Fruit Tree Pruning Pruning is necessary to promote good plant health, remove damaged limbs, encourage new growth, and maintain shape. There are five basic pruning cuts, each aimed at producing a different effect. To produce more or better blossom and fruits. To develop or maintain a desired size, shape and appearance. Most of us have small gardens. Prune to save Continue reading

Choice of Pollinating Variety (Apples) Pollination made simple. Most suburban situations provide good pollen due to the close proximity of other gardens. It is not always necessary to have pollinators if the bees and other pollinating insects are generous with their visits. If you have no other Apple tree close by then select two varieties Continue reading

To achieve the best results from your fruit we recommend you  follow this simple guide which is laid out in seasonal form. You may question whether you should spray your trees with chemical sprays. In our own nursery we are very anxious to encourage the control of pests by natural predators. These are usually larger Continue reading

Introduction Soft fruit commences cropping the year after planting. They are therefore, a particularly good investment. They are inexpensive to buy, produce good yields, do not require much space and are particularly valuable for small gardens. Choice of Variety All the varieties we offer are suitable for your garden and if given reasonable care will Continue reading

Fruit trees and soft fruit bushes are a very sound investment. Properly cared for they respond by producing attractive blossom, in turn followed by a crop of fresh luscious fruit. The trees add a new dimension to your garden and the soft fruit gives added interest. Click on the headings below to learn more about Continue reading

Planting PositionFor most fruits choose a warm sheltered position avoiding wet or shaded spots, although soft fruit will tolerate some shade. Avoid north walls except when planting blackberries which will crop successfully, albeit, a little later in the season. Crops are likely to be sparse in frosty situations. If birds are troublesome a fruit cage Continue reading

An Easy Guide to the Recognition of the More Common Pests and Diseases AphidsSmall winged or wingless insects found clustered together on leaves and shoots in large numbers. Often coloured green (greenfly) but other colours possible. Cause curling and distortion of leaves and growing tips. Sometimes, especially in the case of plums ‘honeydew’ is excreted Continue reading

How to Summer Prune 1) Pruning Bush Apples, Pears, Plums, Cherries, Cobnuts, Filberts and Figs – First Winter Pruninga) Apples and PearsLate autumn-winter prune main leader back to 10 inches, cut just above a bud facing opposite way to previous year (gives straight stem), remaining side branch leaders cut back by half length – to Continue reading