Soil science & plant cultivation research
Environmental issues
Two projects on peat and heavy metal contamination reflect the Society's interest in the environment and its relation to horticulture.
Peat use: Peat is a popular choice by gardeners as both a growing medium and mulch, because of its wide availability and low cost. The horticulture industry is a major consumer of peat. However peat bogs are an important natural habitat for a variety of plants and associated insects, birds and mammals. For this reason the conservation of peat bogs has been of increasing concern. The Society is involved in a number of projects to find alternatives to the use of peat or to minimise its use, both as a growing medium, and as an acidifying organic soil amendment. Currently most organic soil amendments are alkaline and unsuitable for the growth of ericaceous plants. The use of non-peat media for growing bedding plants and vegetables has been demonstrated at the Chelsea Flower Show 2002.Heavy metal contamination: A programme of comparing vegetable cultivars to assess their potential to accumulate certain heavy metals was undertaken in collaboration with the University of Reading. It is possible that cultivars which are low accumulators of heavy metals may be identified, which may have potential for growing on poor quality sites.
Management of plants in cultivation
The Society responds to the changes in horticultural planting, in its research programme to assess suitable management regimes.
INKARHO® rhododendrons: A long-term experiment is underway examining the health and growth of a new line of rhododendrons reputed to be more lime tolerant than traditional rhododendrons. Twelve cultivars, three of which are INKARHO are being grown in a series of beds manipulated to provide a range of soil pH conditions.
Prairie grasses: A current trend in gardening is prairie grass plantings. Investigations, in collaboration with the University of Sheffield, have indicated the management and weed control required to establish north American prairie grasses when sown in situ. This has lead to a study of prairie grasses and herbaceous perennials sown together.
Plant establishment
Plant establishment is anecdotally a problem for amateur gardeners. It could be due to a wide range of factors: transplanting stress, plant/soil incompatibility, inadequate planting depth or time, poor nutrition and inadequate water availability post transplanting etc. The aim of current research is to increase our understanding of the mechanisms regulating new root growth after transplanting. Research by the Society also aims to develop practical ways of encouraging new root growth in ornamental shrubs and young trees.