 | Alder (Alnus Glutinosa)
The native Alder gets the Glutinosa in its latin name from the stickyness of its buds and young leaves. It has many attractive aspects - long narrow male catkins in spring, tiny female woody cones which release seed in autumn but can stay on the plant longer - sometimes even more than one season (giving it some interest in mid winter), it is wildlife friendly (particularly for the caterpillars of butterflies and moths but also 90 insect species as well as small birds), but its greatest asset is its use near water and on very poor soil. It grows best in moist or even wet soil and will tolerate prolonged periods of standing in water up to 30cm deep. It is good at fixing atmospheric nitrogen not only for its own use but it also makes nitrogen available to other plants growing nearby. Also it has a heavy leafy canopy and the autumn leaf fall builds up the humus content of poor soil.
It is good in all soils other than very alkaline, and in sun or semi shade and particularly good in coastal positions and due to its fast growth rate when young, it can be used to form an effective windbreak to protect other plants. Whilst deciduous, Alder keeps its leaves quite late, often into November.
Prices shown are the price per plant. Planting distances are very much a matter of choice - for bare roots, 3 plants per metre is adequate, 5 is good, 7 in a double staggered row will give a dense hedge quicker. Generally, smaller plants should be planted at higher density. Cell grown should be planted at 4 per metre in a single row or ideally 6 per metre in a staggered row.
Bare roots are only available November to March but you can pre-order bare root plants during summer/autumn 2010 for delivery in November 2010 - and get the benefit of last year's prices. Cell grown plants are available all year round.
Don't forget to order RootGrow or Bonemeal (see the section at the bottom of the left hand menu).
Please see our new list of superb quality Specimen Shrubs (bottom of the menu on the left hand side of the website) - free delivery when ordered with your hedging plants.
Bare root season is November to March.
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