Hedges
When purchasing hedging plants from nursery or garden centre, ensure that the plants if grown in pots are not ‘pot bound’, that is the roots have not distorted their pots by bursting to get out. That they are of a uniform size in height and bushiness and they are not full of weeds and dried out. If purchasing bare-rooted ensure the root ball is moist and the plants stems not broken.
The site for planting a new hedge will need to be dug by spade or rotavated before planting. The soil will no doubt need to be improved by incorporating old farmyard manure, the provenance of which will need to be ascertained, or proprietary or home produced compost. Dig out a trench of approximately 35cms. deep and incorporate the organic material. After this place a string supported by stout wooden stakes at each end of the line to act a planting guide. For a field or security hedge, a double row of around 60-100cms apart will be required, for a garden hedge a singe row. In either case, place the plants out at a distance of approximately 45cms, staggered between the plants for a double row field hedge. Fertilise the trench with 70 grammes of sterilised bonemeal per metre, or use a proprietary specialist tree and shrub fertiliser at the recommended rate. Rake in well. You may prefer top dress the finished planting with a fertiliser and allow the winter rains to wash in thereby providing a gradual release.
Backfill with the topsoil and vertically wiggle the plants to allow soil to work into the root systems, tread in and finally water in well and continue to water during dry spells in the spring and summer.
Golden rules
1. DO NOT plant in frosty weather-the roots may freeze and tear apart when planting.
2. DO NOT allow the plants to dry out before planting-soak overnight in a bucket if they have.
3. DO NOT dig out the trench too soon before planting-rainfall may fill the trench and possibly freeze ruining the soil structure.
4. DO water well during the spring and first summer.
Trimming.
A majority of hedging plants are best left untrimmed for the first growing season, except saplings of Cratageus monogyna (Hawthorn), Ligustrum (Privet) and Lonicera (Honeysuckle), which can be cut right down immediately post-planting. Trim hedges at least once per year cutting with the base of the hedge wider than the top. This is the best practice to ensure the maximum available light is to reach the bottom of the hedge, thereby assissting in making the bottom thick. If the hedge is to be layed, which is necessary to ensure a stock-proof hedge, allow the hedge to grow freely for two years before having it layed. An old and neglected gappy hedge, will have to be cut right down to the ground to allow re-growth.
Toxic plants.
The following hedging plants used in this profile are toxic and should be used with caution as far as livestock and, although very unlikely that a child would eat tree or shrub leaves, children are concerned:
Buxus, cultivars
Euonymus europaeus
Ilex
Ligustrum
Prunus laurocerasus
Quercus
Taxus
| Farm or field hedge | |||
| NAME | COMMON NAME | TYPE | COMMENTS |
| Acer campestre AGM | Field Maple or Hedge Maple | Deciduous | An attractive 5-lobed leaved deciduous tree, yellowing in autumn to provide lovely fall colour. |
| Alnus Glutinosa | Alder | Deciduous | A fast growing hedging species for use in field or garden. beautiful yellow catkins are produced followed by cones, whch provide food for birds. |
| Carpinus betulus AGM | Common Hornbeam | Deciduous | A less commom native tree that resembles Beech but has ovate serrated and ribbed leaves. |
| Cornus sanguinea | Common Dogwood | Deciduous | Red flushed stems and red rounded leaves leaves in the autumn. Very easy growing. |
| Cratageous monogyna | Hawthorn, May, Quickthorn | Deciduous | White fragrant flowers followed by red fruits. Spiny. Widespread use on farm fields, roadside and boundaries. Stock-proof when layed. |
| Euonymus europaeus | Spindle | Deciduous | A large shrub of green stems and scarlet capsules that open to show orange seeds in the autumn. E. e 'Red Cascade' has been awarded an AGM. |
| Ilex aquifolium | Common Holly | Evergreen | A hardy native species of beauty and resilience. Shiny and spiny glossy dark green leaves. The red berries will be assured by planting several specimens. |
| Lonicera pericylmenum | Honeysuckle, Woodbine | Deciduous | A vigourous and beautifully scented flowering climber,used as an additional planting; a must for the farm or field hedge. |
| Prunus spinosa | Blackthorn, Sloe | Deciduous | A tough native that makes a suckering and multi-branched hedging plant. Masses of white flowers in spring with damson-like fruit later in the year, often used to flavour gin or used in preserves. |
