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Hedges are wonderful
wildlife habitats. If you are considering planting a hedge, imagine it in years to come, providing
thick shelter for wildlife amongst some of our most attractive native
shrubs, glowing with vibrant colour in the autumn. Butter-yellow field
maple, crimson dogwood, bright red hips and haws and sloes of the
deepest purple could be adorning your new hedge in a very short
time. In springtime the blossom of sloe and hawthorn will provide
nectar and pollen for bumblebees or butterflies, and the fluffy
flowers of pussy willow will be awash with rich pollen. Spring is when
a hedge comes into its own as a nesting place for birds. Several of
our native shrubs and climbers are prickly, and blackbirds, song
thrushes, chaffinches and greenfinches make good use of this natural
protection. A nest surrounded by blackthorn or hawthorn stems and
wild roses is likely to be a safe place to bring up a family. And
plentiful food is right on the doorstep in the form of the tiny
caterpillars and other invertebrates that nestlings need. Hedges also
provide food for bats, hedgehogs, shrews and mice. They really are
fantastic habitats all year round!
The native shrubs
mentioned together with many others provide the backbone for a good
hedge, but this habitat is a great deal more complex than a simple row
of bushes. Once your shrubs are established in two or three years
time, you will be able to enhance them by planting climbers such as
honeysuckle, blackberry, tufted vetch and old man’s beard to weave
their way through, or primroses and foxgloves can be planted
underneath. The moist conditions that build up beneath a hedge over
the years, as leaves drop to the ground and enrich the soil, will
encourage a huge range of invertebrates to attract mammals, amphibians
and birds. A good garden hedge can have many species of shrubs,
flowers and grasses in even a short length, and lots of creatures are
associated with this very specialised habitat.
So where do we start?
Our first imperative is to find a supplier of bare rooted native
shrubs, preferably locally grown. If your shrubs are of a local
provenance, there is a better chance that local invertebrates will
find them attractive and be naturally adapted to them, plus these
plants will be happy in your soil and climatic conditions. If local
isn’t an option, ask around to see if friends have used a supplier
they are happy with. In some areas local councils or other
organisations will advise and may even fund schemes whereby plants are
available free of charge, so do a little homework before you buy.
Why is it important to
use bare rooted shrubs? Plants bought in this way establish
quickly in their new homes, whereas those in pots are much more
expensive, and are less likely to quickly get their roots
properly into the soil. However once purchased, bare rooted hedge
plants must either be planted immediately, or heeled into the ground
and looked after well until you are ready to plant them. Their roots
must be covered at all times and not allowed to dry out. Potted
shrubs may be used, but often their smaller bare rooted cousins
grow faster and overtake them, establishing your hedge in a far
shorter time.
When you have decided
exactly on the line of your hedge (and if it is to be on a boundary,
make sure that you know exactly where that is) your next task is to
decide on a single or double row of plants. The thicker the hedge the
better from all viewpoints – wildlife attracting potential, shelter
and screening – but bear in mind that a double row of shrubs, even
well maintained, can produce a hedge up to 2m or more in width, which
in a small garden could be a sizeable amount. In areas with limited
space, a single row is adequate and of course all these native shrubs
can be well clipped as necessary, keeping them tight and thick.
Normal spacing is usually one every 50 cms, and in a double row these
would be staggered to give a closely planted screen.
Many suppliers will put
together a ‘hedge pack’ for you, the bulk of which would be hawthorn
and blackthorn – the backbone of your hedge – plus a sprinkling of
others such as wayfaring tree, guelder rose, spindle, field maple,
hazel, dogwood, buckthorn, goat willow or holly. If you have
especially difficult soil, either very wet or very dry, mention this
to your supplier who will adjust your species accordingly. Guelder
rose for instance, flags on a dry soil but flourishes in heavy
clay. Planting can be done at any time until early March but the
winter months are definitely the best time, unless the ground is
frozen or covered with snow. Either prepare a trench, or dig
individual holes for each plant, add organic compost and ensure the
plant is firmed in well. Staking is up to your personal preferences,
but I never stake, allowing these small shrubs to establish strong
root systems without help. Rabbit guards are another matter! If
rabbits (or deer) abound in your area, protect your new hedge with
plastic spiral guards or tubes – these also have the advantage of
creating a little greenhouse-style micro-climate inside, encouraging growth
early in the year. Be prepared to water your hedge through its first
year if the weather is dry, and mulch if you can.
The future management of
your hedge is also something to consider. Clipping by hand late in
the winter when berries have been devoured is an easy yearly task as
long as your hedge is fairly short. However, you may like to try your
hand at hedge laying, a traditional way of hedge management enjoying a
revival now. One real advantage of this traditional craft is that the
rich larder of berries and fruits is always preserved, not cut off and
wasted, so thrushes like redwings and fieldfares, plus small mammals,
can still find food when weather conditions are at their most harsh. A
newly planted hedge is usually ready to be laid after about 7 years of
growth – so plenty of time to learn this new skill!!
Don't
forget that other non-native plants, perhaps a Buddleia, can be added
to a new hedge for extra nectar and pollen for the invertebrates that
will inevitably use this habitat.
Hedges matter. They are
the arteries of our countryside and towns. They provide corridors
whereby wildlife can move in safety from one area to another, find
shelter and food and often a breeding place too. Hedges are still
being removed and abused in our countryside, but new hedges are
being planted or revived by traditional management. We can help with
that revival and renewal by planting native in our gardens.
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