Foragers Hedge (Mk2). Height restriction advice please!

[Stan79]

Hi folks,

Very similar to Norfolkgrey's thread here: http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ase_82136.html

The hedge in question is between a country single-track lane on a slight mound of earth bank and our field so privacy isn't the primary concern. I'm basically filling in some gaps in the hedge where the previous owner didn't look after it particularly well. It runs East to West so everything should get a decent amount of sun.

I'm after some advice for hedging plants but am concerned/interested about the height characteristics of the plants recommended in that thread. I only want the hedge to be around 6 feet high ultimately but would like: crab apple, nut, pear, cherry, etc recommendations that will either only grow to around 6 feet high or that i can prune to that height without losing fruit and still provide some element of dense lower growth.

I'm also looking for a holly that fits the above criteria... most of the ones i've seen look like they'll grow massive if left unchecked!

Ideally i'm after specific variety names as i don't have a clue about buying fruit trees!

Hopefully i've given enough information. The soil tends to be on the heavier side but as it's on a mound of earth the hedge should be quite well drained.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. Any and all suggestions appreciated. As i say, indications of eventual height or willingness to be pruned plus names of specific varietys would be gratefully received.

Many thanks,

Stan

[Guest]

It depends on a couple of things. How much you want to prune? (are you the sort of person that would want a well kept neat hedge or would you be fine cutting back the worst) and what is more important to you fruit to forage of gap filling?

Edit: most of what was listed in the first thread, if left would become trees however with pruning would act well as a more recognised hedge.

[Stan79]

Howdy,

I normally run the hedge trimmer over it a couple of times a year and would want it fairly neat. I just wasn't sure how all those suggestions would fair with potentially heavy pruning...

Presumably it's worth looking for shorter varieties as they'll be less vigorous and require less pruning?!?!

[Guest]

Unfortunately I don't think any of them would be very fruitful with that much trimming. Just as a reminder the following were mentioned on the first thread:-

Cherry plums
Crab apple
black thorn/ sloes
Elder
Hawthorn
Wild rose
berberis darwinii / barberry
Bullace
Damson
Holly
Wild raspberries
Cobnuts
Hazelnuts
Cornelian cherry
Japanese quince
Amelanchier - several kinds. Look for common names like service berry, juneberry, saskatoon berry or snowy mespilus.
Aronia
Sorbus species including rowan or mountain ash, service tree and wild service tree.
Hops if you want to make beer.
Mirabelle plums.
Wild pear.
Golden Currant Ribes Odoratum
Wild gooseberries
Dog rose

[veggiechicken]

How about hedge-laying? Hedgelaying and hedges - a definitive guide to fill in the gaps and give you a nice dense hedge.

[Scarlet]

I agree with NF. I've got cherry plums, they can be heavily pruned and will just throw out more branches and make a decent screen but you won't get much fruit or any if you are keeping them at 6ft, especially with hedge trimming twice a year. The hedges that give fruit generally are left unpruned and look unkempt.
What is in the hedge at the moment? Perhaps you could just plant the occasional crab, cherry etc within the hedge and let them grow enabling them to fruit, hedge trim around them.

[Bill HH]

Sloe makes a good hedge but you wont be picking the fruit on a sunny afternoon and eating it. It also has vicious thorns.

[veggiechicken]

Anything of interest here Edible hedges: grow a vertical allotment - Telegraph

[Stan79]

Thanks all,

We've decided to put a couple of larger plants at the far end of our hedge and then grade it down to the height of the rest of the hedge and interplant some others in the other gaps i'm looking to fill.

Looking at mainly Hawthorn for the gaps, Crab apple and Wild cherry for the far end. Maybe an elaeagnus or two here and there.

How exciting!

[Stan79]

Order placed!!! Thanks for your help people. As quick and productive as usual!

[Scarlet]

No cherry plums? Just one would give you loads of fruit. Go on squeeze one in one of those gaps.