How to plant

Now’s the perfect time to plant deciduous hedges, because you can buy bareroot hedging plants, which aren’t in containers and are very cheap. Evergreen hedges in containers can also be planted now. Bare-root is the best option if you have a lot of hedging to plant. They arrive in bundles from mail order specialists. Plant as soon as possible, provided the soil isn’t waterlogged or frozen.

1

Dig out a trench, a spade’s depth deep where you want the hedge to go. Make the trench 30-40cm (12-16in) wide. Insert a digging fork into the bo om to break up the soil at the bo om.

2

Space out each bare-root or container 40cm (16in) apart along the trench. To create a very tight, low hedge, space plants 25cm (10in) apart.

3

Spread out the roots of each bare-root plant and sit it at the bo om of the trench. Push dug soil over the roots and cover them so they’re planted at the previous planting depth.

4 Work your way along the row, firming in each plant with the ball of your foot so it’s securely in contact with the soil, then water each plant if the soil is dry. 5 Backfill the rest of the soil and spread it evenly around the plants, then apply a 5cm (2in) layer of well-ro ed compost or bark chippings on the soil surface to conserve moisture. 6

Plant po ed hedging plants in the same way as bare-roots. Tease out the roots of each plant with your hands before planting if they’re pot-bound.