Sunday 18 March 2018

A Gardeners Lot


A good Acer Griseum is not to be sniffed at, and they don't appear in gardens enough. To get hold of one is tricky enough, but one at 10ft tall for planting is even trickier. We had a problem last week.

We have been transforming a large garden for a fairly new, and very important client. Over the last year it has involved organising tree surgeons to reduce 40ft overgrown Laurel hedging, tree removal and crown tidying. Recently they have reduced huge Rhododendron ponticums in another area, along with using a stump grinder to eradicate a large area of troublesome bamboo.We now come in to clear and plant up this area, along with the border, some 200ft long, now re-instated since the Laurel reduction.

 Whilst we were looking at the latter, and making final plans for planting, the client came across and voiced a desire to have an ornamental tree in the centre of the very large lawn. We aren't the sort to just suggest the usual cherry tree or such like, as we like to shake things up a bit, and so after phoning the local suppliers, came up with a shortlist for him to choose from, including heights, girth, price and description etc.


He selected an Acer Griseum from the list, at 3 metres tall (I was personally hoping that an Acer Sangu-Kaku would be chosen, but hey), and we duly placed our order with the nursery. They got back rather quickly to inform us that they had made a mistake, and in fact the price was three times that quoted. Even at wholesale prices, it was a lot of money. We could have got into an argument about our rights as a consumer, but our energy needed to be spent finding a replacement. Also, we had been very vocal in our frustrations with them.

Plan B was put into action, which involved driving to another nursery near Lymington, as they were our last hope, having just one other Acer Griseum at such a height. We arrived with excited anticipation at having another option, but our hearts sank when we saw the tree, bent at the top, and with a twisted stem. All could be put right with the correct staking and guy lines, but our tree was to take centre stage in a lawn, and not in a border.

We sat in the van, thankful for modern phones and their internet connection, as we tried to find anyone else that we had not heard of, and came across Agrumi, who as it turned out, were just a 20 minute drive away, and said that they do indeed have some trees for us. 


It was quite the gardeners nirvana, as we were firstly shown two trees that had just arrived. They were vast, and needed a fork lift truck to move them. This wouldn't be a problem, but sadly the price, which although reasonable at £600 each, was too much for what we had quoted. They then showed us some multi-stemmed Acer Griseum for the price we were looking for, but they were only 5ft tall, way too small. Finally, they showed us six more, tucked away in a side area, all at 10ft, all straight, and all looking really quite perfect. We chose one, secured it into the van (quite a few feet of it sticking out the back), and duly paid. We will make a big loss on it financially, but we have the tree, and the customers satisfaction comes first.

The first picture is of an Acer Griseum at Hilliers winter garden, a little works excursion earlier in the year.

As for more logistical problems facing the humble gardener, well, tomorrow will tell. It's snowing again, and we have just purchased one ton of lawn food and a new spreader......aaaaarrrggghhh!!!



6 comments:

  1. So good to hear from you again. Glad life is moving along and that you have a new client. I look forward to seeing your tree planted for them.

    Hope your snow doesn't stay around long.

    Happy Spring to you and Amanda ~ FlowerLady

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  2. Hi Lorraine,
    Last year was rather mad, and we have picked up several new clients. As for the tree planting, hopefully that will happen in two weeks.

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  3. What a difference from Friday! I saw some beautiful camellias in various Bournemouth gardens while out pram pushing, the usual red but also pale pink and striped varieties. Those blooms will not be happy in the snow!
    Quite a quest for the right tree and it's a shame that you will be out of pocket after all your efforts.

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  4. The Camellias are suffering. Just as they start to bloom properly, these bouts of snow knock them back. As for the tree, this happens sometimes, and what with the cost of lost man hours in the gardens, it can mount up. But with a spade in your hand, and a song in your heart eh?.....tell me to shut up!

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  5. Wow Gary, way to come through for your client even taking a loss. I am very impressed.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Doc
      Unlike the first nursery, we do believe that any mistakes, and subsequent losses through our own 'fault', should be absorbed by ourselves.

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