My Mums Wildlife Hedge

[citychick]

Hi There

My mum is after some advice on a small wildlife mixed hedge. She has 30ft length of her garden which she would like to grow a hedge. It is a south facing garden with some shade from trees. The soil is lime and very dry.

She would like to know which species of trees would best suit it and be most benefical to wildlife. And also like to know how far apart tree's need to be planted and therefore how many of each species she would require.

Thanks in advance

Lauren x

[Jez]

Natives such as bird cherry, crab apple, wild privet, wild cherry, hawthorn, common buckthorn will all do well in chalky soil as will roses and berberis. Just make sure to water them well until established.

[nightshade]

Throw in some random climbers like honeysuckle they will bring in moths and insects and Bats along with them. Look at the garden on Google Earth and see if it will connect to another green corridor.
This may help with underplanting The Postcode Plants Database - Natural History Museum

[Dorts]

Our two native Viburnums, Guelder-rose and Wayfaring-tree are excelent for chalky ground and offer a lot in terms of flowers and fruit.
I would also add a Holly or two for winter shelter for birds and insects, likewise Ivy which is also good as shelter and is very late fruiting.

Could be some hedge this!
Dorts.

[Cotham Marble]

Originally Posted by citychick

My mum is after some advice on a small wildlife mixed hedge. She has 30ft length of her garden which she would like to grow a hedge. It is a south facing garden with some shade from trees. The soil is lime and very dry. She would like to know which species of trees would best suit it and be most benefical to wildlife. And also like to know how far apart tree's need to be planted and therefore how many of each species she would require.

All the preceding advice is good, and I would start with the the postcode plant finder as that's probably the best guide to which plants will bring the local fauna into the garden. However there are some practical concens to think about:

How is this hedge going to be managed ? Woody species need more lopping than the average hedging plant so as the hedge matures wielding pruning saws and long handled secateurs becomes more of a task.

How tall is the hedge to grow ? If a tall hedge - 2 mtres plus is required then some thought needs to go into matching species.

How broad is the hedge to grow ? Not all species appreciate being trimmed back close to the trunk and lower levels may become bare if the hedge is to be kept narrow.

Cost ? Choosing by species may be a relatively expensive way to go and a simpler and cheeper option may be to by a mixed pack - such as Buy Country and Native Hedge Plants - Native Hedging Buy Hedging, Hedge Plants, Fruit Trees, Soft Fruit, Roses or Bare-root Hedge Plants at Glebe Farm Hedging.

Planting is best achieved in two parallel staggered rows, with a minimum of 5 plants per metres across the two rows - so 20 cm apart. For a dense hedge up to 9 plants per metre but if underplanting (which I would encourage) is to be incorporated then the lower figure should suffice. So 50 hedging pants plus 25+ underplants may prove sufficient for 30ft/10metre run. For what it's worth I'd be tempted by the Ashrove 'thornless' selection (assuming it's for a Cotswold garden ?)and then look to go to one of the Native Plant specialist nurseries for a selection of climbers and perreniels to incorporate as through/underplanting.

Hope this helps.


CM