Have you always dreamed of having a stunning hedge surrounding your property boundary but feel intimidated by the hedge-planting process?
One of the biggest misconceptions about gardening is that it is difficult, and growing a hedge is no exception! That’s because, so long as you follow some simple guidance, your hedge plants will thrive.
Best of all, you don’t need any specialist knowledge or even have to dedicate lots of time to successfully plant a hedge so long as you get the basics right.
Gardeners Dream is a leading UK supplier of hedging plants. In the following post, we will cover every aspect of how to grow hedging plants so that you’ll feel confident even as a beginner.
What to consider before planting a hedge
We know you're keen to get going with that garden fork.
But let’s run through some housekeeping first to ensure the planting process will be as hassle-free as possible and that the hedge plants will properly take once they are in the ground.
Double-check:
- The time of year it is now vs when the hedge variety prefers to be planted
- The design of your hedge has been mapped out in advance, with the ground cleared and prepared
- Enough hedge plants have been ordered from our website to accommodate your design and the desired spacing between plants
Looking for advice on choosing the right hedge plant variety for your garden? Scroll down as we’ve also covered this in detail further down the page.
How to plant a hedge - a step-by-step guide
Hedge plants can be supplied as potted hedging or root ball hedging.
If you are planting a potted hedge, then the plant will be slightly more established because the plant has technically already been planted. There can also be more flexibility over when you can plant the hedge in terms of months of the year.
In contrast, root ball plants need to be planted promptly, and any exposed root balls need to be protected from the elements until they are planted.
Whether you are planting potted or bare root ball hedging, we’ve kept this guide nice and simple so that even if you’re new to planting hedges, you can easily follow along.
Step 1 - Prepare the soil
Ensuring good soil preparation is key. Before planting a hedge, you will need to mark out where each plant will go to create the design (i.e. single, double row or staggered row).
Clear existing vegetation, such as growing weeds, so that you have space to work. Removing weeds will also ensure that the hedge plants won’t compete for nutrients.
Using bamboo canes to mark out the hedge is optional but can be helpful to give a visual image of how your hedge will look before you commit to the design.
Step 2 - Dig the planting hole
Use a square-shaped garden space to dig out each hole for your hedging plant. A square shape is preferred because it aids with root establishment. Dig the hole to twice the size of the root ball.
For a potted hedge, ensure plenty of space around the root system based on the specific width and depth of the roots.
Take this opportunity to add in some fresh garden compost or well-rotted manure to give the soil some extra nutrients and encourage the healthy growth of your newly planted hedge. However, you can skip this step if you have already added compost during the soil preparation stage.
Step 3 - Place the hedge plant into the planting hole
Gently place each plant into the hole you’ve dug out. Take extra care with bare root hedge plants to not bury the plants too deep as this is bad for the plant and may cause the roots to rot.
Instead, gently nestle the roots into the planting hole to gauge the planting level, which is the point at which the root flare is. The hole must then be backfilled with soil or compost around the plant so that the root flare remains level with the ground.
Check you are happy with the spacing and alignment of the plant, as this is the last chance to correct the positioning. Then, use the heel of your boot to gently press in the surrounding soil around the plant, which will help the plant take its position.
Step 4 - Aftercare
If the plant is in its dormant state, then the aftercare will be quite minimal. However, adding mulch around the base of the plant can remove any nutrient competition from weeds.
Dormant root ball hedges will get water from natural rainfall. However, for potted or active hedges, the plant will need watering. Overall, all new hedge plants will need watering for the first couple of years after planting.
When the buds or leaves start to appear on a dormant hedge plant, this is when you should begin watering.
When to plant a hedge
Technically, there is some flexibility over when you can plant a hedge. But to keep things simple while ensuring the health of your hedge, go by these timeframes:
Early autumn - Evergreen and semi-green hedges
Mid-autumn to late winter - Deciduous hedges
Waiting until the optimum time to plant a hedge is essential to avoid issues such as poor establishment, delayed growth, increased likelihood of the plant succumbing to pests or infections and higher maintenance requirements.
Regardless of whether the time frame is optimum, always delay planting if the soil is waterlogged or frozen.
What to plant - Selecting the right hedge plant for your garden
Now that you know how to grow hedging plants (we promised you it would be simple!), it pays to think about the type of hedge that best suits your outdoor space. Doing so will mean the full potential of your project will be reached, depending on what you are looking to achieve.
As a beginner, we know it can be overwhelming to choose a hedge. So here are the most important things to consider.
Choosing UK Native hedging plants
While you might admire the hedges seen shielding the mega-mansions of Hollywood or even lining the streets of Italy, it’s essential that the hedge can withstand the British climate.
All of the hedge types stocked here at Gardeners Dream are those which thrive in the UK climate.
Look out for additional details on our product pages about the preferred planting location, i.e. if the hedge would prefer a sunny or shaded area. Likewise, whether the hedge needs a sheltered spot or if it can thrive in coastal or exposed locations depends on the conditions of your garden.
Finally, check the soil type and acidity which will vary from garden to garden.
Purpose of the hedging
Hedges can do many things for your outdoor spaces. Specifically, hedges can be selected for aesthetics, privacy creation, windbreak protection, noise reduction, and establishing a boundary.
Several hedge varieties could cater to any of the above needs, though some hedge varieties suit certain purposes more than others.
Another distinction to make is whether you would prefer a formal-looking hedge or more of an informal look to the leaf structure and overall texture of the hedge.
Growth rate
Hedges can be classed as slow-growing or fast-growing. While fast-growing hedges are fantastic for establishing instant hedging, they will require more upkeep in terms of pruning. Check the typical growth rate of the variety before purchasing to ensure you’re able to maintain the upkeep.
