Time to get hedge planting

Bare root plants are the most affordable (and popular) option for creating a hedge. They are lifted in autumn when dormant for winter planting. Typical heights are 40-60cm. 

Cell grown plants have a plug of soil around their roots. The roots of cell grown plants remain undisturbed, reducing transplant shock and improving survival rates. Typical heights are 20-40cm.  

On cell grown plants, expect an uplift of approx. 10 pence per plant (N.B. this can vary greatly depending on species, quantity, stock availability etc).

Bare root hedging plants range from 1 to 2 years old: 

• 1+0: 1 year old seedling - strong but slender single stem plant

• 2+0: 2 year old seedling - as above with a wider root collar diameter

• 0+1: 1 year old rooted cutting - strong but slender single stem plant

• 1u1: 2 year old seedling undercut after first year - strong seedling undercut to reduce top growth and develop roots

• 1+1: 2 year transplant (1 year in seedbed & 1 year lined out) - strong plant with well-developed roots and slight branching.

Cell grown hedging plants are typically a year old. Except conifer species which are slower growing so typically need about 2 years’ to reach an appropriate height for planting e.g. 20cm+. 

Bare root hedging plants are best handled when dormant.  The best time to plant them out is November to late March but many nurseries recommend planting pre-Christmas can give best survival rates. 

Cell grown plants can be planted at any time of year, if given aftercare, butSeptember to early May is recommended.  

If well maintained (weeded, gaps filled etc), you can expect a healthy hedge within 5 years. 

We recommend setting it back approximately 1-1.5m from the boundary line. This allows the hedge to grow without overhanging your neighbour's property. If you can, discuss the planting with your neighbour in advance to avoid potential disputes over its future management. 

A typical self-funded mixed native hedge is 50-70% Hawthorn, plus a mix of 5 to 6 other species, e.g. Blackthorn, Field Maple, Hazel, Spindleberry, Dog Rose, Buckthorn, Guelder Rose and Holly. 1 year old seedlings are more affordable.  Despite being slightly thinner, they will still do a great job. 

Hedging mixes planted with funding from Stewardship Grants are typically made up of 2-year-old transplants.  The usual mix is 70% Hawthorn plus 5 or 6 other native species as above.  

Avoid species with long thorns such as Blackthorn. Plants with shorter thorns, such as Hawthorn, can be used to discourage animals from eating the hedging. 

The best value stock hedging is 100% Hawthorn.  

If you prefer a mix, reduce the amount of Hawthorn and add in 3 to 5 of the following species; Field Maple, Hazel, Dogwood, Dog Rose, Guelder Rose and/or Hornbeam.

Hawthorn, Hazel, Dogwood, and Guelder Rose are suitable for planting around horses. Use spiral guards or tubes to protect young plants from nibbling horses until they are established. 

Hawthorn, Blackthorn and Dog Rose make a great mix of thorny species for security hedging and once established form a strong barrier to entry. Plant in double, staggered rows, with 5 to 6 plants per meter.  Blackthorn offers the added benefit of sloe berries should you wish to make sloe gin! 

Mixed and stock hedging are suitable as borders to fields, but single species can also work well. As an alternative to the usual Hawthorn, consider Beech or Hornbeam.   

Both retain their attractive dried leaves during winter months, working as a windbreak and giving habitat for wildlife.  

Beech and Hornbeam are attractive and can be both easily managed and allowed to grow tall (as can most hedging) to disguise or hide unsightly buildings.   

For evergreen species, consider Privet or Laurel. They require more management to retain a neat shape but offer year-round greenery. 

Yes! We recommend any existing vegetation is flailed or strimmed. Consider spraying remaining weeds and grasses with a suitable herbicide prior to planting.   

Ideally you want a clean bed for the plants, to reduce weed growth during the following spring and summer.   

Weed control fabric can minimise competition from weeds.  Once the ground is prepared, roll out, peg down and plant through. The most popular size of weed control fabric is 1m x 100m. Using biodegradable weed matting reduces negative environmental impact. 

Yes. Weed control fabric or matting can minimise competition from weeds.  

Once the ground is prepared, roll out, peg down and plant through. The most popular size of weed control fabric is 1m x 100m – biodegradable weed matting rolls are increasingly popular.

New hedgerows should be planted in two staggered rows 30cm apart with 4 to 6 plants per metre. For mixed hedges, minor species can be planted in small single species groups or randomly within larger blocks of Hawthorn.  

As a rough guide, with the higher number of plants recommended for a thicker hedge: 

500m hedgerow = 2,000 to 3,000 plants 

1,000m hedgerow = 4,000 to 6,000 plants 

1,500m hedgerow = 6,000 to 9,000 plants 

When your hedge plants arrive if you are not going to plant straight away notch plant them to protect the roots (create a V shape notch, into which the plant is placed and heeled in) or pit plant Holly (digging a pit large enough to take the splayed roots prior to heeling in) until you’re ready to get on with planting.  

Spirals or tubes help protect your young plants from animals and create a mini microclimate, giving them the best chance of survival. 

Plant protection gives your young hedge plants a chance to establish themselves in their early years and should be securely fitted at time of planting.  

Spiral guards or Tubex Easywraps are a good value way to protect your hedging plants and are supported by a cane. 

Install the cane next to the newly planted plant, then fit the protection as the final task.  

Unless biodegradable, plan to remove and recycle once the hedge is established (from 3 years onwards). 

The animal you wish to protect your plants from will determine which height guard and the support (e.g. cane or stake) it needs. 

The most popular height of hedging protection is 60cm. This helps protect your plants up to 60cm of growth, so they are well established before they emerge from the shelter and animals (hare or deer) may nibble them. 

If you have a particular problem with hares, you may wish to use a 75cm tall guard. 

Alternatively, if it’is just vole damage you want to protect against, a 20cm tall vole guard will do the trick. 

Reducing weeds around the base of young hedge plants gives them the best chance of survival. 

If you have guards on your plants, you can safely ring spray herbicides to the base to kill off weeds.  

If using weed control fabric, this should do the job of weed suppression for you. 

Yes. Beware of possible spray drift. Young plants are either killed or experience severe growth check if touched by glyphosate or other herbicides.  

Installing protection e.g. Spiral Guards or Tubex Easywraps or other solid guards on your plants will mitigate against this but avoid spray drift to hedges of any age. 

Farm hedges, or hedging around farm fields, benefit from trimming from time to time each year.  

If you received grant funding for planting or maintaining your hedgerow, check the funding criteria as this will specify what you can do and when.  

Government hedgerow management rules protect hedgerows on agricultural land.  

You must not cut or trim a hedgerow covered by the rules from 1st March to 31st August. You must not cause or permit another person to cut or trim such a hedgerow.  These rules aim to protect hedgerows as important ecological building blocks across our landscapes. 

Find out more here.

Reasons for this can include poor maintenance, extreme weather, animal rubbing or nibbling.   

Budget for some plant failures. Gaps can be most easily identified in summer when the hedge is in leaf. Mark out your gaps and plant replacements the following winter.