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Native Hedge Plants
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Advice
on Planting a Native Hedge
Our
native trees and shrubs for hedgerow and woodland planting have been grown
in individual cells so that they can be planted all year round
unlike bare root hedging which can only be planted over winter when they
are dormant. It
also means that they are quick and easy to re-plant and have the
advantage of a healthy undamaged root system. This enables them to
grow away with minimum stress.
They will need to be
planted as soon as possible on receipt and if planted during the summer
months, particular attention must be paid to keeping them well-watered.
Care Instructions:
- Unpack your hedge plants
immediately on receipt and keep upright.
- We
recommend that your hedge plants are planted straight away for best
results.
- Do
not let the plants dry out - keep them moist, but not soaked.
- If
they can't be planted immediately, keep the plants in a sheltered,
cool location preferably in light shade to await planting.
Planting:
- Decide on whether you
will plant the hedge as a single row or double row.
- Single row hedges
are more economic as you will plant about 4 per metre.
X
X
X X
- A double staggered row
creates a thicker, denser hedge and will be more impenetrable once
established, but you will need about 5 plants per metre.
X
X
X
X
X
- Water
well before planting.
- Prepare
an area for your new hedge by digging a trench at least 30cm (60cm
for double row) wide and turn over the soil to the same depth.
- Native
hedgerow species don't need any soil additives, but the addition of
bonemeal does promote root growth.
Ensure that the bonemeal doesn't come into contact with any of the
plant.
- Ensure the soil is
well-watered before planting.
- The
actual planting hole should be slightly larger than the rootball in
the cell. Plant a few centimetres deeper than the top of
the soil in the cell. Try
to keep the soil loose around the sides of the planting hole to make
it easier for the roots to grow into the surrounding soil.
- Firm
the soil down to ensure there are no air pockets where frost could
form.
- Water
thoroughly.
Aftercare Instructions:
- Keep
other vegetation away from the base of the hedge to ensure it gets
plenty of moisture, nutrients and light. Controlling
competition from other vegetation by weeding, mulching or spraying
is important in the early years and improves survival and growth
rate.
- Do
not let the young hedge dry out - keep the roots well watered.
- Protection
to prevent grazing by wildlife is usually necessary and also
provides a micro climate that encourages early growth. We
provide Spiral
Guards on our hedging pages which are suitable.
- Hawthorn
and Blackthorn should be pruned immediately after planting and the
following season's new growth should be reduced by about half.
- Other
deciduous species should be lightly pruned immediately after
planting and then pruned by one third of the new growth the
autumn after planting.
- Evergreens
can be left for a full growing season and then the side shoots can
be trimmed, but the main leading shoot should be left until the
hedge reaches the desired height.
- The
best time to prune in subsequent years is in the autumn when the
deciduous trees and shrubs are dormant and you won't disturb any
nesting birds. Cut back hard to encourage the hedge to thicken up.
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