Hedging is a continuous line of shrubs or trees that blend together to form a boundary to provide privacy or protection. The type of hedging plants you require will depend on the level of privacy you require (determining the height of the hedge), or the conditions of your garden, (if it is typically windy, for example).

Garden Hedging

The structure of how you want to plant your garden hedging also needs to be decided.
 
Decide:  Do you want an evergreen hedge?
Decide:  Do you want a formal or informal hedge?
 
A formal hedge is structured and defined. You will need to prune and shape this hedge, you control the growth e.g. beech hedging.
 
An informal hedge is left to grow informally, you wouldn’t need to prune but allow to grow naturally, e.g. berberis or holly.
 
Single Row planting is recommended where economy is the deciding factor, this type of hedge will not be as dense a screen.
 
Double Row planting involves two rows of hedges, recommended for shrubs such as privet where they are not as dense a shrub, this will give maximum screening.
 
It is essential that you spend the time preparing your ground before planting.  Ensure all weeds are removed to allow the root systems to have access to water and nutrients.
 
You will need to dig a trench wide enough for your plants, for double row hedging dig the same trenches but make the spacing between the rows approximately 30cm.
 
Spacing between each plant depends on the type of hedge you have chosen, but these spacings are given on the website when you select your hedge.
 
When double row planting, stagger the plants on the second row midway between the plants on the first row. This will allow the gaps to be filled in giving a thicker, denser hedge.
 
Before planting it is advised that you place your plants on the soil and plan where the plants will go before you start planting them, then you be able to gauge equal distances between your plants.
 
Once you are happy with the distancing of the plants, remove the plant from its pot and place into the trench

It is recommended that you add a suitable compost to the trench before planting, this can also be done by mixing it into the soil that you have dug out and returning to the trench.


Be very reserved when fertilizing your shrubs and trees in the first season. A good soil preparation with plenty of compost should take care of your plants appetite.  However if your soil is off poor quality then you can add a suitable fertilizer to the soil that you are going to return to the hole and mix in well prior to returning.
 
please note that it is imperitive that you follow the guidelines and recommendations of the products that you intend to use.

Once you have mixed in the compost and fertilizer you can then backfill  into the trench.  Make sure that you fully cover the rooted area, and not to bury them too deeply as this can stump the growth of the plants.
 
Once you have backfilled the soil to the required level, gently firm in the plants, by pressing in the soil in around the base of the plants.  It is important that you do not compress the soil too much as this will prevent good drainage and reduce oxygen.

Once planted ensure that your plants receive plenty of water, and maintain regular watering through out the hedges first year.