Alan Titchmarsh issues stark warning over planting error
Gardening icon Alan Titchmarsh has issued a stark warning to British gardeners about a common planting mistake that could cost them thousands of pounds. The 77-year-old, who presented Gardeners' World from 1996 to 2002 and fronted Ground Force, highlighted the perils of planting too deeply, especially with trees measuring 10ft or more.
Writing in Country Life, Titchmarsh described touring an estate with Tony Kirkham, former head of the arboretum at Kew Gardens, where they observed numerous trees struggling or dying just years after planting. “Some were already dead, towering specimens devoid of leaf and brittle of wood; swarthy skeletons against a forget-me-not-blue sky. The cause of the problem in each and every case was deep planting,” he wrote.
Costly mistake for gardeners
According to Titchmarsh, large trees can cost tens of thousands of pounds, but planting them too deep can cause them to wither and die within a few years. He noted that container-grown trees are especially sensitive to changes in planting depth. He recommends the surface of the rootball should sit level with the ground, “not 7-11in deeper as was the case with so many of the sad specimens we saw.”
“One can bemoan the waste of money on a tree that cost several thousand pounds, but, more than that, the loss of a formerly healthy specimen is agonising for a gardener to behold,” Titchmarsh added. He advised gardeners to look for the swollen base of the trunk or stem, which indicates where roots emerge, and use that as a guide for proper planting depth.
Additional advice on rat prevention
The gardening expert also recently urged gardeners to keep lawns short to deter rats. In a video for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, he explained that rats are “furtive” and dislike close-mown grass because it offers no cover. He warned that compost heaps are a favourite hiding spot due to the heat generated by rotting vegetation, and advised ensuring compost bins have solid structures to keep rats out.
Titchmarsh’s tips come as he continues to host Love Your Weekend with Alan Titchmarsh on ITV, airing Sunday mornings from 9.30am to 11.35am.
