As part of our learning about Constructed Landscapes in England, we needed to become aware of the industry that produces and sells the many plants that characterize English gardens and other landscaped properties. We visited first Ashgrove Nursery, a small wholesale nursery that specializes in selling primarily 2-liter (half-gallon) container shrubs and perennials. Here is what Suan Tomlinson and Jim Ramsey report from our visit:
On our first visit to an English nursery we stopped at a 150-acre wholesale nursery owned by Bob Ashgrove (at right). This nursery, located in Samlesbury, Preston, Lancashire, is a supplier to mostly small landscapers. They specialize in heather an alpines, and mostly in 2-liter containers. This small nursery moves approximately 70,000 2-L pots per year. In response to the growing demand for larger plants, and the desire for instant gardens, Ashgrove also sells some plant material in 5, 7.5, 10, and 120 litre containers. Most of their stock is home grown from either cuttings or seed.
A surprise to us Americans, was the lack of watering needed due to the moist climate. While there is an irrigation system in place, it gets used only on occasion and the water is potable water provided by the local authority. Annual cost for irrigation amounts to only about $1500 - 2000 per year! In addition, the sandy loam soil, which is slightly acidic, provides an excellent medium for growing nursery stock.
Last year our colleagues in the 1999 Study Abroad Prorgam purchased the plants used in their landscape project from Ashgrove Nurseries. See some of the plants they obtained from this nurseries by clicking here (you'll have to use your browser's Back button to get back to this page)
The nursery grows a small component of native English trees like the Sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus), European beech, Rowan (Sorbus), English oak (Quercus robur), some ashes and a few other species. These mainly go to restoration projects and for natural areas development.
Ashgrove uses 'Superbags'
from Australia to grow all of their tree stock. These 15-L bags are
similar to the American B&B method; however, the superbags cut down
on maintenance becaues the stock is actually grown in the bags, and
no root pruning is needed. [Ed.: The bags are rated for 3-mm roots;
that is, any roots larger than 3 mm in diameter are constricted by the
bag's fabric, in effect, pruning the root and promoting a more fibrous
root ball. The bags are lifted from the ground as orders come in. Once
transferred to a landscape setting, the bags must, of course, be removed
to allow free spread of the tree's roots]
Some of the plants offered by the nursery include: Abelia grandiflora, Acer griserum, assorted Acer palmatum cultivars, various Azaleas, Daphne, Escalonia, Euonymus, Exochorda, Gaultheria, Griselinia litorais, Halimium ocymoides, Heathers in variery, Hebe albicans, Houttuynia 'Chameleon', Lavatera, Leucothoe, Leycesteria formosa, Osmanthus, Penstemons, Phormium tenax, Photinia, Potentilla, Roses, various Salix, Sambucus, Symphoricarpus, many Viburnums, onamental grasses, numerous climbers, etc.
You can visit Ashgrove Nurseries to see addtional photographs at www.ashgrove-nurseries.co.uk.
