Barefoot Hedging

Hi there,
I'm about to plant a bare root thorn and dog rose hedge. The plants come as 2ft ish whips and I'll be cutting off at 6 inches from the base once planted.
A - is this the right height to cut at to establish a thick hedge?
B - can I save / use the top parts which I assume are generally discarded?
Thanks,
C.
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Hi Colin. Happy New Year to you. I assume that you are planting a staggered double row? It is always worth a try - nothing ventured, nothing gained.
It all depends on the types of plants you are planting. At 2ft, I don't think there is any need to cut anything off on a bare root dog rose. They are fast growers and their habit is to scramble. But if you did cut it down, that's fine too, but I think 2ft height is just about right for that plant. Keep the spacings to around 30-40cm apart. Or if you go for the staggered row, a little further apart.
If you're planting a hedge with thorns I wouldn't do it barefoot.
KT53
Sorry Papi Jo. Couldn't resist.