Get Planting .... a fruiting hedgerow

Next to water, a hedgerow is among the most important habitat you can create to support a wide range of wildlife, both for food and refuge. And using edible plant varieties that are useful to both wildlife and ourselves will enhance its value significantly.

The approach you take in terms of the species and varieties used, along with the planting density, will determine its practical success in terms of providing a physical barrier, shelter from wind, visual screening or productivity from the fruit it yields. While this isn’t the approach for you if you want a neat, precisionclipped, impenetrable hedge, it’s ideal if you want something more open and informal and you have space to spare for the plants to grow, and be lightly cut back so they can be allowed to fruit.

Using bare-root plants of one or two-year-old whips or maiden trees is cheaper. Select varieties you prefer, such as hazel, amelanchier (juneberry), or myrobalan plum, Prunus cerasifera. Named varieties of these selected for their enhanced fruiting ability will cost significantly more, so use sparingly in the hedgerow to keep costs down. Partially self-fertile named varieties of species, such as hazel or myrobalan plum, yield more prolifically if cross-pollinated from wild or other varieties anyway.

You can also use cheaper species such as sloe Prunus spinosa or hawthorn to fill in gaps, taking them out later if required. Plant at 60-90cm (2-3ft) centres depending on the density and speed of coverage you want, and mulch the ground around the plants or plant through a landscape fabric to suppress weeds. Once established, lightly clip back to maintain the height and spread required and help generate a generous network of fruiting stems.