Choose the best hedge for you
Take care though as it’s really a case of growing the right one in the right place
You have to be careful with hedges. You need them to do exactly what you need them to do; nothing more, nothing less. But it’s too easy to plant the wrong variety in the wrong situation; it really is a case of growing the right hedge in the right place.
There are great choices – from a neat formal border hedge you can step over to a wildlife hedge packed with berries and secret nesting sites, to a strong-growing, evergreen screen – but one that won’t overtop the shed!
Choosing the right variety needs careful consideration. As gardens have become smaller, hedges also need to be smaller, so variety choice is crucial. Box hedges, valued for so long for their crisp look, have been suffering from serious disease so we need to consider alternatives. Pyracanthas have been suffering from disease too, although the ‘Saphyr’ varieties are resistant.
Something that applies to all hedges is the value of thorough preparation before planting. You’re going to be clipping them once or twice a year, stimulating new growth for decades, so they need to grow well to respond. Digging a trench and adding organic matter is the way to go.
Clipping? That great gardener Christopher Lloyd once said: “The best time to prune is when you feel like doing it.” Same with clipping. Just not when your hedge is looking its very best.