Hedging

sussexbaker

Hi all

I'm just about to put together an order for bare root plants so I can finally plant my hedge, and I thought I'd cast around for plant and supplier suggestions.

The site is a 10m strip on heavy clay, that's fairly exposed. There's already an apple tree (2yr old) in situ where it'll start, another one (2yr old) at the 5m mark and a Mulberry Tree (4 years old) at the other end. I've dug over the ground, removing all of the weeds etc, had a green manure (Buckwheat) season which has been cut down and dug in, then threw the contents of my grow bags onto the strip. Finally I've just laid soaker hose along the length of it, and have weed suppressant material over the top. It's basically on the edge of my property, with my veg patch on one side, and a bit of wasteland (nettle infested) on the other side.

I want to make it an edible hedge, it doesn't really have to be stock proof, ideally it'll give year round cover, and should be as native as possible. I've had a catalog from Hope's Grove, and obviously looked online at a few supplier. So any suggestions?

Thanks in advance

cyclonebri1

So given that, you must have preferences/a short list?

Cough please:D

sussexbaker

Not of suppliers, of plants I'm thinking Blackthorn/Quickthorn, Rugosa Rose, Amelanchier (although my mum claims to have never got any growing), Cherry Plum, Cornellian Cherry, Elderberry (though I'm very wary as I've already got a few Elder trees, and I'm a bit superstitious and can't be bothered with apologising to it when it's time to trim it), Wild Pear, and Crab Apple (the two Apple trees I have are already in the same pollination group but I figure a crab apple can only help with it).

My plan is to plant a staggered double row, which seems to be 5 plants per meter. Another thing I wonder about is that some places seem to base their packs on a 'base' plant (usually Black/Quickthorn or Hornbeam) whilst others seem to do have a more even spread. Is that just a cost thing?

moneyistooshorttomention

I'm following this, because I'm wondering about maybe planting an edible hedge in part of my garden.

How many plants per metre is it if just doing a single row hedge?

How easy is pruning to keep it to a suitable height (ie for a woman just using manual tools)?

sussexbaker

3 plants per metre for a single row seems to be the rule of thumb.

I figure the pruning depends on how long a hedge you plant. Having thorns will probably make it a bit harder/more painful.

moneyistooshorttomention

Good points.

I am wondering personally though if hedge-trimming is something that is physically too arduous for a little woman like me? I have to factor in whether I would need to pay a hefty man and/or someone with electric strimmer or whatever to come and do that trimming for me.

Davesnave

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Good points.

I am wondering personally though if hedge-trimming is something that is physically too arduous for a little woman like me? I have to factor in whether I would need to pay a hefty man and/or someone with electric strimmer or whatever to come and do that trimming for me.

Define 'little.'


I'm 5' 4", older than you, and I'll stay fit if I carry on cutting my own hedges. It's pretty easy if the hedge is maintained from the start and planted with the right things for you.


Armed with ratchet loppers, even my wife, who has arm problems, can also tackle pruning on normal fruit trees and bits of hedging.


I wouldn't give blackthorn or quickthorn house room in a garden though. I've spent 3 winters ridding myself of the things along 250m of hedge. They've been in there many years and they get in the way of hedge laying. Septic wounds from them really aren't nice.


They are OK as trees with single bare stems, which can be achieved if they're already full grown, or as a wild hedge, such as I keep elsewhere, which won't ever be laid or even pruned with anything less than a tractor! :rotfl:


I would add alder buckthorn, cotoneaster, spindle, wayfaring tree and guelder rose to the suggested list and make up my own pack!

moneyistooshorttomention

Errrm...that'll teach me to check first (instead of writing them down in my list of edible hedges I've written in one of my books). Crossed through now.

Out of alder buckthorn, cotoneaster and wayfaring tree a quick google revealed their berries are poisonous. Spindle berries are edible okay, but described as "bland".

Thought I'd better come back and report before anyone thinks "Ah...written on the edible hedges thread" and plants and eats them.

EDIT: Okays...own up Dave....how many drinks have you had already today? LOL

moneyistooshorttomention

It would be useful to know if there are any other edible hedge plants anyone knows of besides the ones Sussex Baker mentioned in post 3 please.

Mojisola

sussexbaker wrote: »

It's basically on the edge of my property, with my veg patch on one side, and a bit of wasteland (nettle infested) on the other side.

Are you going to live with the nettles coming through the hedge into your veg patch, put in a root barrier or leave a strip between the hedge and your veggies that you spray with weedkillers every so often to stop the weeds spreading?

We had an allotment once that started from a wide, wild hedge that had a selection of perennial weeds growing within it and on the other side. Constant battle!

moneyistooshorttomention

"Root barrier"...:idea::think:

Now there's a concept that's new to me and I could do with thinking of something to prevent next door weeds from "clambering underneath" one of my borders.

How does that operate? What sort of thing do people use? and..reprise on the "Is it something a little woman would be physically capable of putting in place?"