Replacing fence with hedge: advice please!

[Blackdogjnr]

Howdy.

I currently have a rather grim looking fence in my garden, the panels are warping and bang in the wind and I generally hate the sight of it.

I want to replace it with a Hedgehog and bird friendly hedge of some sort.
However, I'm not really sure where to begin or how much this will cost!

There are currently conrete posts (about 6 feet tall) supporting the panels, obviously they'd be difficult to move and I like the idea of keeping them in for support.

So what I'm looking for is a plant/shrub that'll grow quite quickly to create the same height and fill out the area (we also want a bit of privacy). Thus enveloping the posts....

Would you guys reccomend I order online?
Would I have to dig out the ground and replace the soil etc as well?
Are there rules for planting, distances apart and treatments?
I fear this may be more than just an afternoons worth of work!

Any comments or advice would be greatly appreciated!

[djackso]

Buckingham Nurseries do really cheap, bare-rooted plants and online ordering (although if you can get there and pick your own - that is better) - plan now for this autumn. Very good value and they have native species and offer advice. I went there to get my "twigs" and the quality was very good, so all but one survived the winter. You'll need to do lots of double digging; a square hole is recommended (4 corners anchor the established roots better - lots of organic material, especially if your soil is poor).

A temporary repair of the old fence may be needed while the plants establish, or you can buy cheap screening material from garden centres.

[Blackdogjnr]

Excellent!
Thanks chap.

I forgot to ask, you mention autumn, is there a best time to do this?
For instance, if I can't afford it (I'm getting married in September!!!) would next spring be a good time?

Cheers

[djackso]

Hi, I believe spring is ok - early (while plant is dormant) but on a frost-free day. Others may dispute this.

Good luck (oh, and congrats re. wedding)

DJ

[djackso]

Sorry, forgot to mention, laying a hedge in a double layered, zig-zag fashion gives a more dense effect, and less gaps; it would produce a thicker hedge too - I imagine this would be better for Hedgehogs.

[Blackdogjnr]

heh heh thanks for that.
I actually have just looked on the Buckingham Nurseries page and theres loads of info on preparing and planting. Cheers.

I think my only worry really is that there are 2 large bushes either side of the fence, so if I were to plant a hedge, there'd be a worry that they'd over crowd or block out sunlight from the young plants....


hmmmmmmmmmmmm....

[djackso]

Holly is evergreen and very good in low light and for competing with other roots - in my experience. There will be other shrubs/trees too.

And not sure about using it for the whole hedge - wildlife hedges are often mixed though.

[Geoff F]

I tend to prefer Berberis Darwinii for hedges. Evergreen with small holly like leaves but slightly easier to train into a hedge than most hollies. Orange/yellow flowers in spring followed by dark berries which blackbirds love, but they do leave purple 'thank you notes' everywhere.

Not the fastest of growers, but very hardy and makes good nest sites.

Alternatively some of the Cotoneasters are quick growing, with berries in autumn. There are deciduous and evergreen varieties.

The traditional blackthorn makes a quick growing deciduous hedge but you need to be careful of the thorns when trimming.

[Blackdogjnr]

Okay, so I've planted a few leylandii to see how they fill out and do the job.

Anyone know if they require special feed?

I've tried googling it but to no avail.

is water and sunshine enough?

[m1.carson]

Hi,

Leave the posts, string wire through them, then put pig wire on the stringers, pig wire has approx. 6 inch appertures which will allow hedghogs and even foxes through, and give your plants a good climbing frame.

I think your choice of leylandii is not a good one, unless you want a fence incredibly high, I wasn't even sure you could still get them as they cause so many court cases between neighbours.

Max.

[djackso]

Originally Posted by m1.carson

I think your choice of leylandii is not a good one, unless you want a fence incredibly high, I wasn't even sure you could still get them as they cause so many court cases between neighbours.

Max.

I think leylandii can have their place, and can be trimmed if necessary. Start the trimming early in the trees life to prevent irreversible brown patches.

[seamusagleann]

leylandi or thuja ,best if you can get regen ,ask a friendly forester for them, these will give an foot of access at the base and with a mixture of cotoneaster should do the trick .a mix of 40% peat to 60% mineral or sandy loam for good drainage ,is the best growing medium and if your worried about rapid growth after first cut of the year a growth inhibiter ,like "cutless" can be applied by a knapsack sprayer

[hobble]

What a refreshing thread. It seems in the area in which I live people are taking hedges out and putting fences up. This spoils the whole look of some properties where once we could see pretty gardens and neighbours could chat to one another.
I find these big fences wholly inappropriate in some settings and think they should have to have planning permission.
Well done for your great thinking, better for wildlife and far more visually appealing.

[Tracey.A]

Originally Posted by hobble

What a refreshing thread. It seems in the area in which I live people are taking hedges out and putting fences up. This spoils the whole look of some properties where once we could see pretty gardens and neighbours could chat to one another.
I find these big fences wholly inappropriate in some settings and think they should have to have planning permission.
Well done for your great thinking, better for wildlife and far more visually appealing.

My mum had an absolutley beautiful old mixed hedge between her garden and the next door neighbour, well not really mum's, because it was on her neighbours land. This hedge provided shelter and nest sites for all sorts of mammals and birds. Sadly, when new neighbours moved in the hedge was ripped out and an awful ranch style fence put up in its place, it was heart breaking and no longer a haven for all sorts of wildlife. Mum did try to explain why they shouldn't remove the hedge, but as it was their hedge they just tore it out. It was just very sad.

This is why I wish you all the very best with your hedge, as the haven for wildlife that it provides will bring you so much enjoyment. Good luck!

Tracey

[Blackdogjnr]

Thanks for all the advice guys.

I think I'll definitely be going for a mixed hedge now, Last year I removed a tree from outside our bedroom window as it blew dangerously close to the house in high winds.

It'd seem a bit foolish to plant a 'risky' rapid grower like leylandii near to my house as part of the hedge. So, my 3 baby saplings have been positioned at the foot of the garden and I'm gradually going to work back, removing the fence panel by panel as I go.

I like the idea of english holly and cotoneaster as well, definitely going to mix it up!

Its going to be quite costly though! But so much better than forking out for wood panels and slapping evil 'protector' on every season.

[Blackdogjnr]

Originally Posted by Tracey.A

My mum had an absolutley beautiful old mixed hedge between her garden and the next door neighbour, well not really mum's, because it was on her neighbours land. This hedge provided shelter and nest sites for all sorts of mammals and birds. Sadly, when new neighbours moved in the hedge was ripped out and an awful ranch style fence put up in its place, it was heart breaking and no longer a haven for all sorts of wildlife. Mum did try to explain why they shouldn't remove the hedge, but as it was their hedge they just tore it out. It was just very sad.

This is why I wish you all the very best with your hedge, as the haven for wildlife that it provides will bring you so much enjoyment. Good luck!

Tracey

I checked my deeds and the land is ours!
My hedge is for keeps