Monday 11 November 2013

Planting A Hedge - Part 1 Planning It Out

I guess I am someone that likes boundaries, I like my garden to have a fence and my fields to be separated up.
The footpath that runs across the top of our land wasn't a big issue for me, but I always knew I wanted to separate it in the first field as this is where our children are likely to play and the majority of our "free range" (or escaped) animals are likely to be. Also as this is the area that contains our sheds and shipping container I'd like it to be a little more private, although the footpath isn't heavily trafficked, everyone like to have a look at whats going on.
An ignored piece of advice
 My simple plan is to plant a hedge along this footpath to give a clear boundary. This will be fenced both sides (possibly), with a double gate right at the start (but that might have solid fronting to it and be 6ft high to protect my stuff).
I've decided to give a 12ft corridor down the path as this give me good access with a tractor to the next field and also allows it to be mechanically cut if I want it to be in the future, I know I'm loosing grazing space but the trade off for privacy is worth it (I can still run animals up their to graze it if I want anyway).
The trouble is, what hedging to plant? I've been reading the relative merits of them all, evergreen, beech, yew, native, etc. But I've decide that I'll plant a mainly Hawthorne hedge, with holly and any other native hedging plants I can find seeded down either here or at Mum and Dads.
I'm going for mainly Hawthorne as the total run of it is 42m so that will mean around 250 plants and as I'm not going through any grant schemes this way is lightest on my pocket while still giving me the results I want.
Don't know if you can see the pegs and the blue bit of string to mark the hedge or not. I've marked it a metre wide
The far end of the hedge will also have cider and crab apple trees planted every so often to make productive use of this space but not with a fruit that's too desirable to walkers!
Anyone else planted any hedging and have any tips? I'll plant it as a double row and aim for 6-7 plants a metre.

8 comments:

  1. Like they say, Fences make good neighbors. I am glad I have a 6 foot stockade between my property and the next door crack junkie just to ensure the chaos stays on her property. I only wish I could make it twice as tall.

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    1. Really sad to hear that you have bad neighbours as you sound very much like you'd be a good one! Maybe I could swap you for the neogbour that killed my chickens!

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  2. Hedges are rarely used over here, and I think that's a pity.

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    1. They're a big thing over here and are everywhere - good job as my dads buisness depends on them!

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  3. Ditto what Michael said... fences make good neighbors! I would fence first and then move on with plantings and such. A good fence is worth its weight in gold. Its a must have here for sure. The troubles having a good fence has saved us has been so worth it. Given we raise goats you can just imagine some of the issues we could have had without a good fence. Then there is that loose dog issue that has been discussed. It does help to keep the strays and the ones that are left off lead... off our property. The added personal security of a good fence and gated entrance is a lot of piece of mind too.

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    1. I'm thinking of getting goats next year so keeping them in was another reason for wanting to fit a good fence. I think the cost of this and the hedge will be worth it for the privacy that it will bring as well as the peice of mind.

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  4. I guess the walkers will think the apples (or whatever) are there for them to forage freely, at least from the path side.

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    1. Thats why I'm thinking make sure they're cider apples so they don't taste very good then they might leave them alone!

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