Hedging Plants

Clipped informal hedge

Found in gardens all over the UK hedging plants are popular for a number of reasons and the most popular varieties are so for good reasons. The types that are hardy disease resistant and form a dense barrier are the widely used. Hedges have never really fallen out of fashion so if you are looking for a formal hedge, or an informal barrier we can help you can easily find the right variety.

Even clipped hedges, can have an informal look, its all a matter of imagination and design ideas.

 

Best Hedging Plants

Hedges serve a number of purposes in the garden and in broader landscaping projects. They act as a design feature or ornamental plant, as a privacy or screening plant as well as a light, noise, wind or dust barrier.

Selecting the right hedging plants

Position is also important, some plants will cope well with sun or shade, others may struggle in a shaded position, of suffer in full sun or coastal conditions. One of the biggest mistakes when planting a hedge is to choose the wrong plant for the conditions, although a plant may be 'all the fashion' at Chelsea, or 'on sale' at 'cheap prices' the question is, will it be the right choice for your situation and climate in the long term.

Hedge growing over wallStyle is also important, are you looking for a formal style that will be pruned or clipped regularly, or an informal type that requires little maintenance. Considering buying mature or advanced plants, this can create an 'instant hedge' but will cost a lot more to buy than smaller plants.

Hedging plants perform many tasks, they work as privacy screens, and also function as wind breaks. They can also be used as an informal fence. Box (buxus) and Laurel plants are two popular species in the UK.

Hedges can also be used to extend the height of a garden wall, adding extra privacy as well as adding a little extra design detail to landscaping with hedges.

The selection of plants for a hedge will depend on a number of factors

 

 

How many plants per metre for a hedge

The question of how many hedging plants per metre is not difficult is you know little about the growth habit of the selected plant. A general rule when establishing a dense hedge is to determine the usual width of the selected plant.

Hedging should be planted at around 1/2 the projected width. So a plant that has a growth width of 1m should be planted at .5m apart. Slower growing plants, or where a quicker establishment is required should be planted at around 1/3 the width.

Hedge Styles

The first step when selecting plants for hedges is to look at your requirements this will help determine the type you select

 

Hedge growth habit

Top Tips

John Allman 

Hedge Plants for Sale by Type or variety