A new hedge

kAY 5

I have a badly cut hedge conifer type that was already tall when we moved here, the bottom has no green at all,so not very attractive with great holes through to the fields behind. No security, but loved by the birds at nesting time, would like to put in a hedge of Laurel,would like to take cuttings,a friend has a very large bush that he will be cutting down very soon. Do they make a nice hedge?,Do they require a lot of work? When do I make cutting and how?.  Is there some body that can help.

Dovefromabove

Ping

Dave Morgan

kay from what you describe you may have a leyllanddi hedge which is past its best.

They are never a good idea, if not tended to properly they will deteriorate.

If I were you I'd get a mini digger in and rip the lot up. To hire a man and digger isnt that expensive.

Once up Laurel is a good hedge. Cuttings are easy to take, hard and softwood cuttings will root readily.

You could also consider a hedge for wild life.

There is a thread on here for a wildlife hedge, and if I remember correctly there was a bit on the plants to choose for one.

There are suppliers of wildlife hedges, I know some on here have been planting some in the last month. Someone here will remember and point you in the right direction.

nutcutlet

I'd support the wildlife hedge over laurel. I have both and the laurel no longer pleases me.

Dovefromabove

I think this is the thread Dave was talking about: http://www.gardenersworld.com/forum/garden-design/new-hedge-decisions/165710.html 

Lots of suggestions for an attractive mixed hedgerow that's also good for wildlife 

 

kAY 5

Thank you very much for the information, have plenty to think about, this is a project that needs a lot of thought,would like to do the work soon before the birds start nesting, weather still pretty bad but the best time to look in to long term hedging  

Fairygirl

You can still buy bare root hedging at this time of year too Kay, which is a cheap way of buying hedging especially if it's a large amount you need. There are several online nurseries with loads of choices. I've used Hopes Grove on two occasions ( I had  hornbeam from them  for a previous garden) - they're great to deal with. Last November I had  blackthorn hedging delivered for the boundary round this house. I only got two thirds of mine in due to the weather, but you can heel it in somewhere if you can't get it all in right away , which is what I did.  I considered a mixed wildlife hedge too, but went for a single variety as  I wanted something uniform round the front garden,  but that would be great for your site. If you don't want to buy just now you'd have to wait till Autumn again for bare root. 

Tropical Sam

I would go for a mix of Hawthorn and Beech. Hawthorn for security-no one is going to go through a Hawthorn hedge-and Beech for winter screening. You should be able to get those for pence bare root.