Nigel Glogan, contracts manager at grounds maintenance company Outco, explores appropriate planting schedules and considerations amid unpredictable weather patterns.

When is the best time of year for planting? This is a very hard question to answer because of the current weather systems we are now experiencing in this country, on top of client pressure. Obviously, the best time of year for planting should be during the planting season, but there are a few key things the industry should be considering during this time.

In general, we really need to consider what we are planting and the size of material. What we are failing to do is prepare the soil and add as much supporting growing materials as possible. Adding compost, manure, recycled green waste, water retaining polymers and fertilizers will give the trees and plants a fighting chance to grow. Establishing good soil cultivation to incorporate the ameliorants results in an improved soil structure.  

Time and time again, we see soft landscape installation offer very little soil preparation. Trees and plants are often plunged into virgin soil with no thought to the tree or plant’s life.

The other thing to consider is the application of a good mulch. One of the key elements of retaining soil moisture relates to the depth of the mulch you are applying. It is critical to retain the soil moisture but, again, you see completed schemes feature barely enough mulch to cover the existing soil.

It’s difficult mulching banks, so thought needs to put into retaining the mulch on the bank and considering alternative mulch products that will stay on the surface of the bank.

We can do so much to give our trees and plants a fighting chance to grow. We should put more thought into growing mediums for a better mulch application, while also addressing the aftercare.

For trees, we should install water reservoirs which can be filled periodically to provide a water supply directly at the root zone.