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Holistic
Tree and Orchard Management; the Wroblowski/Kluth method
Modern methods of orchard management have been largely shaped
by commercial considerations, emphasising speed, efficiency
and a quick yield. This new course teaches tree and orchard
care as it was practised by individuals and village communities
throughout Europe to safeguard a valuable food source over
many generations. Deep and skilled understanding of a tree's
requirements for optimum growth, productivity and longevity
had evolved in that time, and is arguably highly relevant to
our present and future way of life.
Oxygen uptake by a tree is primarily through its root system. Generations ago
this was known throughout Europe, and encouraged and facilitated through
correct planting techniques that stimulated the growth and depth of the
root system through soil preparation and deeply oxygenated planting holes.
Remedial measures were applied throughout the life span of the tree to
facilitate the greatest possible uptake of vital oxygen. Interestingly
enough this fact was 'rediscovered' by Tony Kirkham of Kew Gardens after
the storms of 1988 and 1990, and he has since introduced oxygenation of
heavily compacted soil at Kew Gardens with mechanical means, commenting
recently on Radio 4 how much improvement he has seen with these (quite
crude but quick) methods of oxygenation.
The care of the bark to stimulate the cambium layer and allow warmth and light
in was regarded as equally important as correctly pruning a tree, and practised
into recent times, as was the removal of decaying material, including dead
wood, fungi, ivy, lichen etc in direct contact with the tree or the oxygenated
soil around the tree.
Urban Kluth now teaches these techniques in many countries and has so far proved
himself able to explain them to the greatest sceptics and specialists,
as well as total beginners, with patience and unfailing logic. At my request
the course offered at Hill Farm is wholly practical, with all principles
being investigated through actual gentle work on our trees and searching
questions explained and expanded according to participants' needs and interests.
A half day visit to nearby Much Marcle is anticipated, to look (with new
eyes maybe) at possibly the oldest perry pear avenue in the county, and
at the at least 3,000 year old yew tree at St Batholemews Church nearby.
The weekend course can be followed up with volunteering opportunities at our
orchards to practise and deepen understanding of these methods. I am convinced
that they are very relevant to any interested gardener or forester, anyone
valuing hand tools over big machines, and anyone looking for a deeper understanding
or an informed challenge to long held conventional knowledge, be it horticultural
or arboricultural.
I was introduced to these nearly lost techniques of tree care in 2006 by Ekkehard
Wroblowski from Germany. Wroblowski had grown up with these methods and
practised them all over Europe, studying and refining them throughout his
life before passing away in 2008. His long term student and colleague Urban
Kluth has spent time at Hill Farm for the last two summers to guide their
implementation throughout our orchards, and to correct our, in retrospect
very careless, 'modern' methods of tree planting and pruning. Urban is
also using his specialist knowledge to gently reverse the previously 'terminal'
decline of several of our veteran garden trees, by facilitating oxygen
uptake, removal of dead or wet material, skilled bark care and, finally,
informed pruning, using hand tools only.
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