| Rosa canina | Dog Rose | Deciduous | A native rose which is widely used as stock for the modern hybrid roses, but also is good in a mixed farm or field mixed hedge. Prickly stems and scented white or pink flowers then egg-shaped fruits. |
| Rosa rugosa 'Rubra' AGM | Japanese Apple Rose | Deciduous | Crimson scented flowers and red tomato-shaped fruits. |
| Viburnum lantana | Wayfaring tree | Deciduous | A native shrub of broadly ovate leaves. White flowers in May followed by red to black fruits. |
| Viburnum opulus | Guelder Rose | Deciduous | A large shrub with 5-lobed green leaves which change to red in autumn and winter. White corymbs of flowers in early summer resmbling lacecap hydrangeas. Red fruits in autumn. |
| Coastal hedge | |||
| NAME | COMMON NAME | TYPE | COMMENTS |
| Aucuba japonica | Spotted laurel | Evergreen | A robust and reliable shrub making a wide hedge that will grow almost anywhere. |
| Berberis darwinii AGM | Barberry | Evergreen | A medium sized and densely growing fine flowering shrub of small holly-like leaves with orange/yellow flowers in spring, followed by blue berries. |
| Buxus sempervirens AGM | Common Box | Evergreen | Makes a neat and tidy hedge clipped twice per year. Internal garden use. |
| Ceanothus x dentatus | Californian lilac | Evergreen | A small-leaved and low growing but vigourous grower with blue flowers in May. |
| Cotoneaster simonsii AGM | Cotoneaster | Evergreen | Glossy green leaves, sometimes tinged red and small white flowers much loved by pollinators. |
| Ecallonia cultivars | Escallonia | Evergreen | Virtually all of the ecallonias can be grown sucessfully in coastal regions. Small-leaved with pink, white or red flowers in summer, makes a fine hedge. |
| Eleagnus x ebbingei | Eleagnus | Evergreen | Grows quickly to make a large evergreen hedge. The large leaves are silvery on their undersides and highly scented, diminutive flowers of pale yellow are produced in the autumn.Cultivar 'Gilt Edge', has gold marginated foliage and holds an AGM. |
| Escallonia rubra 'Crimson Spire' AGM | Escallonia | Evergreen | A Glossy-leaved evergreen shrub and chalice-shaped flowers of bright crimson. Especially suited as a coastal hedge but also all right as a garden hedge inland. |
| Fuchsia magallenica Gracillis AGM | Lady's teardrops | Deciduous | Scarlet and purple, pendulous blossoms with slender leaves in whorls of three. |
| Hydrangea serrata 'Tiara' AGM | Hydrangea | Deciduous | Makes a wide but floiferous and informal hedge. |
| Quercus ilex AGM | Holm Oak, Holly Oak | Evergreen | Comes form the Mediterranean regions, and as such is suited to warmer parts of the country. Large and leathery leaves and makes a robust hedge. |
| Coniferous hedge | |||
| NAME | COMMON NAME | TYPE | COMMENTS |
| Chamaecyparis lawsoniana | Lawson's False Cypress | Evergreen | An excellent fast growing hardy species, ideal for screening and shelter. Columnar conifer with aromatic foliage. |
| Cupressocyparis leylandii AGM | Leyland Cypress | Evergreen | Similar in appearance to Chamaecyparis lawsoniana. Fast growing (be warned) but makes a great hedge if clipped every autumn. |
| Juniperus communis | Juniper | Evergreen | A tough plant the makes a good dense hedge, but rather slow growing. One of the best hardy evergreen hedging plants. |
| Picea abies | Common Spruce | Evergreen | The Christmas Tree, makes a good and attractive evergreen hedge if trimmed regularly. |
| Taxus baccata AGM | Yew | Evergreen | The perfect evergreen hedge. Dark green matt surface making it ideal as a backdrop for herbaceous perennials. Familiar of churchyards with red berries. THE FOLIAGE IS POISONOUS TO LIVESTOCK ! |
| Thuja plicata AGM | Western Red Cedar | Evergreen | A fast growing conifer that requires a moist soil. Similar in appearance to chamaecyparis lawsoniana. Foliage tints purple in winter. |
| Tsuga heterophylla AGM | Western Hemlock | Evergreen | A fast growing and graceful conifer that makes a fine hedge. Tolerates shade so is good as an understory in woodlands as is Tsuga canadensis. |
| Evergreen hedge | |||
| NAME | COMMON NAME | TYPE | COMMENTS |
| Atriplex halimus | Tree Purslane | Evergreen | A semi-evergreen of silver/grey foliage for an internal hedge. Grown since 17th century |
| Aucuba japonica | Spotted laurel | Evergreen | A robust and reliable shrub making a wide hedge that will grow almost anywhere. |
| Berberis darwinii AGM | Barberry | Evergreen | A medium sized and densely growing fine flowering shrub of small holly-like leaves with orange/yellow flowers in spring, followed by blue berries. |
| Buxus sempervirens AGM | Common Box, Tree Box | Evergreen | Makes a neat and tidy hedge clipped twice per year. Use as an internal haedge that is generally clipped to a height of around 1 metre. Use Buxus suffruticosa for a dwarf hedge. |
