REBECCA'S TIP:

use mulch for weed control

Place a thick layer of mulch around plants for at least the first couple of years. It retains moisture in the soil, but more importantly, prevents weeds and grasses from suppressing the growth of trees and other plants.

I use wet cardboard covered with a 10cm deep mix of:

■ ramial mulch (freshly shredded leaves and branches);

■ aged woodchips and bark;

■ leaf litter;

■ grass clippings;

■ straw;

■ manure (around the base of plants).

Add more mulch each year until the hedgerow is fully established. Future mulch can come from trees and plants within the hedgerow itself, such as prunings and leaf litter.

Another option is a living ‘mulch’ of perennial plants such as comfrey, horseradish, rhubarb, strawberries, and clover.