Evergreen vs deciduous
Both evergreen and deciduous hedges offer something different for your garden. So consider whether you’d prefer to retain year-round foliage within an evergreen variety, or you could opt for a deciduous hedge, which can add more colour and variety throughout the seasons.
Evergreen hedges offer a classic look and will retain their colour and structure throughout the year. In contrast, deciduous plants such as copper beech hedging plants go through dramatic colour changes in autumn and winter. Deciduous hedges can also be attractive to wildlife, such as nesting birds.
Characteristics of your property
This one is easy to overlook, but it’s also important to consider which hedge variety will suit your home.
Some hedges can create more of a traditional look for heritage homes, whereas other hedges offer different properties, such as being attractive to wildlife or having colour-changing leaves.
Likewise, you might also want to choose a hedge variety that already exists in your neighbourhood for overall continuity.
How to plant a hedge FAQs
Don’t worry; you’re not the only person who has questions about the hedge-planting process!
These are some of the most common queries, but for anything else, please consult our product pages or contact our customer service team.
How to plant laurel hedge
Planting a Laurel hedge requires digging a trench that is twice as wide as the root ball so that each plant can easily be accommodated. The only thing to note is that if you are planting a screening hedge, then you will need to space each Laurel plant closer together.
How to plant box hedging
As an ornamental hedge type, box hedging requires more planning with regard to the structure, spacing and overall design of the hedge since the purpose is more for aesthetics. Once you have your plan in place, planting a box hedge follows similar steps to those mentioned above. We recommend digging a trench to the depth of the spade that is 3ft wide to allow the roots to spread out easily. Backfill the trench with compost and water the hedge to finish.
When to plant hedges?
There are various takes on when is the best time to plant a hedge. To keep things simple, we recommend planting evergreen and semi-evergreen hedging in autumn. For deciduous hedging, the best time to plant is between mid-autumn and late winter.
How close to a wall can I plant a hedge?
It is recommended to leave at least 3 feet of space between a hedge and a wall to avoid the roots growing into building foundations or causing similar structural issues. Another thing to check for is whether the hedge is considered invasive, with non-invasive hedge varieties, including those with shallow roots better suited to being planted near walls or buildings.
Can I plant a hedge on my boundary?
Hedges can absolutely be used to establish a boundary alongside your property instead of using traditional fencing. While planning permission is not usually required for hedges, it is always courteous to check that your neighbour doesn’t have any objections to you planting a hedge alongside their adjoining property boundary.
How long do bare-root plants take to grow?
While the growth rate will depend on the variety of the hedge, in general, you should expect to see the first flourish of new leaves around six weeks after planting bare-root hedge plants. Following the advice on the ground preparation and watering schedule is the best way to encourage new hedge plants.
How many bare root hedging plants per meter?
The general consensus is between 5-7 and hedge plants per metre depending on whether you are planting in a single or double staggered row. Using a double staggered row will provide a denser hedge when the plants mature.
Aim to leave around 45cm between each hedge plant if using bare root plants. If using container-grown hedge plants, then you can make the spacing of each plant slightly closer together so that there are 4-5 plants per metre.
The recommended spacing for hedge plants can vary slightly depending on the type so do check before planting.
What’s the difference between evergreen and deciduous hedging?
Evergreen hedging will retain its lush foliage throughout the year, providing continual privacy, windbreak protection and overall structure even in the winter. This means that when other plants in your garden may have retreated, an evergreen hedge will remain present.
In contrast, deciduous hedging either sheds its leaves or changes colours throughout the seasons, creating spectacular interest as well as habitats for wildlife.
You can view examples of both evergreen and deciduous hedging by selecting your preferences on the ‘hedging by characteristics’ tab on our hedging product page.
What is the best low-maintenance hedge?
We’d classify a low-maintenance hedge as any variety that is slow-growing. One of the best low-maintenance hedging plants to consider is box hedging, such as Buxus Sempervirens. On our main hedge product page, you can select the height of the hedging plants. The individual product page will then tell you whether the hedge is considered slow or fast-growing.
How to control weeds around a hedge
Apply extreme caution when using weed-killer-containing glyphosate on newly planted hedges to avoid killing or damaging the plants. While glyphosate can be used for the purposes of soil preparation prior to planting and for spot treatment of weeds around a hedge, an alternative option is to apply mulch around the base of the hedge once planted. Mulch has the added benefit of rotting down and providing extra nutrients to the soil.
How to mix hedging plants
Why settle for a regular-looking hedge when you can mix up your hedging plants instead? Mixing hedging plants can offer benefits in terms of aesthetics, biodiversity, soil improvement, privacy and windbreak protection, and it can also encourage more pollinators into your garden. In terms of mixing hedging plants, you need to consider the compatibility of the hedging plants, which will differ depending on the hedging varieties selected. Also, it’s important to choose hedging which can be planted at the same time. From there, the planting instructions remain much the same, bar any specific guidance which may apply to the specific hedge plant varieties you choose.
Gardeners Dream - Shop garden hedge plants today.
If you are considering adding hedging plants to your garden, we hope you’ve found the above guide on how to grow hedging plants useful.
At Gardeners Dream, you’ll find a wide range of beautiful hedging plants for sale spanning popular varieties, including Box, Cherry Laurel, Copper Beech, Green Leylandii and Yew.
Shop all your favourite hedging plants and accessories and receive free delivery on all UK orders over £50. For any help with your purchase, please get in touch with our customer service team.
Enjoyed this post? Subscribe to receive free updates, news, tips and tricks for maintaining your garden by signing up for our newsletter using the form below.
