When I moved to Somerset I inherited a beech hedge, planted in a staggered double row. It took years to get rid of it. The dense planting encouraged aphid infestation, as well as fungal problems, since there was a lack of air circulation.
It grows fast, and if you like that sort of thing it will certainly reward you with a stock-proof hedge. But it will suck the ground dry for about 3ft, either side and will cause many problems when you try to plant "in front" of it - by the time you expect your plants to be in full bloom with a hedge backdrop, you may very well find your choice specimens growing inside the new, rapid beech growth.
The retained copper leaves are not to everyone's taste throughout the winter, and the shedding of leaves in the spring, together with the sticky coverings for the new leaves can cause problems.
If you are aware of the implications of the planting and look forward to it - enjoy! I found it a sore trial, to be honest.
Thanks Edd. Since a garden is only "borrowed" for a time, it is now the new occupants of my garden who are benefiting from the demise of the beech hedge! It was a large garden, that took quite a bit of maintenance, and, with an eye to future years, we decided to downsize,
So - my new garden is much smaller. It brings its own problems, of course - not least the huuuuge pampas grass against a fence (gardening chap coming next week to get rid of it), a couple of conifers - one of which looks suspiciously like leylandii and some odd stumps of long-gone trees. Same gardening chap will attend to these, too, so then I shall take stock and make a new garden (sans beech).
Oh and I have brought cuttings, potted split plants and the like from my "old" garden, so I won't feel too bereft.
Violet, I've just commented on another thread about how hedgehogs like Pampas to hibernate in, so get your men to be very careful and think about somewhere you can transfer the little fellow to if you do find one.
Joe - many thanks for that info. I hadn't given it a thought, never having had to deal with Pampas previously. I will make certain that if there is a hedgehog in there he/she will be promptly re-housed - already thinking of the possible sites for chezHedge! (And in any event I shall investigate before they arrive on site to do the deed!)
Hi Hostafan1, sorry for the slow reply (I've only just seen your post). It is indeed the same Bob Mathias - the nursery is in Tilford which is just outside Farnham. His contact details are on his website http://www.hedgesonline.com/ he's been growing and selling hedges since 1963 I believe.
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When I moved to Somerset I inherited a beech hedge, planted in a staggered double row. It took years to get rid of it. The dense planting encouraged aphid infestation, as well as fungal problems, since there was a lack of air circulation.
It grows fast, and if you like that sort of thing it will certainly reward you with a stock-proof hedge. But it will suck the ground dry for about 3ft, either side and will cause many problems when you try to plant "in front" of it - by the time you expect your plants to be in full bloom with a hedge backdrop, you may very well find your choice specimens growing inside the new, rapid beech growth.
The retained copper leaves are not to everyone's taste throughout the winter, and the shedding of leaves in the spring, together with the sticky coverings for the new leaves can cause problems.
If you are aware of the implications of the planting and look forward to it - enjoy! I found it a sore trial, to be honest.
Thanks Edd. Since a garden is only "borrowed" for a time, it is now the new occupants of my garden who are benefiting from the demise of the beech hedge! It was a large garden, that took quite a bit of maintenance, and, with an eye to future years, we decided to downsize,
So - my new garden is much smaller. It brings its own problems, of course - not least the huuuuge pampas grass against a fence (gardening chap coming next week to get rid of it), a couple of conifers - one of which looks suspiciously like leylandii
and some odd stumps of long-gone trees. Same gardening chap will attend to these, too, so then I shall take stock and make a new garden (sans beech).
Oh and I have brought cuttings, potted split plants and the like from my "old" garden, so I won't feel too bereft.
Beech gets very dense - I would never plant it more closely than 15 " apart, 18" would be better especially if it's a staggered row.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thank you all for your comments and helpful information
Violet, I've just commented on another thread about how hedgehogs like Pampas to hibernate in, so get your men to be very careful and think about somewhere you can transfer the little fellow to if you do find one.
Joe - many thanks for that info. I hadn't given it a thought, never having had to deal with Pampas previously. I will make certain that if there is a hedgehog in there he/she will be promptly re-housed - already thinking of the possible sites for chezHedge! (And in any event I shall investigate before they arrive on site to do the deed!)
The cut material from the pampas grass (suitably anchored) will make an ideal home for the hedgehog.
Whenever I need hedging advice I speak to Bob Mathias over at http://www.hedgesonline.co.uk who is very helpful on the phone. I've also had good advice from the guys at http://www.millfarmtrees.co.uk who have a lot of native hedging.
Bendyman, might that be the same Bob Mathias who had a nursery outside Farnham about 20 years ago?
Hi Hostafan1, sorry for the slow reply (I've only just seen your post). It is indeed the same Bob Mathias - the nursery is in Tilford which is just outside Farnham. His contact details are on his website http://www.hedgesonline.com/ he's been growing and selling hedges since 1963 I believe.