A YEAR OF GROWING CHALLENGES
With this year’s unusual weather complications for healthy plant Hedges Direct, are as ever,
extremes having many repercussions growth resulting in both an increase committed to offering quality plants
for plants and growing as a whole, on the average failure rate and plants at competitive prices and although
Hedges Direct has taken the step to struggling to achieve expected growth. some species may not have achieved
discuss and make customers aware of
how the adverse growing season has
impacted both plant availability and
growth levels, in order to effectively
manage customer expectations and
available stock through the autumn
hedging season.
Hedges Direct work with a number
of growers throughout the UK and
Europe, all of whom are reporting a
similar picture with regard to this
Subsequently, some newly grown
plants experienced poorly developed
root systems which failed to thrive
on transplanting, resulting in many
small plants being deemed unsuitable
for sale and removed from available
seasonal stock.
With the overall market for plants
increasing and an ever-growing
demand from commercial landscaping
season’s plants and growth. jobs, property and housing
The harsh and extended winter government planting schemes plus the
resulted in annual sewing taking demand from the retail sector, supply
place a couple of weeks later than the is already stretched to capacity.
norm, which in itself was only slightly
problematic, however this coupled
with a long, wet spring extending
almost until June caused issues with
plants establishing. The lack of any
transition period from spring into one
of the hottest and driest summers on
record has ultimately led to further
developments, area regenerations and
However, the last few months of
disrupted growth and increased plant
failure due to drought will only add to
the plant availability issues with fewer
plants available and smaller plants
than expected.
expected height due to the adverse
growing season, our growers have
worked tirelessly to negate the
challenges faced and ensure that the
quality and health of our new season
hedging plants are to an excellent
and consistent standard. In order
to support our growers through
this challenging season and to
accommodate the expected demand,
we are working closely with them to
promote all batches of stock that are
available and to maintain competitive
pricing on all plants and specifications.
We will continue to monitor both
quality and stock levels throughout
the season and to keep our customers
informed with regular newsletter
updates for transparency and
openness.
For more information regarding the
above go to our recent blog post at:
http://bit.ly/2zdcsUI
Issue 35 2019 Landscape & Urban Design
47