Hedge Planting Guidelines

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Planting Guidelines for Hedge Species . . .

Nicholsons is one of the UK's leading supplier of hedge stock, not only in bare-root, but also container-grown form, and supplies customers throughout the Midlands from the nursery in north Oxfordshire. We also service customer needs in Buckinghamshire, Warwickshire, Northamptonshire, Gloucestershire, Berkshire, Wiltshire and Worcestershire, as well as further afield.

The table below is intended to provide some outline guidelines for the preparation of ground and planting out of the most common varieties of hedging stock. It is not an exhaustive list, and Nicholsons is able to supply other, more specialised or decorative stock, if required.

In addition, further advice is available on request by contacting the nursery by telephone, or by checking out the emailing details on the Contacts page.

Plant	Approx Max Height	Plants per metre	Staggered Distance	Characteristics
Evergreens Bare Root
Thuya	5m+	1	Single row only	Similar to leyland but slower and more attractive.
Leyland	5 m+	1	Single row only	Overgrows rapidly, prune twice a year and keep neat, unforgiving if neglected.
Holly	2m	3	0.45m (optional)	Slow growing - needs careful pruning, beware of prickly leaves and dog paws.
Privet	2m	3	0.3 m (optional)	Excellent - largely evergreen, keep trimmed or will go straggly.
Yew	3m	3	Single row only	Tolerant to a range of conditions as long as well drained - versatile – excellent on chalk, good for topiary.
Common Laurel	3m	2	Single row only	Good evergreen screen, plant with good space from walls (suggested 2m).
Box	0.4m	4-5	Single row only	Keep regularly trimmed, slow growing to form a small hedge, neat and dense, choose suffruticosa for a dwarf hedge and sempervirens for a common box hedge. Box Blight is more prevalent in suffruticosa.
Holm Oak	1.5m	1-3	Single row only	In theory suits warmer and coastal regions.
Garrya elliptica	4-5m	3		Beautiful graceful catkins in late winter.
Deciduous Bare Root				Characteristics
Mixed Species	2m	4	0.3m	Excellent hedge for wildlife - particularly if only trimmed every other year to give maximum nut and
Hawthorn	2m	5	0.3m	Good agricultural hedge - generally kept neat and tidy with regular pruning.
Deciduous Container-Grown				Characteristics
Copper Beech	3m+	33	0.3m	Purple glossy foliage - can be overbearing - excellent when mixed with green beech.
Beech	2m+	3	0.3m	Green glossy foliage, prefers well drained soils including chalk, retains leaves through the winter.
Hornbeam	2m+	3	0.3m	Retains dead leaves, thrives in wetter, heavier soils than beech and much more forgiving.
Hawthorn	2m	3-4	0.3m	Flowering May, berries (Haws) in autumn.
Field Maple	2m	3	0.3m	Yellow autumn foliage.
Other Garden Hedges Container-Grown				Characteristics
Berberis atropurp. Nana	1m	3	Single row only	Purple foliage/spring leaves.
Berberis stenophylla	1m	3	Single	Long arching branches of yellow flowers, do not prune until after flowering.
Pyracantha	1.5m	3	Single	A range of fruit colours/evergreen - excellent to keep out trespassers – very prickly.
Escallonia	1m	3	Single	Evergreen with pink flowers/red in Summer.
Grissellinia	1m	3	Single	Vibrant green leaves, good in coastal regions.
Prunus cistena	1m	3	Single	Purple foliage and pale pink flowers.
Ligustrum aureum	1m	3	Single	Golden privet – variegated.
Rosmarinus	1m	3	Single	Unusual - slightly susceptible to frost, fragrant.
Rugosa Rose	1m	3	Single	A wilder hedge - deciduous, but pretty flowers and huge hips, easy maintenance but can spread suckers.
Cotoneaster simonsii	1m	3	Single	Virtually evergreen. Red berries in winter. White flowers in summer.