Hedges have many uses: they can be used for screening, for defining external and internal boundaries, for shelter, for security, for wildlife, or for a design feature such as partitioning off a section of the garden. Who needs a wall or a fence when you can have a living hedge?

Here at Clifton Nurseries we offer a selection of pot grown hedging plants and rootballed hedging plants as well as instant hedging plants for those who require a hedge without the wait.

Preparation for Planting a Hedge

As a hedge is often going to be in place for a significant length of time it’s worth preparing the area to the depth of one spade or two, incorporating compost to improve the soil and including a general purpose slow release fertiliser such as ‘Growmore’ or ‘Blood, Fish and Bone’. On poorly drained soil you may also need to dig in some grit and consider planting on a slight ridge.

Planting A Hedge

Planting distances vary according to the type of plant and whether or not you require an instant hedge or are happy to wait! See the list of suggested plants for their different planting distances. When planting containerised plants, ensure that the plants are planted to the same depth as they were in the pot. Back fill the hole and firm down the plant well. Water the plants thoroughly and then mulch with a material such as Melcourt Ornamental Bark Mulch.

Hedging plants are often available as containerised plants, rootballed plants or bareroot. Containerised means that the plants have been grown in containers, potted on into bigger sizes as the plant grew - these can be planted out at any time of year. Rootballed plants means that the plants have been grown in the field and are then dug up with their rootball for planting - this can only be done when the plants are dormant in autumn and winter. 

Hedge Maintenance

Ensure that the hedge is well watered for at least a year. Feed with a slow release plant fertiliser each spring and reapply the mulch as required. The frequency of trimming and pruning depends on the type of plant – see the suggested list for details.

Hedging Plants

Numerous plants can be grown as hedges, but some of the more common hedging plants are as follows - please note that planting distances do depend on how large the plants are at time of planting and how long you're prepared to wait!

Don't be restricted in your choice of hedging plants to those listed above. Beautiful hedges can be created using practically any plant, especially if you're looking for a more informal look. Plants such as Choisya ternata, Euonymus japonicus 'Bravo', Rosmarinus officinalis ("Rosemary") and Lavandula angustifolia ("English Lavender") can all be used to create attractive hedges.

Purchasing your Hedge

Visit our Surrey branch for our full range of hedging plants or contact us now for further details.  And if you'd like us to advise on and plant your hedge for you, our landscaping team are always happy to help.