Whilst being aesthetically pleasing, the classic mixed English hedge offers protection for your property and the environment.
Traditionally used as an environmentally friendly way to distinguish borders between fields and woodland, hedgerows naturally mark the landscape. Unfortunately, in recent decades there has been a decline in the presence of hedgerows.
The perfect classic mixed English hedge includes primarily Hawthorne as a base with a mix of Hazel, Field Maple and Spindle creating a mix of autumnal colours making it the perfect eye-catching border. If planted 30cm – 45cm or double-rowed, allowing heights around 120cm, it can create a clear, safe boundary for your property.
Hedges create a blissful environment for wildlife creating a habitat for birds, small mammals, and insects to live in. It is a simple but effective way to enhance your natural environment. The hedge provides them a home to use as shelter and as a food source. They can support up to 80% of our native woodland bird population, 50% of our mammals, 30% of our butterflies and many species of insect. The grassy verge at the base of the hedge can also be home to reptiles and ground nesting birds.
From October to March is the perfect season to prune your hedges. Trimming the hedges from a young age to promote thickness, flowering, and fruiting. This keeps the full, strong presence of the hedge to create the seasonally colourful border to help blend with the natural environment.
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Hedges are also a great feature as there is many design options allowing you to design them into your desired pattern. If you’re looking for assistance on cutting your hedges, contact our sister company Blue Iris Landscapes for more information. Alternatively, if you need to know if your soil is right to grow a certain hedge, then contact us today!
Why Won’t My Grass Grow?
There are many different explanations as to why your grass may not be growing this year, so we have created a list of primary reasons for you to be aware of! So, why won’t my grass grow?
Lack of Water
Whilst seeming like an obvious reason, sometimes your lawn will not grow due to a lack of water. Therefore, if we are going through a heatwave, it’s of utmost importance to hydrate your grass by hand to keep it looking green.
As well as this, grass may also dry out when located next to trees as the roots will absorb all of the surrounding water. So, take extra care of grass near a tree’s proximity.
Lack of Light
There are two main ways that your grass may not receive sunlight. Firstly, if the grass seed is buried too deep then it will not germinate as the sunlight will not reach it. Also, if the location of the grass is covered with too much shade it may affect the growth and colouring. To try and prevent shading, keep your hedges and shrubs trimmed and your trees pruned.
Lack of Air Flow
Soils do not receive air flow when under watered and compact. The grass’ roots need oxygen to develop and grow and struggle to do this when suffering from compaction. To decrease the amount of compression, you need to reduce the footfall and traffic that happens on the soils.
Think you’ve done everything right, but your plants and grass still aren’t growing? Then you may need a soil analysis test to find out the PH range and organic compounds within the soil. If you want to find out more then do not hesitate to get in contact with us today.
Native Newts In The UK
Native Newts in the UK are typically found in ponds and their surrounding boggy areas. They’re most commonly discovered in the spring and summer- will you be on the look out for them this season? Here’s what to seek for:
Great Crested Newt
This specific species is protected by law in the UK. This means you cannot own or sell them and cannot disturb them or their habitat. Great crested newts have a rough, dark brown appearance with bright orange blotches on their underside. Males of this species have crests along their back with a white tip whereas females have a yellow tip.
Smooth Newt
A smooth newt is also a protected species but is the most commonly found newt in the UK. Typically, smooth newts are brown in colour and can grow to a length of 10cm. Both sexes of this newt have orange under belly’s and possess small black spots.
Palmate Newt
The final native newt in the UK is the Palmate newt which are most frequently found in shallow ponds on acid-rich soils. The appearance of this species is immensely similar to that of the smooth newt; however, the most identifiable difference is that the spots on the Palmate do not continue under their throat. Instead, this feature comprises of either a plain pink or a yellow colour.
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If you are looking to apply for planning and are unsure if you are situated in a protected area, then you may require an ecological survey! In this case, get in contact with us today where we can discuss all of your options.
If your proposed development includes ponds or is near aquatic habitats, Great Crested Newt (GCN) surveys may be a requirement. We offer eDNA (environmental DNA) testing, a non-invasive and efficient method to detect the presence of GCNs in a waterbody. This test is often required as part of planning applications to comply with local authority and Natural England guidelines. The eDNA sampling season typically runs from mid-April to the end of June—so don’t delay if you think you might need one!
To find out more about how ProHort can help you, get in touch with us by calling 01782 479 479or email us at [email protected]. Alternatively you can message us on Facebook.
Benefits Of A Soil Analysis On Your Property.
Soil analysis has become a valuable tool for farmers, gardeners, and property developers all over the world. Soil testing is a diagnostic tool for determining the nutrient profile and structure of the soil and is completed by measuring the chemical and physical attributes of the earth. So, what are the benefits of a soil analysis?
Checks the soils’ pH range.
Most soils have a pH of 6 – 6.5. The reason it is beneficial to check this is because different plants thrive with different soil types. For example, Magnolias, Camellias and Ceanothus grow better in acidic soils where as Polemoniums, Lavender and Honeysuckle prefer alkaline conditions. By making sure that you plant the right plants for the type of soil present in your garden, you can ensure that they thrive going forward.
Controls unwanted pests and diseases.
Soils that have been struck with infestation usually have a nutrient imbalance in the earth. A soil analysis can help to determine what nutrients your soil lacks and what steps should you take to amend it. Once adjusted, pest problems should no longer be an issue.
Minimise costs on fertilizer.
As a soil test allows you to discover what nutrients are in your soil, you will not need to waste money on testing out many different types of fertilizer to make your crops thrive. Instead, you will know exactly which nutrients your plants need and can buy the right fertilizer, the first time.
When should soil tests be conducted?
A soil analysis can be completed at any time of year but is usually done before you start to plant any crops or plants. It is recommended that an analysis is carried out when the soil is dry.
If you’re in need of a soil analysis or any other soil services such as a pressure soil test or WAC testing, then feel free to contact us!
