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Nick Steele - Landscape Juice featured member

Plantsman, Nick Steele, is one of Landscape juice's earliest members having joining the site in April 2008. Based just outside Newport in Shropshire, Nick runs Barlow Nurseries with the help of his team, including Louise, Steve, security officer Boris the dog and Spot the chief mousing cat. Barlow Nurseries is a retail nursery growing much of what it sells on site...they maintain an impressive plant list. Barlow's offer a garden border design, supply and planting service - specialising in trees, shrubs, and hardy perennial garden plants, garden design consultant - covering Shropshire, Staffordshire, Cheshire, West Midlands..in their own words they 'only the green stuff, no concrete wood or metal'. Barlow's blog is a good way to glean valuable information...not least how customers tick and it was fun reading the post recently about a client who wanted a Phormium after theirs died over the harsh winter but couldn't understand why Barlow Nurseries didn't want to stock them because they are so sensitiveness. Why not leave Nick a message?
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  • Hi Nick, this feels a bit like this is your life but congrats on being featured member... I've been potting up and shaping yew seedlings for several years now... hoping one day to make something special with them – the bigger ones are OK but the smaller ones have succumbed to vine weevil – My most irritating insect to deal with is the lily beetle but at least I can see them - I thought these b****rd vine weevils only went for polyanthus and fuschias etc but I remembered you'd said once about their fondness for yew – I investigated and low and behold.... (last time I used a chemical it was to try and save my outdoor toms – copper fungicide) – but I've found an old bottle of Sybol in the shed and I've root drenched 'em all. Best wishes to you for a good year Nick.
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Alistair Copley updated their profile
19 hours ago
robert pryor replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"I have a 6ft pair of Niwakis, wish i’d had them years before I did. I initially got the 8fts and immediately realised they would be a pain for the majority of hedges I used to cut. I think they are brilliant just make sure they are seated properly.…"
19 hours ago
Samuel Beresford-Foster is now a member of Landscape Juice Network
yesterday
Adam Woods replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"I wouldn't cut a hedge without one. Anything over 6' you should get with 3 adjustable legs, otherwise they can be unstable if you lean - but positioned correctly they are the only way. 
Befrore retirement I had an 8' and a 4; . The 4' went in the…"
yesterday
John F replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"Yes had that scenario where you can't reach a fiddly bit no matter what ladder and have to balance on the apex of a shed roof or do best job painstakingly with a long reach pole pruner . "
Sunday
PGM replied to PGM's discussion Grass Cutting 2026 Season
"We've just finished our second week, so that's a full round of all customers now, and didn't have a single one we couldn't do. It's been a really good start here in the north west and now with nice sunny weather coming up this week it's a great time…"
Sunday
Duncan Neville replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"I'm very wary of these tripod ladders, I took a life changing fall from the top of a 12ft tripod. Now I only use them myself with great care. The issue is that they are very unstable at the top if you lean to either side, and they go with no…"
Sunday
Billybop replied to PGM's discussion Grass Cutting 2026 Season
"Done a couple of second cuts already this last week would you believe. It's almost as if the grass has a memory of last year's drought and is making up for it now plenty of moisture available"
Sunday
Billybop replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"the tripods are good but in some scenarios the wide base and the fact the 3rd leg has to be placed some distance away from the step part for stability makes this large foot print impractical eg when cutting hedge behind a shed or greenhouse with…"
Sunday
Graham Taylor replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"Never tried these but always thought they look a bit of a pain to cart about. Looking at the picture, seems you're quite away from the hedge so you have to reach out more?   I just use ordinary aluminium extension ladders that you can easily adjust…"
Saturday
Sam Bainbridge replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"Tripods are better than any other ladder that's a fact. You can cut hedges that are lower than the ladder but it is more awkward, I have a 6ft amd a 12 foot been using both for the last 15yrs and haven't come stuck yet. Believe me once you've had…"
Saturday
Intelligent Landscapes replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"I agree with HB. 12 foot Henchman with 3 adjustable legs are fantastic and we use them all the time."
Saturday
Joseph Taylor and The Stonemart Ltd are now friends
Friday
Honey Badger replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"You won't regret it, they are most comfortable ladders to use. Worth every penny."
Friday
matt replied to Julian chambers's discussion Price increases
"Increase prices every year, costs go up every year both on business and at home so otherwise your taking a pay cut, i dont get greedy i make small increases annually but as I do it every year and customers have learned thats part and parcel of it,…"
Friday
matt replied to Tim Wallach's discussion Tripod ladder user? Your advice sought please!
"i have two sizes and couldnt be without them, as use the smaller set for lower hedges so ladders never in the way and ive never bothered with the platform ladders"
Friday
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