Advice & Guarantee

Plant Guarantee

We guarantee all potted plants purchased through our website with the exception of clearance stock.

We're proud to mostly grow our own plants here in Cheshire, this gives us the confidence to give each potted plant a 12 month plant guarantee which means that our potted hedging plants are covered for replacement up to 12 months after delivery/collection date*

For planting & watering advice please see details below, for any further queries or questions please contact us, we really want you to get the best out of your hedge and were always more than happy to help.

*Please note that our plants are not guaranteed against - over/under watering, poor drainage, wind burn or poor maintenance & that we guarantee pot grown plants only. We strongly recommend rectifying any drainage issues that you may have in your planting area prior to planting & we do not recommend planting into waterlogged areas.

Follow the simple steps below to give your plants the best start and uphold our 12 month guarantee

We recommend that all hedging is planted in a grass/weed free border & the border is maintained regularly
All plants are spaced according to the recommendations on our website, ensuring that the plants have their own space a good distance away from other shrubs to ensure that the roots aren’t fighting for space & water. We recommend that the foliage/leaves aren’t touching other shrubs
Plants are planted & watered as per the specific plant type below (watering the base of the plant only, not the foliage)
Avoid planting in areas that hold water to prevent root rot, we recommend free draining soil for all of our hedging plants or adding additional drainage / raising the planting area as required

At the point of delivery please contact us as soon as possible if you have any queries or concerns about our plants BEFORE planting and within 24 hours of delivery to uphold our plant guarantee.

Small holes occasionally appearing in the outer and upper foliage of Prunus laurocerasus (Cherry Laurel) are typically cosmetic and not indicative of any serious health issue. These minor imperfections are characteristic of the variety, tend to grow out over time, and become unnoticeable as the hedge establishes and fills out, this is common within cherry laurel and is not covered under any guarantee.

Planting Tips

Rootball

Here are a few quick tips to help you get the most from your rootball plants:

Plant promptly: Get your hedging in the ground soon after delivery (ideally within 7–10 days). Keep the rootballs moist and the plants stored upright until planting.
Frost protection: If a HEAVY frost is expected before planting, protect the rootballs with fleece or old blankets, this is only an added precaution during heavy frost.
Prepare the site: All hedging should be planted in a weed- and grass-free border.
Do not remove the hessian sack from the rootball — this will naturally degrade in the soil over time.
Dig your trench approx 1–2 inches wider and deeper than the rootball.
Pack out the trench: Pack the bottom of the trench with loose soil to help the plants root easily.
Add nutrients: Mix in around 40g of bonemeal powder per plant, raking it into the loose soil.
Planting: Place each rootball into the trench so the top of the hessian sits level with the ground, then backfill with a 50/50 mix of topsoil and compost & FIRM up the ground.
Avoid planting Taxus baccata (Yew) in heavy clay or waterlogged areas — this variety will not tolerate waterlogged conditions.

Potted Plants

Clear the area: Remove any weeds, grass, or other plants using a fork, trowel, or edging spade adding a clear border to plant into.
Pre-treat weeds (optional): If the area is heavily weedy, apply a weed killer 3–4 weeks before planting. This won’t affect your new hedge but ensures surrounding weeds are dead.
Dig your holes: Make each hole roughly 2–3 inches wider and deeper than the pot.
Add nutrients: Mix multi-purpose compost with a controlled-release feed or bonemeal powder and backfill the base of the hole with this to help the new plants roots establish easily.
Remove the plant: Gently slide the plant out of its pot, loosen the roots by hand, and place it in the hole. The top of the root system (where the pot rim was) should sit level with the soil surface.
Backfill: Fill around the plant with compost or topsoil, pressing down gently with your foot to secure it.

Watering Tips (Critical First 12 Months After Planting)

Cherry Laurel, Portuguese Laurel, Photinia Red Robin & Ligustrum Privet

From October-March thoroughly water the hedge after planting, then let the weather take over unless conditions are unusually dry over the winter & early spring.
During an exceptionally dry winter or early spring, keep the soil around the new hedge moist by watering as needed avoiding watering if frost is due.
Be prepared to water thoroughly from spring onwards through the growing season aiming to keep the ground damp but not waterlogged.
From March-October (early spring to early Autumn), each watering should fully soak the root system — they’ll need large amounts of water to establish and grow.
In Summer, especially during heatwaves, water daily if needed and at least 2–3 times per week as a minimum.
Do not rely on rainfall to water your plants — ensure the soil is damp at all times.
Watch for signs of water stress such as drooping, sagging, or yellowing leaves.

Seasonal Guidance

Dec–Feb: Water when first planted or if soil dries out during mild, dry spells.
Mar–May: Water thoroughly 2–3 times per week depending on rainfall, drainage, and weather. Wind can dry plants as much as sun.
Jun–Aug: Water thoroughly 3–4 times per week (daily in heatwaves). Keep soil consistently damp, never waterlogged.
Sep–Nov: Continue watering in warm spells; adjust frequency based on conditions.

Taxus Baccata (Yew)

As noted above, avoid heavy clay or waterlogged soils — Yew does not tolerate these conditions.
After planting, water thoroughly and keep the soil moist during unexpected dry winter or early spring periods.
From spring through the growing season, maintain damp (not waterlogged) soil.
In summer, water little and often, increasing frequency in prolonged dry spells — daily if very hot, and at least once or twice per week as standard.
Do not rely on rainfall to meet watering needs.
Keep a close eye for drooping foliage or yellow/browning leaves, which indicate the plant needs more water.

Seasonal Guidance

Dec–Feb: Dormant — water only if newly planted or unusually dry.
Mar–May: Water once a week; increase frequency in warm or windy weather.
Jun–Aug: Water once or twice a week; more often in heatwaves.
Sep–Nov: Water once a week or as needed depending on rainfall and weather conditions.

Concerned about your plants?

If you have plants that look to be failing, or have failed, please contact our Customer Care team as soon as possible VIA EMAIL.

Our knowledgeable team will help diagnose any issues, advise on potential treatment to aide plant recovery or confirm if failure is likely and will then help to organise replacements.

To help us to help you we ask that you provide the following information:

Your original Order Number and delivery postcode
Your full name and contact telephone number
Clear photos of the plants in their planting area and a close-up image of the affected plants

Once we have reviewed the photos, we will advise on next steps. Any plants confirmed to have failed we will replace within 12 months of delivery/collection date providing all of the above care instructions have been followed. Please note, our guarantee is based on the assurance that they have been planted and cared for according to our recommendations. This enables us to ensure that the conditions were optimal for the plants to thrive. In the event of a replacement, we may ask is that you cover the delivery costs.