Plant a hedge in your garden

What does the garden look like?

Hedges are used as boundaries in our organic pottage garden. In the centre is a large Alitex glasshouse where we do all the propagation, surrounded by four large beds for crop rotations (two no-dig, and two dug). We’ve also got cordon fruit trees and bushes, a perennial vegetable bed, a pond and a wildlife border.

Which hedging plants are you growing?

As a demonstration garden, we want to showcase as many types of hedging plants as possible and prove it’s possible to grow anything the organic way.

1. British native 

Native hedges are going to do better in your garden because they are suited to the climate and conditions here. It’s also important to support local businesses by buying locally.

Our British native hedge runs the whole length of one side of the garden. It’s a mix of bird cherry, crab apple, hazel, privet and hawthorn in equal proportions. These varieties were recommended as being particularly good for birds and, as organic growers, we need all the help we can get from our feathered friends!

2. Yew hedge (Taxus baccata)

This is an evergreen hedge, which is a good choice if you’re after immediate impact. We picked this and the Thuja hedge to block off the old garden straight away. It’s at the back of the wildlife border so it’s good for shelter and as a wind break.

Another great thing about yews is you can cut into the old wood, so they’re easier to maintain than other conifers.

3. Thuja hedge (Thuja plicata)

The Thuja hedge is pineapple scented, plus it’s a different type of conifer that will tolerate being pruned. This one is also evergreen.

Further hedging plant recommendations:

• If you have a shady spot to contend with, a holly or yew will cope well.
• Hornbeams have a really lovely shape and hold onto their leaves through winter.
• A recent RHS survey revealed that Cotoneaster franchetii (Franchet’s cotoneaster) is at least 20% more effective at soaking up air pollution than other shrubs.

How to plant a hedge:

When planting a hedge, many growers pick larger, more developed hedging plants for instant impact, but it makes sense to go smaller if possible. Younger hedges have a less developed root system and will therefore settle in and start growing quicker.

The most important thing is to prepare the ground well. The first national lockdown meant that we could only water the new hedges once a week for several months, but they’ve done surprisingly well because of the work we put in before planting them.

• Dig a hole (or, if you’re like us, a long trench) so that the point where the roots flare out from the stem is level with the soil line.
• Mix the soil dug from the hole generously with organic matter and then backfill, ensuring soil goes in between the roots to firm the plant in.
• Add a layer of mulch to the surface of the surrounding soil and water at least twice a week for the next year.
• Don’t apply additional feed or compost, as this will encourage the plants to become lazy!
• After a year or two, hedges should be looking after themselves well, other than the need for an occasional cut. We trimmed all of ours because we wanted them to be of uniform height. It also encourages them to branch so they thicken up.

What are the benefits of hedges?

Planting a hedge in your garden is a good idea for several reasons. A hedge will significantly increase the biodiversity in your garden as well as improving the surrounding conditions.

Plant a hedge to: 

• Prevent soil erosion
• Reduce the risk of flooding
• Provide much-needed winter sustenance for birds
• In time, provide protection and shelter for wildlife, flowers for pollinators and berries for birds
• Reduce noise pollution
• Clean the air
• Create an attractive boundary, whether at the edge of your garden or to divide it into rooms
• Create a barrier against wind
• Protect local ecosystems

Ryton Organic Gardens is currently closed to visitors while the team finishes the new demonstration garden. Once complete, it will be open to members and the public on open days throughout the year.