Hedging

Here at Broadbottom Garden Centre, one of our most frequently requested products is hedging. We always aim to stock a wide range of hedging, and usually after speaking to a customer for a moment or two, it is relatively easy to garner enough information in order to determine which hedge will suit their situation. Of course the determining factors usually boil down to location, what the hedge’s purpose is and the speed at which the hedge is required to be in place but we are always willing to look a little further where necessary and buy in to suit the customer’s request.

So you have decided to plant a hedge. There are many reasons for which planting a hedge may be necessary. The biggest reason we find is for privacy purposes. A good, dense hedge will not only keep away prying eyes from seeing in through your window, or your neighbours seeing your garden, but also look much better than say a wall or a fence. Hedges of course encourage wildlife such as nesting birds and this should be seen as a real bonus.

A traditional hedge would be one which provides good screening. Screening may be necessary for privacy, covering up something unsightly, reducing noise or also shelter from the wind. Of course with this as with all hedges, the downsides include the fact that the new hedge will inevitably create a shady area, and it will also use a significant amount of moisture and nutrients from the surrounding soil, but these factors are often not too much of a problem given the advantages that a hedge can bring.

Examples of more traditional types of hedging include:

Beech (Fagus)

You can choose to have a green Beech hedge or a purple Beech hedge (or a mixture of the two works well), and amongst it’s list of benefits it includes the fact that it will tolerate exposed conditions, chalky soil and will eventually form an excellent barrier against the wind. Despite the fact that it is deciduous, it will retain many of it’s brown leaves through the winter, giving it an edge on other deciduous varieties of hedging.

Leylandii (Cupressocyparis)

One of the most common types of hedging, what many know typically as ‘conifers’, the most obvious benefit of creating a Leylandii hedge is that they are probably the quickest growing of all, reaching a height of 8 to 10 feet potentially within 5/6 years. They thicken out to provide density where privacy and wind protection are the priorities, they are evergreen, easy to trim, and gold varieties are also available.

Yew (Taxus)

Although slow to establish, golden Yew hedging can look fantastic in any garden. They can retain a relatively narrow shape compared to many other types of hedging, but overall still make excellent hedges for both privacy and windbreak purposes.

Laurel (Prunus)

Laurel hedging looks excellent once established. As well as bright, glossy green leaves, Laurels will form a tall, dense hedge, although bear in mind that this means they will require space too. Another major plus point is the fact that they retain their excellent foliage all year round and this makes them a good choice where hedging is being put in place for privacy purposes.

Privet (Ligustrum)

Although they have never been the most popular of hedging, privets are one of the most resilient, excelling in poor conditions, exposed sites and growing quicker than many other types of hedging. Most leaves are kept over the winter but it is often the case that other plants will struggle to survive around Privet hedging.

Holly  (Ilex)

Holly hedges are excellent for many reasons. They thrive in both sunny and shady areas, they are evergreen, will form a thick hedge, great for both privacy and wind protection, and are also a secure measure, with a thick, thorn-filled Holly hedge proving near-impenetrable. They bring colour once their berries appear, and are also available as a variegated variety.

Hawthorn (Crataegus)

A Hawthorn hedge has traditionally been one borne more out of necessity than choice. Quick-growing, impenetrable and extremely tough, they serve an excellent purpose as a divide or barrier. In order to gain the benefits of this whilst adding something more to look at, Hawthorn is often grown alongside Holly or Beech.

Floral Hedging

If you are happy to create a less formal, less structured hedge which is more about appearance than purpose but can still help to create a divide or barrier then some excellent choices for this which we usually stock include:

Escallonia

Whilst at first Escallonia can appear a bit untidy, once established it can form a tidy, pleasing hedge which flowers in June and retains its foliage all-year round. They are often a popular choice in coastal areas due to their tolerance of the salty air.

Berberis

Berberis Stenophylla makes a fantastic evergreen hedge. It produces yellow flowers during the spring and will also produce berries if it isn’t pruned. Although there are more formal and tidy varieties of hedging, the Berberis does have an elegant look to it with its narrow branches and small flowers. There is also a dwarf variety Thunbergii Atropurpurea ‘Nana’ which makes a great low growing hedge (see below for more of these).

Pyracantha

Pyracantha is a tough, hardy hedging which will also provide colour. It produces dozens of berries, and will withstand exposed sites and chalky soils. They are evergreen and also very thorny so create a secure boundary hedge.

Spiraea

The variety Vanhouttei is frequently used for hedging, and provides excellent foliage colour during autumn. Around May it will produce white flowers and it will be ready for pruning once these have finished.

Low growing hedging

Buxus

Used often for topiary, Buxus also makes an excellent formal, compact, low growing hedge due to its slow growth and easy maintenance. They are evergreen and only really require a feed every so often and a trim in to shape once they become a bit untidy. The downsides obviously are that they are not really very colourful beyond their greenery and that they do take a while to grow, but for an easily maintained, formal looking divide within the garden there are few better suited for the job.

Lavender

Small Lavender hedges are excellent for creating a divide between two areas in a garden whilst also providing both colour and fragrance. English varieties such as Hidcote and Munstead are known to be the hardier varieties with Hidcote being the bluest of those two. Once the flowers have finished the stems can be pruned back but pruning for the purpose of shaping should be done around April time.

Rosemary

Similar to having a Lavender hedge, Rosemary will provide fragrance and spring colour with it’s small flowers. The only trouble is they are not completely hardy and won’t tolerate conditions which are too moist.

If you are unsure at all about which hedging might be best for your location, or just to check our availability and pricing, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us using the details on our contact page.