Growing a Hawthorn Hedge - Novice Questions

[Helgalush]

I'm toying with the idea of growing a hawthorn hedge along my rear fence for added security and wildlife reasons, as well as for my pet rabbits to nibble on. I have no knowledge whatsoever about growing a hedge, so I have some novice questions.

1) is it possible to grow in a deep/long container, ie a deep trough of some kind, if I can find one (this is because where I want to grow it is all concrete)?

2) will it grow in almost total shade?

3) how vigorously will it grow, and how often will it need pruning? Hawthorn is meant to be good for rabbits, so I plan to give some fresh and dried to my rabbits.

4) If the above is ok, and I can go ahead, am I better to buy plants? Can you recommend a good place to buy them? When is a good time of year to plant them?

5) Can you direct me to any further info?

Thanks for any help you can give.

[binley100]

We have hawthorn hedges around our lotties .......I don't know the answers to your questions but what I do know is they are vicious and have the scars to prove it . This may help....
How to plant a hedge | The Woodlands.co.uk Blog

[Alison]

We have hawthorne round our lottie too but they are in the ground, not sure how well they'd no in pots. The flowers last spring were beautiful and I'll be collecting the haws to make haw ketchup again come autumn time. As mentioned above, don't get too close as the thorns are vicious

[rustylady]

Hawthorn makes a lovely hedge, pretty well intruder proof. I doubt very much whether it would grow well in a container though.

[ryanguevara1983]

I'm no expert but it seems to me to be one those plants that will tolerate anything and grow anywhere!!!

[pauco]

Hawthorn hedges great, one outside kitchen window ruled by mr/mrs Sparrow, she does allow a pair of
Blackbirds to share the very far end but only to shelter in bad weather lol shes a very fierce little lady.
The other hedge at the bottom of our garden is full of blackbirds. They all supply us with plenty of fun moments with their antics towards each other.

paul.

[rustylady]

I'm no expert but it seems to me to be one those plants that will tolerate anything and grow anywhere!!!

but not, I think, in pots.

[Helgalush]

Thank you for the advice and information everyone, very useful.

When I say container/trough, I kind of mean one of those long thin raised beds, quite deep, but placed on concrete, so I guess if they need to send their roots quite deep that would be a no-no. If so that would definitely be a deal breaker, as there is no other option in the position that I want it to be.

[binley100]

know anyone with a pickaxe......?

[Helgalush]

Probably.....but cant dig it up because the big shed where my bunnies live is just in front of that area, and I have nowhere else to put them, so the concrete has to stay!! Oh well, it was a nice idea in theory!!

I'll have to come up with plan b!!

[rustylady]

You don't need to dig it all up. Just a piece the length of the desired hedge and about two feet wide. Enough for the plants to get their roots into decent soil.

[zazen999]

Or get someone to cut a core out wherever you want to plant them.

D-Drill Sawing and Drilling Company Nationwide availability

[Helgalush]

Why didnt I think of that? Oh yeah, because I am a plonker!

Ta!!!