Renowned gardening personality Alan Titchmarsh has issued timely advice to gardeners across the UK, urging them to undertake one crucial task "as soon as you possibly can before spring" arrives. The 76-year-old horticultural expert, whose career spans over five decades, emphasises that the winter period presents an ideal opportunity for this specific garden job.
Why Winter is Perfect for Tree Planting
Alan Titchmarsh explains that the colder months between November and March provide optimal conditions for planting trees, particularly bare root specimens that have been recently dug up for transplantation. "Winter is a great time to plant trees," Titchmarsh states, highlighting that container trees can technically be planted year-round, but winter planting offers distinct advantages.
The gardening veteran, who began his horticultural journey at age eight using pocket money to buy bulbs from Woolworths, stresses the importance of early planting. "It's great to get tree planting done as soon as you possibly can before spring so it's got its chance to settle in, get its roots growing, and grow away when the warmer weather comes," he advises.
Essential Planting Conditions and Precautions
Titchmarsh provides crucial caveats for successful winter planting, warning gardeners against planting when ground conditions are unsuitable. He specifically cautions against planting when soil is frozen solid or waterlogged, though he notes that a surface frost that disappears later in the day should not prevent planting activities.
The former Ground Force presenter and Kew Gardens alumnus, who now shares gardening wisdom through his YouTube channel "Gardening with Alan Titchmarsh," offers practical guidance on preparation. "Just dig a decent sized hole that's about 20 to 30cm bigger all round than the root ball," he recommends, dismissing common gardening myths about hole shapes.
Debunking Gardening Myths
Addressing a persistent gardening belief, Titchmarsh clarifies that the shape of planting holes makes little difference to tree development. "You'll hear people saying trees should be planted in square holes," he acknowledges, "but believe me, the roots of the tree can't tell if that hole is circular or square."
Regarding planting depth, the gardening expert suggests using simple tools for measurement. He recommends checking depth requirements with a spade or gardening fork, ensuring the hole is only "fractionally bigger" than the root ball. Crucially, he advises planting at the same level the plant was growing in its original container.
The "Magic Ingredient" for Tree Growth
Titchmarsh reveals what he describes as a "magic ingredient" for promoting healthy tree growth: mycorrhizal fungi. Drawing parallels between plant and human health, he explains: "We've learnt so much about how trees in particular live at their roots with mycorrhizal fungi. They're associated with this great network of fungi below ground. And all plants use good fungi and good bacteria to grow well in the same way those yoghurts are good for our gut."
For practical application, the gardening writer suggests using one sachet of mycorrhizal fungi for a 10-litre tree, ensuring it's sprinkled where roots will directly contact the fungi. This approach, combined with proper winter timing and planting techniques, creates optimal conditions for trees to establish themselves before spring growth begins.
Through his extensive experience—from council gardening apprenticeships to presenting Gardeners' World—Titchmarsh provides authoritative guidance that balances traditional wisdom with modern horticultural understanding, offering UK gardeners actionable advice for maximising their winter gardening efforts.
