We are pleased to announce that we are now BALI accredited!
What is BALI?
The British Association of Landscape Industries is established to promote, support and inspire all professional landscapers, garden designers and landscape suppliers to be leaders of an environmentally, ethically and commercially sustainable landscape industry.
BALI is the leading Trade Association for the nation’s landscape professionals and delivers exceptional business, technical and promotional support to their
They have over 900 professional landscapers, landscape contractors, grounds maintenance contractors, interior landscapers, gardeners and garden designers listed as active members who have been fully vetted and approved members.
Their members have specialist skills in tree work, disabled gardens, garden design, gardening, fencing, hard landscaping, soft landscaping, turf and lawn care, artificial turf, trees and shrubs, hydroseeding, interiorscapes, drainage, groundworks, roof gardens and sports grounds and maintenance to name a few.
(Taken from the BALI website)
What this means to you
By Prohort having this Accreditation, it gives our customers peace of mind that they are using a reliable company to complete their technical horticultural documents. To become a member, you have to sign up to their Code of Conduct, which is a pledge to carry out our business to the very highest industry standard. We invest money in training our staff and adhere to all health and safety regulations. By choosing us to complete your work, you can be assured of professional excellence, value for money and outstanding customer service. Please follow this link to see our profile on the BALI website: https://www.bali.org.uk/members/directory/blue-iris-landscapes-ltd-126856/
If you would like to have your grounds designed by a BALI Accredited company, please get in touch with us.
Subsidence Reports: Avoid That Sinking Feeling
What Causes Subsidence?
Subsidence happens when the ground under your house collapses or sinks lower. When this occurs it puts a significant amount of strain on your home if one side sinks and cracks can begin to appear. There are several reasons why this might happen to your house, this includes geological, man-made and seasonal variations. For example, periods of drought can cause the soil to dry out, especially if the soil is made of clay, making the ground unstable. Other reasons for subsidence include trees and shrubs close to your foundations or drains that are leaking water causing the soil to become soft and begin to compact under the weight of your home.
What are the signs of subsidence?
Cracks can appear in your home for several reasons such as natural shrinkage and swelling due to temperature and humidity changes. Cracks that indicate subsidence are usually more than 3mm thick and wider at the top than the bottom. They are often found close to doors and windows, and you may notice other signs such as wallpaper crinkling at wall joins, doors sticking and cracks to your extension.
Can I prevent subsidence?
Minimising the risk of subsidence is, indeed, possible, particularly if your house is at risk. For example, plant trees or shrubs a safe distance from your home to avoid the soil around it becoming too dry. It is also advisable to undertake regular maintenance on external guttering, pipes and plumbing and install a water butt in your garden to catch rainwater.
What are subsidence reports?
Subsidence reports will give you a risk rating, which is an overall opinion of your property’s level of subsidence risk, from low to very high. They then go into further detail, giving an in-depth explanation as to why your property has been given its risk rating. We will also make suggestions for actions that could be taken to reduce the risk.
We also provide detailed subsidence information, which is essentially an in-depth explanation of subsidence and its main causes, alongside other lesser-known factors. This can help to home buyers to make more informed decisions about the property they are considering buying.
Finally, subsidence reports details information about remedial works that would be legally acceptable to have carried out.
Find out more about how we can help you with Subsidence reports by visiting our web page.
If you suspect your property may be experiencing subsidence, then get in touch. We can advise you on the best courses of action going forward and whether home insurance providers should be contacted. We also work with insurance companies, solicitors, surveyors, and local adjusters to ensure the right result is achieved for you.
Expert Witness – What Are They?
An expert witness is a person with an in-depth knowledge of their field, and the primary function of an expert witness is to give an independent option, based on their own impartial findings. The information can be delivered in several different ways, including a report, or verbally in court.
There are countless numbers of reasons why an expert witness may be needed but, in the field of horticulture, the most common involve disputes between two parties over the following topics:
Japanese knotweed, and other non-native invasive species. For this, a specific report that is Part 35 compliant is often required.
Subsidence caused by trees, hedgerows, or other significant vegetation.
Damage caused by trees, including fires, decay, and damage as a result of extreme weather.
How can we help?
ProHort has an in-house expert witness, capable of working on a wide range of cases within the fields of horticulture, arboriculture and invasive weeds. We have over twenty years’ experience in the industry, can produce a Part 35 compliant report and are happy to appear in court when required.
In addition to this, we are listed on the UK Register of Expert Witnesses, so you can be certain that you are in safe hands.
If you are in the middle of a dispute and need some advice from an expert, why not get in touch and we will be happy to assist. Alternatively check out our Expert Witness page to find out more.
What Is a Soil Analysis, And Why Would I Need One?
You may be surprised to hear this, but soil is very important. The composition on site can drastically impact upon the progress of a development, and the cost of completing it. Find out more about soil analysis down below…
In many cases, a soil test and analysis may be required, which can be an essential part of the development process. If the land has already been identified as being contaminated, then the importance of obtaining a Soil Analysis Report increases as you will require additional considerations from your local planning authority.
But, what is a soil analysis?
A soil analysis is a test which is carried out on the soil to discover many details, including acidity, composition, content and pH levels. The complexity of the test altered to suit your individual requirements, we can test for a single nutrient, or we can test the full spectrum including any organic matter, nitrogen levels, and any heavy metals within the soil.
To conduct an analysis, our surveyor will attend the site and take a number of samples from different locations across the site. This is then tested, giving us an average of the soil composition across the site.
Why would I need a soil analysis?
If you are undertaking any sort of project, then a soil analysis can be useful for you. If you are developing on a site, then the analysis will help you to identify the type of soil you are building upon, highlighting any potential problems before they arise.
If you need to remove soil from a site and taking it to a waste disposal facility, it is likely that they will request a soil analysis before taking the waste, as they may be required to charge you a hefty landfill tax. By having a soil analysis completed well in advance, you will be aware of the issues and be able to budget for it in advance.
Another situation where a soil analysis can be a vital tool is on a site where a large amount of planting is going to take place. The analysis will determine the different nutrients and chemicals in the soil, and this information can help you to make an informed decision on which plants to select, ensuring that they can thrive in the environment.
An expert witness is a person with an in-depth knowledge of their field, and the primary function of an 
You may be surprised to hear this, but soil is very important. The composition on site can drastically impact upon the progress of a development, and the cost of completing it. Find out more about soil analysis down below…