--Characteristics--
Often known as the Spanish Chestnut, this tree is thought to have been introduced into Britain from Southern Europe by the Romans. A handsome, fast-growing large tree, it is most often seen as an ornamental in parks and large gardens, but is also coppiced for its young timber which is used for stakes and fences. The large toothed glossy leaves are very striking, and the deeply fissured bark is very distinctive.
Site and soil
The Sweet Chestnut will thrive on any well-drained soil. Late spring and early autumn frosts can affect fruiting.
Height and spread
Below are the approximate stages of growth, assuming sited in suitable conditions for this species;
After 10 years: 8m x 4m
After 20 years: 14m x 8m
Leaf and bark
Oblong, sharply toothed glossy dark green leaves can reach 20cm long. They turn yellow, then brown before leaf fall in autumn. The bark is silvery grey on young trees, becoming deeply fissured with age, assuming a spiralling pattern on mature specimens.
Flower, seed and fruit
The Sweet Chestnut produces clusters of long yellowish catkins between 10-20cm long. The female flowers are at the base of the catkin. The flowers are followed by spiny round seed cases containing 1-2 shiny round nuts.
Uses
Parkland, woodland, specimen tree, coppicing. The Sweet Chestnut is also grown as a food crop, the nuts being used in cooking, or sold as roast chestnuts during the winter. The nuts have also been used as animal fodder. The coppiced wood is used for stakes and fencing, and older wood is used in buildings and barrel-making. The leaves were formerly made into a preparation to treat convulsive coughs.
Wildlife
The nuts are eaten by small mammals in autumn.
--Plant Protection--
--Planting & Care--
Aftercare
Sweet Chestnut should be cut back over winter for coppicing every 10-12 years.
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.
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 |
 |
 |
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| 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. |
Vole, Mice 20cm |
Vole Guard 20cm |
None required |
| 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. |
| Sorted by price; lowest to highest | ||
Rabbit 60cm |
Spiral Guard 60cm x 38mm, 60cm x 50mm |
Bamboo Cane 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs or 14-16lbs |
| Tubex Easywrap 60cm x 50-65mm |
Bamboo Cane 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs or 14-16lbs |
|
| Mesh Guard with Spray Shield 60cm x 130mm |
2 x Bamboo Canes 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs or 14-16lbs |
|
| Tubex Fruitwrap 60cm x 65-80mm |
Bamboo Cane 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs or 14-16lbs |
|
| Tubex Ecostart 60cm x 57-73cm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Tree Shelter 60cm x 73-105mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Shelterguard Mesh Tube 60cm x 80-110mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Treeguard Mesh Tube 60cm x 80-110mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Shrub Shelter 60cm x 130-160mm, 60cm x 144-200mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm |
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| Tubex Shrub Shelterguard Mesh Tube 60cm x 130-160mm, 60cm x 170-200mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Treeguard Mesh Tube for Shrubs 60cm x 130-160mm, 60cm x 170-200mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 75cm x 25mm, 75cm x 32mm |
|
| 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. |
| Sorted by price; lowest to highest | ||
Hare 75cm |
Tubex Easywrap 75cm x 50-65mm |
Bamboo Cane 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs, 14-16lbs or 1.20m x 20-22lbs |
| Spiral Guard 75cm x 50mm |
Bamboo Cane 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs, 14-16lbs or 1.20m x 20-22lbs |
|
| Tubex Fruitwrap 75cm x 65-80mm |
Bamboo Cane 90cm x 9-11lbs, 12-14lbs, 14-16lbs or 1.20m x 20-22lbs |
|
| Tubex Ecostart 75cm x 57-73mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Tree Shelter 75cm x 73-105mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Combitube 75cm x 73-105mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Shelterguard Mesh Tube 90cm x 80-110mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Treeguard Mesh Tube 75cm x 80-110mm, 90cm x 80-110mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Shrub Shelter 75cm x 130-160mm, 75cm x 144-200mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 90cm x 25mm, 90cm x 32mm |
|
| 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. |
| Sorted by price; lowest to highest | ||
Roe Deer/Muntjac 1.20m |
Tubex Tree Shelter 1.20m x 73-105mm, 1.20m x 80-120mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.20m x 32mm, 1.35m x 32mm |
| Tubex Combitube 1.20m x 73-105mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.20m x 32mm, 1.35m x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Shelterguard Mesh Tube 1.20m x 80-110mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.20m x 32mm, 1.35m x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Treeguard Mesh Tube 1.20m x 80-110mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.20m x 32mm, 1.35m x 32mm |
|
| Galvanised Mesh Tree Guard 1.20m x 300mm |
Machine Rounded Tree Stake 1.20m x 50mm, 1.50m x 50mm |
|
| 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. |
| Sorted by price; lowest to highest | ||
| Fallow Deer 1.50m |
Tubex Tree Shelter 1.50m x 80-120mm, 1.80m x 80-120mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.50m x 32mm, 1.80m x 32mm |
| Tubex Combitube 1.50m x 80-120mm, 1.80m x 80-120mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.50m x 32mm, 1.80m x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Shelterguard Mesh Tube 1.50m x 80-110mm, 1.80m x 80-110mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.50m x 32mm, 1.80m x 32mm |
|
| Tubex Treeguard Mesh Tube 1.50m x 80-110mm, 1.80m x 80-110mm |
Square Sawn Tree Stake 1.50m x 32mm, 1.80m x 32mm |
|
| Galvanised Mesh Tree Guard 1.80m x 300mm, 1.80m x 600mm |
Machine Rounded Tree Stake 1.80m x 60mm |
|
Spraying
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.
