PLANTING AND PRUNING
Before planting a new hedge, the ground is prepared by digging a strip 24-26in (60-90cm) wide to one spade’s depth. All turf and weeds are removed. Liberal amounts of organic matter such as garden compost, leaf mould or a proprietary tree and shrub planting compost mix is forked in. Most hedge species prefer well-drained soil, so very wet ground requires the installation of a permanent drainage system. Alternatively, a raised ridge of soil 20-27in (50-70cm) across and 5-8in (15-20cm) deep can be planted into. Hedging plants can be bought as small bare root shrubs in late winter to plant straight away or as potted shrubs in active growth. These can be planted at any time except in hot weather. Planting distances vary depending on the final size of each plant chosen. A low hedge is planted as closely as 12in (30cm) apart. For a larger hedge each shrub is planted 24in (60cm) apart. The top growing tips of each plant are trimmed on planting and every year until the desired height is reached. This encourages horizontal branching and the hedge knits together sooner, after three to four years. Newly planted hedges are watered frequently throughout their first growing season. In dry spells this is every day, otherwise at least twice a week. Additional watering in dry spells is needed for the next three years. After that, the root system is well enough established to allow the hedge to support itself.
Encouraging a show
Correct pruning ensures hedges produce reliably bright flowers and foliage every spring. Early flowering shrubs produce the flower buds for spring at the end of the growing season in the previous year. Pruning beyond late summer is avoided because this cuts off many of the flower buds and reduces flowering. Spring flowering shrubs are pruned as soon as flowering has finished, then left to grow. This results in a more informal, bushier outline by the end of the summer. For this reason, spring flowering hedges do not suit very formal neat winter outlines or topiary. Foliage plants are kept neater as they are trimmed more frequently to encourage bright young leaves. Photinia and other broad leaf shrubs with colourful foliage such as beech can be trimmed up to three times a year. The first trim is in early summer when the new growth begins to fade, and the last in September. After this the new growth will be susceptible to frost damage. For plants with big leaves such as photinia, secateurs are used rather than shears. The latter sever leaves through the centre, causing brown edged cuts and untidy shapes.