Last winter I planted hedges in two exposed sites, and some survived well, but several varieties did not. I thought it might help fellow gardeners if I shared some experiences in planting new hedges.
The sites
One hedge has been planted to enclose the orchard. It faces south-east, and is swept by harsh winds. The soil is dry and slightly sandy; a clump of silver birch, conifers and willows swallow the rain. Rabbits have a large burrow nearby, and deer graze the area too. It's not an easy site.
Native hedging mix
I planted a mix of bareroot native hedging: field maple, hawthorn, beech, dogwood, dogrose, holly, as well as a few privets. I protected the plants with plastic shields, and watered them regularly throughout the summer.
What survived (and thrived)
But a good number died altogether or were nibbled to death. Those which fared best were:
1. Rosa canina (dogrose). The roses grew strongly despite the dry conditions, and the rabbits did not touch the prickly stems or green leaves. These were undoubtedly the top performers.
2. Holly. Believe it or not, deer and rabbits nibbled all all my hollies, but when I protected them with larger shields, the plants recovered. They're slower growing than the roses, but they'll be a good hedge filler.
The sites
One hedge has been planted to enclose the orchard. It faces south-east, and is swept by harsh winds. The soil is dry and slightly sandy; a clump of silver birch, conifers and willows swallow the rain. Rabbits have a large burrow nearby, and deer graze the area too. It's not an easy site.
Native hedging mix
I planted a mix of bareroot native hedging: field maple, hawthorn, beech, dogwood, dogrose, holly, as well as a few privets. I protected the plants with plastic shields, and watered them regularly throughout the summer.
What survived (and thrived)
But a good number died altogether or were nibbled to death. Those which fared best were:
1. Rosa canina (dogrose). The roses grew strongly despite the dry conditions, and the rabbits did not touch the prickly stems or green leaves. These were undoubtedly the top performers.
2. Holly. Believe it or not, deer and rabbits nibbled all all my hollies, but when I protected them with larger shields, the plants recovered. They're slower growing than the roses, but they'll be a good hedge filler.
3. Field maple. This suffered badly from rabbits and deer, but recovered once I put in taller protection.
4. The privet. The rabbits didn't seem to touch this. It suffered in the dry conditions, but recovered well when watered.
What died
4. The privet. The rabbits didn't seem to touch this. It suffered in the dry conditions, but recovered well when watered.
What died
Those that did not fare well were the common dogwood, beech, hazel, and spindle.
Choose carefully, water generously, and protect against nibblers
So, key learning: pack your hedge with tough plants like roses and holly; water regularly; and make sure you invest in high shields to protect against those not-so-cute bunnies.
Choose carefully, water generously, and protect against nibblers
So, key learning: pack your hedge with tough plants like roses and holly; water regularly; and make sure you invest in high shields to protect against those not-so-cute bunnies.
Alternately, if you have sufficient space from your buildings, consider planting a willow hedge. I'll post more details about this next week; it's an interesting alternative to a traditional hedge.
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