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Tuesday, 8 December 2009
Where to begin when deciding on a hedge?
Hedges are used to form physical boundaries between properties or public and private ground and if maintained properly, look much prettier than fences. Hedges also play a decorative role and can be an essential part of your garden design.
Now is the best time of the year to be planting a hedge because many hedging plants are available in garden centres and nurseries as bare rootstock.
First things first, what does bare root mean?
In a nutshell, it means better value for money for you. This is because the plants are dug up now in their dormant state (i.e. they are not actively growing) and transferred from the field where they have been growing to the nursery. This saves money on transport and the cost of maintaining plants in pots.
What is the best sort of hedge for me?
Firstly decide whether you want deciduous (which loose their leaves in winter) or evergreen (which retain their leaves all year round.)
Second have a look at your neighbours’ gardens to see what sort of hedges grow best in your area. That will give you an indication of what is likely to grow in your soil. For example beech hedges like well-drained soils whereas hornbeam (which is very similar) will cope with clay soils.
Third take a look at the amount of sun the hedge will get. Some sorts of hedging plants will tolerate shade and others need sun.
Armed with this information, go to a local nursery and ask for help in trying to decide.
Having decided which sort of hedge you are going to use in your garden design, the next stage is to prepare the ground really well. More of that next week in what to do in the garden over the Christmas holidays.
Now is the best time of the year to be planting a hedge because many hedging plants are available in garden centres and nurseries as bare rootstock.
First things first, what does bare root mean?
In a nutshell, it means better value for money for you. This is because the plants are dug up now in their dormant state (i.e. they are not actively growing) and transferred from the field where they have been growing to the nursery. This saves money on transport and the cost of maintaining plants in pots.
What is the best sort of hedge for me?
Firstly decide whether you want deciduous (which loose their leaves in winter) or evergreen (which retain their leaves all year round.)
Second have a look at your neighbours’ gardens to see what sort of hedges grow best in your area. That will give you an indication of what is likely to grow in your soil. For example beech hedges like well-drained soils whereas hornbeam (which is very similar) will cope with clay soils.
Third take a look at the amount of sun the hedge will get. Some sorts of hedging plants will tolerate shade and others need sun.
Armed with this information, go to a local nursery and ask for help in trying to decide.
Having decided which sort of hedge you are going to use in your garden design, the next stage is to prepare the ground really well. More of that next week in what to do in the garden over the Christmas holidays.
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