Hedge planting - question on species choice

[Johnny Redgate]

Originally Posted by The Woodman

Yours crabs intrigue me. Do you raise your own or purchase named varieties?

Sorry, more q's.

I just buy native crab apple transplants from the local tree nursery along with the native hedging transplants. I do not know their exact origin (and I know I should) but they are not cultivars/varieties. I should really grow my own as my trees are really heavy fruiters but I haven't found the time yet. (I'll have to go and collect up some of the last of the rotting crab apples today now) Now you've got me thinking again! I do grow a lot of native wildflowers from locally collected seed to diversify my grasslands so I ought to get on with it. Trouble is, transplants are not expensive. Interesting thing about crab apple is the young trees are voraciously attacked by hares . I have planted local domestic apple varieties at the back of my lowest altitude hedge (we are mostly around 1000ft) which are growing well but I'm still waiting for fruit. I love hedges with fruit trees in.

[Jez]

Originally Posted by King Edward

Also, can anyone recommend a good mail-order nursery for hedging plants (and also native trees), preferably West Midlands/English sourced stock?

We got all our native hedging last year from Hedges and Hedging Plants | Garden Hedge Nurseries - Hopes Grove Nurseries Kent UK - Hopes Grove Nurseries Kent UK and we're very happy with our young trees.

[nightshade]

I assume you will lay the hedge to form a stock proof base?

[King Edward]

Thanks to everyone for their assistance with this. In answer to the last question, the main field boundary is a fence so the hedge itself doesn't particularly need to be stockproof.

Regarding the species, I'm thinking to add Buckthorn, Spindle, Crab Apple and possibly Hornbeam to the mix. Possibly Wild Privet as well.

Edit: Meant to add that I'll probably keep the Dogwood & Guelder Rose, since I'm not too worried if parts of the hedge are a bit thin over winter.

[Cowgirl]

What about interspersing a few dog rose? You would have the same problem as gueldar & dogwood but maybe ok if visible gaps aren't a problem? The smell is gorgeous & birds would love the hips

[Dorts]

Originally Posted by Cowgirl

What about interspersing a few dog rose? You would have the same problem as gueldar & dogwood but maybe ok if visible gaps aren't a problem? The smell is gorgeous & birds would love the hips

You took the words from my mouth Cowgirl, I totaly agree.
No good mixed hedge should not be without a couple of our native rose species, ideal are
Dog Rose - Rosa canina, and Field Rose - Rosa arvensis. Definitely worth seeking out a few plants.
Dorts.