Bare root hedging - inspiration, tips, recommendations?

[user78262102928]

I am thinking ahead to autumn/winter. I’ve got a largish new-build garden and I’d like to plant some mixed hedging. Not just at the boundary, but also to divide up into smaller spaces.

Has anyone had success with bare root stock? Any photos to share? Any tips, tricks or recommendations? My brother had some left over and ended up with some beautiful mature trees (10 years later).

Bare root is a good way to go. If nothing else, you know it hasn’t been sat in the same pot at the garden centre for the last 3 years. I’d go to an on-line specialist.

We planted bare root privet. I now rather wish we'd gone for something more interesting like fuschia. Also In laws planted grisselinia at some time and it's looking much better.

I've also planted bare root hawthron - 10 years ago and it's a magnificent wildlife friendly hedge but a bugger to cut.

It took a lot of watering as it was very dry the year I planted it.

I bought some bare root hawthorn last year, and they have done really well. I have them planted at the front boundary of my allotment, still a way to go to have a proper hedge though! I bought them from Pomona Fruits. I put a bit of well-rotted manure in the dug holes, and you must remember to water them in dry weather.

I'm planning to get more this autumn/winter, to plant in my garden at home too.

This is my mixed edible native hedge - planted bare root back in February this year. It was a very sad twiggy affair to start with, but has really taken off over the summer - probably helped by all the rain! It's not massively tall yet but I'm hoping it will thicken up even more next spring now it's established.

Some great ideas. I would never have thought of fuschia in a hedge but it sounds great. I love hawthorn and it will definitely feature - I just wish there was a thornless variety 😅

@Blackcoffeewithmilkplease that looks exciting! Particularly if that was just since February. Like yours, mine will be going next to a fence so that’s interesting to see. I am thinking of getting slightly taller stock (1.2m) and planting a bit further apart with the idea that they would be more like shrubs to start off with and will spread over time.

I am thinking vibernum/guelder-rose would be a nice addition too.

Well, it is only a 4ft fence, so they are taller than they look in the picture! Just over knee height now, in a couple of years they should be the same height as the fence. I like the idea of fuschia as well, might put a couple in to fill any gaps.

We did this 6 years ago now. My parents gave us some garden centre vouchers for an anniversary present as they knew we wanted to plant a native hedge in our front garden. This was end of September and the garden centre had bare rooted native hedge bundles for half price so we got loads! There is 6 years between these photos. I dug in tree root compost to give them a good chance. There is a mix of mainly hawthorn, with some beech and guelder rose and I can't remember what else now.

@longtompot wow! That looks amazing. And what a difference 6 years makes.

Do you get flowers and berries with the hawthorn and guelder-rose?

RHS points out bare-root is better for the environment, no composts or plastic pots. Also cheaper.

But to answer your original question: A disadvantage with container grown plants is the roots get used to going round and round the pot, and can find it difficult to break free and spread. So bare root plants tend to be quicker to establish.

They need to be planted in the autumn. We’ve all got so used to planting at any time of the year that it’s difficult to remember that in my lifetime there was a period before containers, when everyone planted bare root plants. I can remember the excitement when the first container grown plants appeared, and could be planted at any time of the year.

I can also remember the excitement over the new Leylandii hybrid, and Gardeners Question Time recommending it for all they were worth.

That’s really interesting @MereDintofPandiculation (and what a fantastic username)

You made me laugh out loud at leylandii 😂We forget how much things change!

@user78262102928 we do get flowers and berries if we trim at the right time. It's been really lovely watching the sparrows feeding off the bugs that live on the hedge

Just one thought on this ... my understanding is that after planting, you should cut the plants to half their heigh, then the following winter cut the new growth back by half. So getting taller plants might not make as much difference as you hope, although they should still bounce back more quickly as they'll be more mature.

I've planted bare root dogwood, hawthorn, blackthorn, guelder rose and hazel in my garden and all doing well. The dog wood has really taken off and is a good one for winter colour too, with red stems

We’ve planted loads of hedging over the years, all of it bare root.
Use a local garden centre (not a chain). They will usually publish a bare root list going into autumn. Bulk orders often get a small discount. They will also advise what grows well. You’re also likely to get bigger trees than using mail order.
Our standard planting is a mix of hawthorn, blackthorn and hazel.
You can go for single row or double offset rows. Add a sprinkle of blood and bone meal to each hole. It’s not even a hole you dig really- just part the earth with a spade and drop the tree in.
We don’t cut or do anything until they reach the height we want the hedge, then top off at that point.
Any that don’t grow can be replaced in subsequent years.