Hedging

[wornoutmumoftwo]

I have a very small wildlife area with picket fencing at the back and I wanted some hedging/scrub in a small corner, just wondered what may be suitable, don't want anything that is going to grow too wide, if I pruned it regularly culd I keep it in control?

Thank you

[Flummery]

Hawthorn is very cheap, easy to clip into shape and makes good wildlife hedges. It has berries too and is one of our most comon field hedging plants round here. A couple of cuttings would make a little sheltered spot in a year or two.

[wornoutmumoftwo]

Thank you, forgot to mention that I need thornless as I have two young children,

I've been looking at this set here;

THORNLESS MIXED NATIVE HEDGE

Visually stunning and natural, this mix contains all thornless native species, suitable for use in school grounds, places where young children may have access or anywhere that thorns are not wanted! 5 species:

Hornbeam 50%, Field Maple 25%, Spindle 10%, Common Dogwood 10%, Hazel 5%. Best planted randomly in a staggered double row (4-7 plants per metre)

Added: Just looking at pictures of these and they all grow into massive trees (even more confused now).

I think I may invest in a bit of Hawthorn for my allotment though as the children won't be there as much as in our garden.

[Flummery]

Field Maple is a stunning small tree but you can keep it cut into a hedge with no bother. Wildlife do appreciate a bit of thorny cover though. I'm constantly amazed at how sparrow don't poke their own eyes out flying into my sister's very spiky berberis!

[SarzWix]

I wouldn't worry too much about it being thorny. children learn pretty fast not to spike themselves I have 3, and never removed my rose bushes etc when they were little - they stopped poking them when they realised it hurt! And it will give any nesting birds protection from inquisitive small hands Our primary school's playground/sports field is surrounded by hawthorn hedging.

Whatever you decide to plant, the final height of the hedge will be whatever you decide it to be - just cut it back once or twice a year (I usually do mine once while it's dormant, and then again when the baby birds have flown the nest) to the height you want it
Have you thought about beech? That makes a gorgeous hedge.

[Mcbee]

Blackthorn might be a good option. And if you're a gin drinker the added bonus is sloes!!

[selfheal]

mmm.... sloe gin.

i would think 1 or 2 each of ash, hazel, field maple, hawthorn and blackthorn (or whatever the recomended amout is for your length of hedge) would be a good mix. All are perfect for laying into hedges or trimming into a hedge too.

You are right that they will grow into trees- pretty much any hedge-line in the uk would turn into big trees if it was left to its own devices. Thats why hedges are trimmed regularly by farmers and traditionally they were layed after a period of time, which is where the trees are partially cut on the trunk and then layed down in the same direction (all to the right) which produces a good barrier and the trees continue to grow.

[burnie]

Something with berries for the winter birds,Berberis?

[wornoutmumoftwo]

Thank you all, I have to say that I like the look of the dogwood, I'm thinking now of getting a hed ge all along the back garden so may just put a few different ones in and keep it under control (says she who has never using anything more advanced then a garden spade and fork before!)

I'm not sure about encouraging birds to nest in the hedge as we have a high cat population, (including my pensioner cat), but would plant a thorny hedge on the allotment.

I'll try and get a picture on here so you can see how limited my space is.

Thank you for all your replies.

[Snadger]

Blackthorn might be a good option. And if you're a gin drinker the added bonus is sloes!!

And the thorns are 1 inch long!

[Snadger]

How about these.....the kids will love em!

Willow Cuttings, Rods, Salix Viminalis Living Structure, Sculpture, Dome, Tunnel, and Fedge kit

[Mcbee]

And the thorns are 1 inch long!

Guess the clue is in the name