Hedge plants are more than just a boundary for your garden. Get the right one and you'll have a beautiful green backdrop for your flower beds, with year round interest, beautiful autumn colour, and a home for nesting birds and other wildlife. It all adds to the wonderful tapestry of your garden's ecosystem.
A common misconception is that planting your own hedging frombare root is complicated or difficult - it really isn't. With a little bit of guidance from experts (like us!), it's very easy to plant single row or double staggered hedge planting. This guide is here to show you just how easy it is.
Planning your hedge planting
Arguably the most important stage of the entire process is the planning. Get this bit wrong and you can waste a lot of time, money and effort, so it's a good idea to spend a bit of time making sure you get it right.
How many hedge plants will you need? Well, the most common spacing for bare root plants is roughly three plants per metre - one every 33cm. This should give you a dense hedge, that a person wouldn't be able to squeeze between. However, some hedges will differ, so it's a good idea to check what the recommendation is for your chosen plants.
If you a planting a staggered double row, you can follow the same distance for each row, but as the name suggests, you want to stagger the plants like this:
Row 1: 16.5cm 49.5cm 82.5cm
Row 2: 33cm 66cm 99cm
And so on. Note that we don't want to start on 0cm, as you want to leave room for that first plant to grow out, and therefore fill the gap you've left. Plot this out on a diagram, and then you will know exactly how many hedging plants you'll need.
Quick note:pot grown plants, or cell grown plants, may be larger and therefore need to be spaced further apart - so check the planting density when you buy them. Similarly if you are planting mixed hedges - each one might be different, so best to check with the garden centre.
When should you plant your hedge?
The best time to plant a hedging plant is in the early autumn if they areevergreen or semi evergreens, or, if they are deciduous, the best time is from the middle of autumn to late winter. The key thing is that you want to be able to work the soil easily, so no sign of frost.
Preparing for your hedge
The next thing you need to do is some good soil preparation. You may want to use a herbicide to kill of any weeds a few weeks before you plan to plant your hedge plants, but if you do make sure that you leave enough time for it to have left the soil before you plant. If you don't use a weed killer, you should make an effort to remove as many weeds by hand as possible.
Now it's time for some digging! You want to dig a trench around 60 - 90 cm wide, and about as deep as a spade blade, for each row of your hedge. Dig a little back from the boundary line, so that you don't encroach on your neighbour's property.
Planting your new hedge plants
Now it's time to introduce the hedge plants to the soil. You have your plan, so you know exactly where each one should go (it might be a good idea to make a mark in the trench to save time). So place each plant in position, making sure to trim off any damaged roots.
Spread the roots out as you place them in, and if you are planting pot grown plants, make sure to remove any compost off the roots as you place them in, so you know exactly where the roots are. Mix some garden compost into the soil, and fill the hole in - making sure you fill in between the roots as you do. It may also be a good idea to mulch at this point - fork in some compost to the soil surface. This should prevent weeds from growing.
Quick note: Don't add any organic matter to the bottom of your trench - as this decomposes it will move the roots around slightly, and can impact the structural integrity of the hedge.
Caring for your hedge plants
You'll need to keep the soil moist during dry spells while your plants establish, and generally it's a good idea to keep watering your hedge plants for a couple of years when you water the rest of your garden. Your new tree will take a bit of time to establish, but once it does, it will be self sufficient other than in really dry periods.
It's a good idea to mulch every spring as well, just to help to prevent weeds from growing.
Potential hedge plant problems
If you notice that your new hedge plants aren't growing how you think they should be, the most likely cause is that it isn't getting enough water. Feel the soil surface, and if it's very dry, try watering more regularly. Mulching also helps the soil to retain moisture.
It's also a good idea to protect very young plants from frost. As you'll likely be planting in mid autumn, you should be okay, but cover them with a plastic sheet if you are expecting a cold snap.
Where to buy hedging plants
Whether you are after a tall hedge, a thick hedge, a fast growing hedge or an eye-catching hedge, we can help you out. Shop ourgarden hedging range today and pick out the perfect one for your garden. We have bare root and pot grown plants for you to consider, and our dedicated team of experts would be more than happy to answer any questions you have, soget in touch if you need any help or advice.
