New apple tree at ‘Two Tree Community Garden’, January 2024

Some of our fruit trees have died from disease or damage. We have been able to replace some of these. At Two Trees Community Gardens, Mel spotted a very young tree that had snapped and died. Our Tree Guardians replaced it with a young apple tree and learnt how to stake and tie a tree.

Sadly an 8-10 year old plum tree died from Fireblight disease, see it explained here. Local residents on the corner of ‘The Linkway’ and ‘The Crestway’ tried to help it survive by watering it but drought was not the problem this time.

037 Apple Tree replaces dead tree

However, if you have a young fruit tree (up to 3 years old) near you, please water it in dry weather. Laying a mulch around the roots as wide as the branches also helps and keeps grass at bay. This means the tree has less competition, more nutrients and moisture is not lost through evaporation. It all makes a big difference and the tree will thank you for it!

Next Tree Guardians session is on 4th February 2024

Meet Hilary outside Sure Start notice board on Brentwood Road at 10am or meet us up at Hollingdean Park Orchard for a couple of hours of mulching. Remember to bring yourself a drink. We look forward to meeting you.

Come and join us for our next tree guardian volunteer session. Email us through our contact page here to let us know your coming.

For all the latest news on Growing Hollingdean free events and volunteering please sign up here or in the box below. Thank you to all the Growing Hollingdean volunteers who made this possible.