| Ceanothus x dentatus | Californian Lilac | Evergreen | A small-leaved and low growing but vigourous grower with blue flowers in May. |
| Choisya ternata | Mexican Orange blossom | Evergreen | Bright green and aromatic shiny leaves; sweetly scented flowers in late spring and early summer. |
| Eleagnus x ebbingei | Eleagnus | Evergreen | Grows quickly to make a large evergreen hedge. The large leaves are silvery on their undersides and highly scented, diminutive flowers of pale yellow are produced in the autumn.Cultivar 'Gilt Edge', has gold marginated foliage and holds an AGM. |
| Escallonia cultivars | Escallonia | Evergreen | Virtually all of the ecallonias can be grown sucessfully in coastal regions. Small-leaved with pink, white or red flowers in summer, makes a fine hedge. |
| Euonymus japonicus | Japanese Spindle | Evergreen | A large growing shrub with slender, glossy green leathery leaves; tolerant of poor conditions in full light or shade. |
| Ilex cultivars | Holly | Evergreen | Needs little introduction. Holly makes a prickly but handsome hedge of mid to dark green leaves-some cultivars are varieagated; berries in winter. |
| Lonicera nitida | Shiny-leaved Honeysuckle | Evergreen | A small-leaved evergreen honeysuckle that creates a good dense barrier. Clip regularly to shape in order to retain density. 'Baggerson's Gold' is a yellow-leaved form with an AGM. |
| Photinia x fraseri | Red Robin | Evergreen | An upright growing evergreen shrub; Cultivar 'Red Robin' AGM, has brilliant young foliage. |
| Prunus laurocerasus | Common Laurel, Cherry Laurel | Evergreen | If left unpruned will make a large and handsome evergreen shrub, but prune in September if grown as a hedge. Plant 1 metre apart. Withstands polluted atomospheres. |
| Prunus lusitanicus AGM | Portugal Laurel | Evergreen | Darker green foliage and narrower- leaved than that of P. laurocerasus. An alternative to P. laurocerasus that is slower growing. Makes a pretty tree when grown alone. |
| Pyracantha | Firethorn | Evergreen | Makes a good security hedge owing to its prickly stems. Red or orange berries in winter. A striking hedge. |
| Quercus Ilex | Holm Oak, Holly Oak | Evergreen | Comes form the Mediterranean regions, and as such is suited to warmer parts of the country. Large and leathery leaves and makes a robust hedge. |
| Flowering hedge | |||
| NAME | COMMON NAME | TYPE | COMMENTS |
| Berberis darwinii AGM | Barberry | Evergreen | A medium sized and densely growing fine flowering shrub of small holly-like leaves with orange/yellow flowers in spring, followed by blue berries. |
| Cratageous monogyna | Hawthorn, May, Quickthorn | Deciduous | White fragrant flowers followed by red fruits. Widespread use on farm fields. Stock-proof when layed. |
| Cytisus x beanii AGM | Broom | Evergreen | A small-growing green twigged shrub in winter; deep golden yellow flowers produced freely in May. |
| Escallonia rubra 'Crimson Spire' AGM | Escallonia | Evergreen | A Glossy-leaved evergreen shrub and chalice-shaped flowers of bright crimson. Especially suited as a coastal hedge but also all right as a garden hedge inland. |
| Fuchsia magellanica Gracillis AGM | Lady's teardrops | Deciduous | Scarlet and purple, pendulous blossoms with slender leaves in whorls of three. For milder gardens. |
| Hydrangea serrata 'Tiara' AGM | Hydrangea | Deciduous | Makes a medium growing and wide hedge of blueflowers, floiferous and informal hedge. |
| Lavandula angustifolia 'Hidcote' AGM | Lavender | Evergreen | The 'Old English Lavender' is a scented evergreen suitable for an internal hedge. Native of meditteranean regions, but at home in Great Britain. |
| Ligustrum | Privet | Evergreen | The once ubiquitous privet makes a good and tidy hedge. |
| Rosa 'Hyde Hall' | Rose | Deciduous | Makes a beautiful pink flowering rose boundary hedge which will flower almost non-stop from late spring into autumn. |
| Fragrant hedge | |||
| NAME | COMMON NAME | TYPE | COMMENTS |
| Artemisia abrotanum AGM | Lad's love, Southerwood, Old Man | Deciduous | A small growing 'Cottage Garden' shrub, with aromatically scented filigree silver leaves. |
| Choisya ternata AGM | Mexican Orange blossom | Evergreen | Bright green and aromatic shiny leaves; sweetly scented flowers in late spring and early summer. |
| Lavandula augustifolia 'Hidcote' AGM | Lavender | Evergreen | The 'Old English Lavender' is a scented evergreen suitable for an internal hedge. Native of meditteranean regions, but at home in Great Britain. |
| Rosmarinus officinalis | Commonm Rosemary | Evergreen | Makes a dense hedge of greyish green narrow leaves; scented evergreen suitable for an internal hedge. |
