Tree Terminology
What all those arboreal words actually mean . . .

8 Litre Pot
A bare-root transplant, typically when it has reached approximately one metre tall, is planted into an eight litre pot and grown on for one further season in the nursery. This generates a very robust root system and hence the "take" is extremely good. Pots can either be rigid or floppy.

Barcham
Large pot-grown tree which is planted in a patented white pot. This design stops the roots from encircling the pot and prevents the tree becoming “pot bound”.

Bark
This is the surface layer of the tree or plant stem, and is largely there to protect the layers that lie immediately beneath. These delicate layers, also called phloem, are responsible for the transportation of fluids between the leaves and the root system - nutrients and water coming up from the soil, and processed carbohydrates being channeled back down again for storage or to be converted into energy as part of the growth process. If the bark is damaged, then these vital channels can be interrupted and impair the overall vitality of the plant. See also Girdle/Ring Bark below.

Cell Grown
See Root Trainer below.

Coppice
A term which refers to the cutting of trees or shrubs down to a stump with the desire for them to re-grow as a multi-stem plant.

Feather
Larger tree with 2-3 branches, typically 1-2m tall

Girdle/Ring Bark
If you cut the bark of a tree all the way round the stem you have girdled it. This is non repairable and the affected plant or tree will die very quickly.

Heel In
This is the process whereby a bundle of bare-root trees have their root systems covered with soil in a heeling-in bed to prevent them drying out. This is usually done as a short-term method of storage.

Lay
An old method of cutting hedges to make them more stock-proof. Typically, this is a technique which uses hazel stakes, cut from coppice woodland, to support the hedging trees which have had their main stems cut half-though and are then woven together to form a live fence.

Mulch
This is a layer of organic material which is placed around a plant to improve the fertility of the soil, reduce weed growth, and reduce water loss - all of which will ultimately improve the growth rate of the plant.

Mulch Mat
This is a layer of woven organic or inorganic material designed to perform the same function as employing natural organic mulch.

Notch Plant
This is the term which refers to the method of planting whereby a spade is used to create a slit in the ground into which a tree's roots can be inserted and then healed in.

Pit Plant
This is the term used to describe the method of planting where a hole is dug to accommodate the tree or shrub's root system. This is then filled in gently to hold the tree firmly.

Plug
See Root Trainer below.

Pollard
Trees which have been cut down to approx 12 ft tall with the objective of encouraging them to re-grow into a short, branchy tree with a round crown. This used to be a traditional method of growing firewood quickly.

Rootball
A plant which has been grown in the nursery soil and then lifted ready for sale will retain some of this soil and all of its roots. The Root Ball thus formed is then wrapped in Hessian to preserve the root system and improve the plant's chances of becoming well established once properly planted.

Root Control Bag
This is a bag designed to be set into the nursery soil and into which a tree can then be planted. This gives the appearance of trees properly planted in the ground, but the bag prevents large roots from developing, and spreading too widely. When the tree is eventually lifted, only very small roots will have extended beyond the Root Control Bag. These can be pruned off, leaving the customer with a very strong, healthy root ball.

Root Trainer
Seeds are planted in tiny pots approx 80ml and the resulting young tree is termed as a root trainer. Typically these trees are quite small but they do have a good planting success rate.

Seedling
A one year old plant which has been grown very close to its neighbours in a seed bed and then lifted for one year. This makes for a very small plant and root system.

Spading
A term, which refers to a mechanical loosening “spading” of the soil, designed to prepare the soil for tree planting rather than using a rotovator. Typically this is done to a depth of 12 inches.

Standard
Typically, trees over 10ft tall are referred to as "Standards". These trees, usually have a clear stem of approx 5ft, offer instant impact wherever planted. Standards can be supplied bare-root, rootball, in root control bags or Barcham.

Take
When stock is finally planted out in the site where it will spend the rest of its life, a very small percentage may fail to become properly established and can die back. These plants are said not to have "taken". To improve the "take", plants need to have a robust root system and be correctly planted. Please see our page on recommended Planting procedures and follow these in order to give your stock the best possible chance of success.

Transplant
Bareroot planting stock which has been grown as a seedling for one year is then transplanted into a new nursery bed. These Transplants are allowed to grow and develop within the nursery soil for another year until they are ready to be lifted for sale. This method of plant production makes for a large fibrous root system which makes the plant more likely to succeed.

Whip
A small, clear-stemmed tree is often referred to as a Whip. These can easily be fitted into the various tree protection tubes currently available, and are typically less than one metre tall.

Lost for Words?
If you have any questions relating to Tree Terminology that you may have encountered, either here on our own website, or elsewhere, please send us an email requesting an explanation. We will reply to your enquiry, and then post the answer here for the benefit of others. Please email Office.