Autumn is the perfect time to prepare the ground and plant a hedge. We have a range of hedging plants in store and online. Here’s a quick guide to our top 5 favourite plants and their best features:
“Common laurel” (Cherry laurel): (Prunus laurocerasus ‘Rotundifolia’) One of the best evergreens for a dense, vigorous, bushy hedge. White flowers (good for pollinating insects) in mid to late spring, followed by berries (which are poisonous). When grown as a hedge the flowers are usually trimmed anyway so the berries do not pose a problem. Tough and tolerant of shade, laurel has a fast growth rate of 30-60cm per year, and should be planted around 90cm apart (3ft).
“Red Robin”: (Photinia x fraseri ‘Red Robin’) – very popular evergreen grown for its attractive glossy foliage – in spring the new growth is flushed red, then gradually becomes green over the summer. Happy in sun or part shade in a well-drained, fertile soil. Height up to 4 metres (in 10-20 years) but usually grown to around 90-180cm (3-6ft) as a hedge. Grows around 30cm per year. Plant 50-60cm apart (18in to 2ft).
“Firethorn” (Pyracantha): useful, tough evergreen with thorny stems - good as a dense barrier hedge. Grows well even in shady position. Creamy-white flowers in spring followed by brightly coloured berries throughout winter. Growth rate of around 50cm per year. Available in yellow, orange or red berry colours. Plant 50cm apart (21in)
“Leylandii” or “Leyland Cypress”: (x Cuprocyparis leylandii). Very fast-growing (up to 1m -3ft in a year) tall conifer which needs to be trimmed before it reaches a height which is too tall to manage (ideally maintain at 1.8m: 6ft) Plant 60-75cm apart (2-2.5ft). A useful hedge to make a quick screen, if kept under control.
“Privet” :(Ligustrum ovalifolium) a widely grown semi-evergreen (although usually keeps most of its leaves through winter, unless the weather is really cold) traditional hedging plant which looks neat when trimmed. Creamy-white flowers in mid-summer. Growth rate approximately 30cm per year. Plant 30-45cm (1ft-18in) apart.
