Bare, rooted plants are cheaper, but take care not to expose the roots for long when planting. This guide shows how to successfully plant a hedge in your garden. The Structure of a Windbreak Hedge. Preparing and Planting The Windbreak Hedge. Extra information I would have found useful is advice on the proportions and mix of plant types for a mixed native hedge. To create mixed hedges and varied, there are many species that are perfectly suited for both maintenance features and appearance. Hedging plants can be bought as bare roots, root wrapped or potted plants but they are all very simple to plant using the same basic principles. In order to maximise a windbreak's capacity to lift and diffuse the wind, it is best to plant to create a triangular cross-section, with taller plants in the middle bounded on either side by lower growing plants. Browse our range of hedging plants online and find the perfect hedge for your plot today. Thank you for sharing. In temperate parts of the world the classic edible hedge could well take on the typical appearance of a mixed British hedgerow , with its riot of haws, nuts, hips, and berries. Compatibility. 2.5-6m. Plant a lot close together for a thick hedge. Go for an informal layered effect using a flowering plant variety or different plants of varied heights. These beautiful shrubs are perfect for both privacy and scenery. Native hedges are those you see around fields in the countryside and they provide a habitat for wildlife. Melissa Green 7 July, 2016. USDA 5a-8b. It … Single-plant varieties (lilac, spirea, forsythia) and evergreens (boxwood, arborvitae, holly) suit formal hedge designs. Iain Dunn 20 September, 2016. Planting in rows close together trees and shrubs will not spread out as wide as if they were a single species in a landscape. Formal hedges, with a solid architectural form, neatly frame a yard or rooms within it. For a mixed native hedge, try to include three plants of the same species per 1 m (3 ¼ ft) with one each of two other species. Narrow Evergreen Tree Hedges. Common elder, is a wild thing and doesn’t like to be clipped, so best as an informal hedgerow or at the end of a mixed hedge where it can grow taller. New shoots grow throughout its life, leading to a broader spread; keep this in mind when selecting a locale to plant the hedge. Plant an edible mixed hedge and you’ll have a tempting succession of hedge-gathered harvests to look forward to. The smallest whips best. Planting a native hedge with a mixture of plant species will provide a range of interest throughout the year. We also recommend that in a mixed hedge plants of the same species should be planted at least two-a-breast to avoid it looking like a strange, vegetative zebra! Now is a good time to plant – you plant native hedging when the plants are dormant – so from December until the end of March. Two to three per metre, 33-50cm apart. Until they are established, keep the base of your plants free from weeds with a thick mulch or matting. They bloom an array of fragrant flowers, including pink, purple, and white. American Arborvitae will grow up to 15' wide in the wild but can trim shorter in a hedge setting and due to close planting proximity will greatly reduce overall width. Species adapted to mixed hedges. For a mixed hedge to thrive, all the plants chosen must enjoy your garden’s prevailing conditions created by soil, situation and saturation. www.gardenninja.co.uk the garden design blogger shows you how! Keep reading to discover all you need to know about planting hedges.