How to plant a hedge: spacing, timing and aftercare
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Suggested lead photograph: how to plant a hedge: spacing, timing and aftercare
The essentials of planting a hedge are simple. Plant between November and March, dig a trench rather than individual holes, space plants evenly along a string line, water deeply, mulch, and keep the base weed-free for the first two summers.
When to plant
Bare-root hedging is available from roughly November to March, while plants are dormant, and root-balled hedging such as yew is lifted from autumn to spring. Pot-grown and instant hedging give you more flexibility, because they can go in at any time, provided you can water them through dry spells.
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Suggested photograph: prepare the ground
Prepare the ground
Start by marking the line with a string, then dig a trench about 60 cm wide and a spade’s depth. Loosen the base with a fork and mix in well-rotted organic matter, especially on heavy clay or very free-draining soils. Remove perennial weeds as you go, because they compete hard with young hedges.
How many plants per metre?
| Hedge | Typical spacing |
|---|---|
| Mixed native (bare root) | 5 per metre in a staggered double row |
| Beech or hornbeam (bare root) | 3 to 5 per metre |
| Yew (root-balled) | 2 to 4 per metre, depending on size |
| Ilex crenata (low hedge) | 3 to 4 per metre |
| Instant hedging units | Butted together, as supplied |
Treat these figures as starting points, since larger plants can be spaced more widely. Our team will happily work out quantities for your exact length.
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Suggested photograph: planting
Planting
Before you begin, soak bare-root plants in a bucket of water for an hour, and keep the roots moist and covered throughout, because they dry out quickly once exposed. Set each plant at the same depth it grew at the nursery; on bare-root plants you can find this by looking for the soil mark on the stem. Backfill around the roots, firming gently with your heel, and water each plant in well. Finish by mulching along the row to hold in moisture and keep weeds down.
Aftercare
For the first two summers, water deeply once a week in dry weather and keep a clear, weed-free strip along the base. For bushier growth, lightly trim the sides in the first summer. From then on, formal hedges such as yew, beech and hornbeam are clipped once a year in late summer. Native hedges are best left uncut during the bird nesting season.
Find your hedge
Compare beech and hornbeam, discover yew for formal lines, or plant a mixed native hedge for wildlife.