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 S.E Europe, the Horse Chestnut was introduced into Britain in the 1600’s and makes a large, stately tree, with a beautiful, rather distinctive shape. The branches sweep downwards, then curve upwards like the branches of a candelabra. It is probably the most easily recognised tree by the general public, particularly when it is in flower. The huge cones of white flowers are held upright on the branches and are a spectacular sight in April and May when the tree appears to be covered with white ‘candles’.
Site and soil
Prefers a deep, rich soil, but will do well in any but the driest of soils.
Height and spread
After 10 years: 8m x 4m After 20 years: 11m x 8m
Leaf and bark
The very large palmate leaves are divided into 5 or 7 leaflets, each with prominent veins, and a rough texture. The leaf buds are prominent over winter, very fat and sticky, and the Horse Chestnut is one of the first trees into leaf. The bark is light to dark brownish-grey, developing scaly ridges with age.
Flower, seed and fruit
The small white flowers have yellow, later pink, markings and are borne in large upright clusters up to 30cm tall in April and May. They are followed by the spiky green fruits, which split open to reveal the shiny brown conkers, or seeds.
Uses
Parkland, avenues, woodland, specimen tree. The bark has been used to make a yellow dye, and the bark and the fruits to make a preparation for the treatment of varicose veins. The conkers can be ground up to make fodder for cattle and horses; they are also used for the familiar children's game.
Wildlife
Bumble bees pollinate the flowers in late spring. Squirrels and other small mammals eat the conkers in autumn and winter.
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.