Stronger roots, longer planting windows, better establishment
At Rymer Trees and Hedging, everything we grow is cell-grown. It's not a marketing term - it's a fundamental part of how we produce trees that establish well and give planters and landowners the best chance of success.
A cell-grown tree is grown in an individual cell within a rigid tray rather than in open ground or a loose bed. When it comes out of the tray, the roots and compost form a compact, self-contained plug - sold without the pot. This gives you all the benefits of a container-grown tree with none of the weight or bulk.
Our trees are grown using peat-free compost containing a small amount of slow-release fertiliser. We grow from seed - and increasingly from cuttings - right here at our nursery in Barnham, Suffolk.
The robust, consistently shaped root ball makes cell-grown trees significantly quicker to plant than bare-root stock. Planters who work with us regularly report that they can plant up to a third faster compared to bare-root trees - a meaningful saving on large-scale woodland and hedgerow schemes.
There's no need to soak roots, no risk of roots drying out mid-session, and no awkward untangling. You simply remove the plug from the tray, place it in the hole, and backfill.
Growing in cells gives us precise control over growing conditions. We can move trays to adjust heat and shelter, adjust irrigation to match each species' needs, and respond quickly if conditions change. The result is trees that grow more vigorously and arrive at your site in excellent health.
"We planted 6,000 trees from Rymer last year and they've all put on extension growth - far superior to bare root. They survived the summer 2022 drought with very little intervention." - Martin, Gloucestershire
Because the roots are protected by compost, cell-grown trees don't dry out as quickly as bare-root stock and are less vulnerable to harsh conditions. This means you're not locked into the traditional November - March bare-root window.
Our trees can be planted from early autumn through to early summer - and some customers have planted successfully in July. This flexibility is particularly valuable when ground conditions are unpredictable or when planting schedules slip.
As weather patterns become more variable, the extended planting window and superior establishment rates of cell-grown trees make them an increasingly important choice. We also grow a range of climate-resilient species - including non-native trees suited to future UK conditions - alongside our native stock.
All our stock is grown from scratch at our nursery - from seed or cutting - not bought in from elsewhere. This means full traceability from the very start, which is essential for our Plant Healthy and UKISG certifications and gives you complete confidence in the provenance of what you're planting.
Want to know more? Get in touch or browse our current stock.