Over the past 18 months, 57 new trees have been planted in Mount Pleasant Road. 

This has been a collaboration between us and Brent Council: their contractor (Gristwood & Toms) plants them; we buy them and maintain them – watering, nourishing and keeping an eye. 

The first 42 trees were no planted in a way that did not follow what we understand to be best horticultural practice. The contractor simply dug a hole that was large enough for the root ball, put the tree into it and hoped the roots would find their way through rubble and blue clay. We thought that trees planted this way might last for ten years, but not for the 50 or so that is their potential lifespan. 

The company has a four-year contract with the Council. This had led us to assume they would do things differently. When we expressed our concerns, we were told that this is the way things are done.

We sought to improve the soil quality by breaking up the surface, then putting in well-rotted compost and beneficial micro-organisms using a product specially made for us by the Soil Ecology Laboratory. 

When the time came to plant 16 more trees, in the spring of this year, we asked this be done to a new specification. It was agreed with the Council that their contractor would dig rectangular pits that were 60 cm wide by 180 cm long. These would then be filled with high-quality topsoil. Poor communication within the company meant that this did not happen. The contractor only dug out the centre (a third) of each pit. The result is that the roots remain encased in rubble, cement and clay, as if in a flowerpot. 

We believe that the shoots sprouting from some of the tree trunks are the first indications of stress caused by this poor planting practice. 

After much lobbying and discussion, the contractor has offered to return in the first week of November to lift and replant many of the trees.

We would would like everyone in the street to help us decide whether to put forward a counter-proposal. 

Our concern is that lifting and replanting the trees will cause significant additional damage to roots that are already struggling. They will experience transplant shock. 

An alternative approach would be to enlarge each hole by 30 cm (half a paving slab) on either side, and to fill it with high-quality topsoil. We could then get beneficial micro-organisms working from the side as well on top. 

You may have other ideas, or information you want to share about how to look after our trees. Whatever your thoughts, opinions and ideas, please press the first button on the right to share them. When you have considered the arguments and made up your mind, you can then press the second button to indicate your preferred option.