The Do's And Don'ts Of Hedge Planting

When planning your hedge, do choose a plant that will grow in your climate zone. Your hedge must be able to tolerate the conditions that exist in your zone such as frost, heavy rainfall, snow, and coastal winds or hot and cool temperatures. You need to decide if your hedge will be in full sun, shade, or partial shade. You will also need to choose whether your hedge will be tall or miniature. This will help you to use the plants best suited for your hedge. Soil type is something else to think about. Is your soil sandy, moist, dry, or heavy clay?

Do dig a planting trench instead of individual plant holes. The spacing will vary with the plant and the purpose of the hedge. It's recommended that small formal hedges be spaced six to eight inches apart. Larger plants can be spaced 18-30 inches. If you want an untrimmed or informal hedge, it's best to put plants in a double row. Stagger the plants 12 inches apart.

Do place your plants in double rows if your hedge is going to be larger than 39 inches. It also will help establish your hedge a little quicker. Overcrowded plants produce the same top growth spread as would more thinly spaced and fewer plants. Planting too close also could give you the problem of amassing deadwood.

Do prepare the hedge line by mapping out where you want it to be. Remember this will be a long-term feature so be sure you put it exactly where you want it. Consider property lines, and ensure your hedge doesn't infringe on your neighbors lawn or driveway. The soil needs to be well drained. If your surrounding area is a place where water gathers, you may want to put drainage coil or field drains to carry the water away from your plants. After digging the soil, two spade depths and one half times the width of the mature hedge. For instance, for a two-foot wide hedge, the trench should be dug to a width of three feet.

Do use a garden line to be sure your hedge is straight. Mark out the hedge line and remember hedges will grow outward so leave enough space for the plant to mature. Place your plants along the garden line and then plant as you would any other tree or shrub. Be sure to plant all of your plants at the same depth. You can do that by using a garden stake for a guide or a shovel handle.

Don't allow your plants to dry out before planting, especially if they are bare-root plants. If you are going to let them set, keep them in the shade and cover them with Hessian.

Don't allow your newly planted hedges to dry out. Water them thoroughly when you plant and water regularly especially during dry periods for up to a year. Your newly planted hedges need to be watered thoroughly even if it looks about to rain.

Don't leave your newly planted hedge without giving it a good quantity of organic matter such as aged manure, and plenty of compost.

Do give then a good covering of mulch to help hold moisture in the soil and give them a good fertilizer with a base of bonemeal, blood, or fish and bonemeal. Do feed them regularly once the hedge is established. The mulch should be made of bark chips or something similar to keep weed growth in check. You won't need to replace it as it rots away because its only role is to help get the plants established after planting.

Don't leave your hedges to their own devices. They grow upwards and become thinner at the top and thicker on the bottom. Pruning is important in the first few years of growth to ensure your plants grow in into a thick and effective hedge. After planting, cut deciduous plants back by one third. Side shoots should also be cut back by one third. Remember that shrubs will make up for being trimmed on the top by sending out side shoots. You need to trim vertical height to promote bushy sideways growth.

Even though you are planting young, small plants, they will overcome larger plants that are planted at the same time. You will be happier with the results after planting small plants in the years to come.