Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Hedging
Now’s a good time to plant a hedge and here’s how to ensure you get the best from your new hedges.
Hedges are the perfect solution for providing a colourful, natural-looking boundary to a garden. And there are lots of plants suitable for providing a hedge, barrier or screen – whether you want evergreen or deciduous, formal or informal.
It’s important that you prepare the soil well. Start by digging out a trench at least 18 inches wide and 12 inches deep. Fork over the base of the trench and incorporate plenty of organic matter – such as well-rotted manure, compost, composted bark or planting compost. Mix the excavated soil with lots more organic matter and some bonemeal or controlled-release fertiliser, and re-fill the trench – firming the soil as you go.
Before planting water the plants well; you should place the roots of bare-root plants in a bucket of water for half an hour. Then plant at the right distance; most types should be planted 18 inches apart, although conifers and more vigorous types can be planted two to three feet apart. After planting water in well, and water during dry spells for the first year. St Bridget Nurseries have lots of suitable hedging plants including cheaper bare-rooted plants – pop in to get that privacy from the neighbour that you’ve always wanted ;-)

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