. To protect plants solely for strimming, our strimmer guards are the ideal product.