Planting a wild hedge.

[Darwin.]

I have a 60m stretch at the bottom of the garden that I need to close off. I intend putting a hedge in over the next month or so. I've been told it'll take 180 quicks to do it. It's €50 for 100 quicks so won't be overly expensive. I made a failed attempt at planting a hedge 3 years ago on a 10m section of it. I planted berries that I need to move now because they're getting smothered by encroaching willow from across the stream and nettles. I planted rosa rugosa and they'll stay, they're doing fairly well.

I'm assuming the quicks are whitethorn/hawthorn so that's grand, I'd like a little mix of other things too though. Maybe a dozen or so blackthorn for the sloes, I have a few more rosa rugosa to plant out and I'll dot them among it. I wouldn't mind some Holly but that might be expensive, surely 2 or 3 won't break the bank though so I'll get them. I have stuff in pots that needs to go somewhere so might mix it in too. There's on beech, about three spiky green bushes that get lovely orange flowers, can't remember what they're called. They're not really what you'd see in a normal hedge though so I may stick them in at the front somewhere. I have about 10 little trees that I grew from seed but they might be too small to plant out for another few years. They're anywhere from 6" to 12" at the minute so still very young.

Should I stagger the hedge so it's kind of a double hedge? Other than blackthorn, whitethorn, roses and a few holly, is there something that should be in an Irish hedge? I might throw in a blackberry bush every 5-10 meters.

[Guest]

Do you have a particular purpose for your hedge? i.e boundary, wildlife, foraging.

I started a foraging hedge http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ase_82136.html but in the same line as 'wild' it will sucker and grow like mad in places so consideration on pruning/ restraining should be in your thoughts at the same time

[roitelet]

I would be inclined to steer clear of Blackthorn. It suckers everywhere. How about some hazel whips.

[Darwin.]

Thanks for that. It's a multi purpose hedge, I like to attract wildlife to the garden so there's a bit of that. The roses are for the bees, the berries for the birds. The main function is to stop my daughter falling into the stream as well as stopping foxes getting in and chickens getting out. I might get a few sheep next year so to keep them in too.

I'll be putting up a fence in front of it next year but for now just want to get the hedge going.

I have some hazel in the orchard, I wouldn't mind a few more.

[Guest]

If you are thinking fence as well it may be worth you looking at hedge layering Hedge Laying Association of Ireland - Home It might be worth you looking about a bit as there may be grants you can apply for to help with expenses if it is a native hedge. Just a thought.

[Darwin.]

I like the idea of a grant. If I could get that I'd put a hedge around the bank at the side of the house too.

[mothhawk]

I would leave planting blackberries until the hedging slips are growing well and bushing out. Blackberry grows so fast it would smother a new hedge in no time.

[Darwin.]

I never thought of that, thanks. I'll leave off the blackberries for now.

[ESBkevin]

Also mulch the new quicks with somethink like woodchip. it will keep down the weeds and nettles and stop then being starved of nutrients as they get going.

[cheops]

You have had some sound advice. Thinking of wildlife diversity in your hedge is paramount so every native tree/bush should be included where possible. Native honeysuckle would be good too but perhaps like the blackberries should maybe be planted after the main components of the hedge have established. I wish you every success but remember your hedge will be like Rome - it was not built in a day. You are lucky to have the space to do such a project as this but it is even luckier for wildlife that you have the foresight to provide them with a home not just in your lifetime but beyond.

[vivienz]

A bit of a late reply, but OH and I have just finished planting a native hedge around the perimeter of our field. It's taken us quite a few weekends and lots of hard work, but the plants are looking great, all 500 of them! We've used a mixture of native species, but it's 70% hawthorn which knits the whole thing together, then others such as blackthorn, beech, hazel, alder, dog rose and more. It should hopefully provide a nice hedge for us, plenty of resource for all the wildlife and foraging for me (in due course).

The bare root planting window is closing now, but we bought the bare root plants from Hopes Grove Nurseries and they were very good, both in terms of service and value.