I'm planning to plant a 15m hornbeam hedge next weekend. I'm more excited about this than Christmas ! The current privet/elder mess is being dug out so I'm hoping the soil will be fairly easy to dig. I'm now trying to get everything I need together - what have I forgotten ?
- Whips 60-80cm from ebay unless the local nursery has low prices, or if someone has a suggestion. I'm going to do a double row, planting ever 45cm, so I think around 5 plants a metre. I'll get enough for an extra metre or all, which I'll pot up as replacements for any that don't take
- Windbreak netting. The hedge will separate the garden from an open field. We're in the SE and the wind comes from Syberia so it will be quite exposed. Some posts to attach the netting to.
- Weedproof membrane ? Not sure this is necessary, but perhaps it would help suppress weeds and retain moisture ? Does this need to be covered in mulch ?
- Some of those wrap around things you put around young trees to stop rabbits and deer eating them
- Fertiliser/soil improver for the soil. I have some garden compost but maybe not enough. Chicken manure ? Something else ?
- Rootgrow - that microbial stuff to help root formation
I think I'll spent next week sorting out the soil and the netting, and plant the weekend after. If I can contain myself that is..
All advice gratefully received