Bare Root Planting

[JJTDH]

I have 250 bare root hedges coming next week, I've gone native with a mix of Sea Buckthorn, Common Privet and Wild Privet. Our garden I'm covering is just over 27 metres. My plan is to plant a double row at the front where the garden area is bigger then a single row at the back where it's smaller.

I've come in 70cm from our boundary wall, then the trench is 60 cm wide for the double row and will be slightly smaller for the single row. Does this sound about right? I hate the idea of digging the trench as the grass is brand new, only been in a couple of months but I'm assuming this is the best way to go?

No idea sorry, but 250...my back hurts just thinking about it!

Have you bought spares to replace any that don't take? Do you have stakes and ties ready for any taller plants that might need stabilising? They only need to be planted as deep as the original soil line on the plants. Would be great to see before and after photos and some progress ones in due course.

Hey. Yes I bought 250 as when I was ordering the company said I'd probably only need about 190 but to account for 10% that may not take. So I've got plenty spare. I've got stakes and ties, I've been using them to measure out the trench I'm digging but can also use them for support. I just need to buy some compost to dig into the trench. I can definitely put some pictures up x

I think it will be rewarding to do the work and see it take and grow.

If you want to avoid digging that much of a trench, look up 'slit planting' a hedge. Much easier. I agree with the pp who suggested ordering/keeping some potted up spares for any failures in the single row- in the double row it wouldn't matter as much.

Those plants are so tough that unless you're on really awful soil you shouldn't need compost, just diligent watering this year.

Oh, and if you cut them down a bit after planting they'll grow bushier and shouldn't need staking.