Plant a hedge for wildlife
Hedges provide excellent natural shelter, both for us and wildlife. Garden hedges protect our outdoor spaces from strong winds, while also offering screening for privacy. But they really come into their own as a source of food and habitat for the wildlife in your garden.
Worried you don’t have space for a hedge? Why not give our hedge wedge a try, and just use a small corner of the garden to grow a few hedge plants.
Yet to plant a hedge? Here’s why you should consider a hedge for your next garden project.
Instructions
How to plant a hedge
Step one
Dig a trench a metre wide.
Step two
Mix in garden compost and or well-rotted manure, not peat, into your trench. Position the plants in a double row, spacing the whips around 30cm apart, and spreading the roots carefully. You can plant them in a straight line, or a soft wave for a more natural look.
Step three
Firm the soil with your boot, and water the plants generously. Add a layer of mulch, such as bark or grass cuttings, to keep weeds down.
Step four
Remove half of the height of the plants after planting. This reduces wind rock and allows the roots to establish quicker. It also encourages bushy growth from near the base of the plants.
Step five
Newly planted hedges are vulnerable to damage by wind, drought and severe weather for the first 2-3 years. If they’re in an exposed position, it might be worth staking with bamboo canes.
Step six
Never plant climbers into a new hedge. Allow the hedge to establish first, otherwise the vigorous growth of the climbers can overcome the young shrubs. Once the hedge is established, climbers can be added.
How to prune a hedge
Hedge and tree cutting should be avoided between March and August, as this is the main breeding season for nesting birds.
Pruning depends on how you want your hedge to look. Hard pruning of younger plants in a new hedge encourages growth of lower branches, making the hedge dense from the base.
Cutting hedges at the same height and width each year can make growing tips woody, losing their ability to produce new growth. Encourage a bushier hedge by cutting at least 2cm above the previous years growth. This helps keep the hedge in full vigour and growth.
When to prune a hedge
Most hedge plants flower and fruit on the previous year's growth. Cut them every other year, or a proportion of them each year to allow flowering and fruiting. Cutting should be carried out in late winter after any berries have been eaten by birds.
Don’t tidy up too much – leave leaf litter and seed heads to attract Hedgehogs, birds, small mammals and insects.