Need wildlife hedging ideas pls

[shei111]

I have a mixed border,it has 6 foot high fencing, and 20 foot long , it stops there cos the summer house starts there, along the fencing I have budleija ,lavetera, climbing evergreen honeysuckle, wigelia, between these shrubs , these shrubs are a approx 5 to 6 feet tall , I would like to put in some hedging for the wildlife and for future nesting places. There is gaps between the shrubs I already have . would it be okay to put some bareroot hedging of some kind between them so its mixed with what ive got? I want the hedge to get around 5 foot , but I will need it quite tight together to get it thick, would it be okay to mix what ive got with some hawthorn?? or similiar hedge.It does get a lot of sun and light in the summer . Thanks sheila .

[Blackdogjnr]

Howdy.

I recently purchased this lovely mix:

Buy Bare Root Hedging - Wildlife Mix | :: Buy Garden Plants Online > Shrubs, Perennials, Ferns, Bamboo, Hedging, Climbers, Bulbs & Grasses | Best4plants.co.uk

terriffic value and a great service. Roll on spring, I can't wait to watch them thicken up!

[shei111]

Originally Posted by Blackdogjnr

Howdy.

I recently purchased this lovely mix:

Buy Bare Root Hedging - Wildlife Mix | :: Buy Garden Plants Online > Shrubs, Perennials, Ferns, Bamboo, Hedging, Climbers, Bulbs & Grasses | Best4plants.co.uk

terriffic value and a great service. Roll on spring, I can't wait to watch them thicken up!

Seems a good place to buy from. Ive got some excellent nurseries within a few miles from me so ive got a choice thanks . sheila

[Tursiops2]

It sounds feasible sheila but, unless you actually do want a solid block of vegetation at the back of your border, I think you're describing a "mixed shrubbery" rather than a "hedge" as such. The traditional mixed native species hedge is planted at density of about 6 plants per metre - this is to replicate the dense structure of a stock-proof field boundary hedge, as seen in the countryside. I'm guessing that's not really the effect you're after?
T2

[nightshade]

Try a search for hedging info on WAB

[Hedge Witch]

Sheila, would you be willing to post a picture? It's quite hard to envisage.

With my beloved hawthorn (the one I'm imagining having and am about to order soon) I hope to train it into a tall standard (for various reasons).

You could do something similar with your plants. By keeping them well-trimmed they may fit more neatly into your border, to get that "tamed wild" effect.

[shei111]

Originally Posted by Hedge Witch

Sheila, would you be willing to post a picture? It's quite hard to envisage.

With my beloved hawthorn (the one I'm imagining having and am about to order soon) I hope to train it into a tall standard (for various reasons).

You could do something similar with your plants. By keeping them well-trimmed they may fit more neatly into your border, to get that "tamed wild" effect.

Id love to post several pics of the garden but I cant get to upload or anything else, ive tried that in the past.!! T2 did wonder whether im trying to get a mixed shrubbery well thats probaly what I will end up with because I want it all to thicken up for nesting birds ,but I suppose if I mix shrubs with hedging im going to get tamed but wild effect .The garden is quite big and I do have several yards of tight fitting conifer hedge , but I just wanted to fill the gaps between the shrubs in that 20 odd feet of border with something native and not conifers for a change.Im not looking for height just thickness. thanks sheila.

[Paul mabbott]

Yes, any shrub/tree can be incorporated into a hedge as long as you trim it annually. One of my hedges started off as leylandii and beech but now has much less leylandii but about fifteen other species. Some of these have self-set (ash, holly, oak), others I have plonked in at gaps (hazel, Buddleja, Cornus), others have come through from the neighbouring garden (Pyracantha, privet, Cotoneaster etc).

There have been other lengthy and detailed hreads on this so I would do a search for hedgerow or hedge as has bee suggested.

More or less anyting is useful in hedging But you must trim it regularly or it will take over the garden!

[Kayleigh]

Hi Shei,

I have a 6ft fence all round my garden we had young conifers all round I ripped them out and planted two bay trees they thicken up well and the blackbirds eat the seeds from the female one.
I also planted three hawthorns and three blackthorn.
You cant see the fences now so if you find a gap I would just plant a shrub you like. I also have 4 pyracantha's two holly 3 fatsia japonica's and lots of climbers and two cotoneasters..

[diggleken]

Sheila, it was/is national tree week - you may find your L.A has some giveaways - worth checking with the town hall/ local Countryside service/ Tree officer for freebies and advice.
Ken