When planting a hedge, you are creating a permanent feature in your garden, and so you need to ensure that you prepare the site well to give it a good foundation. You will also need to make sure that you choose plants that naturally grow to a suitable height and spread for the size hedge you want, as well as deciding whether you want a thick, evergreen hedge or a less dense deciduous one.

Preparing the Site

Depending on the species of hedge, you will need to prepare a strip of ground of between 60-90 cm (24 -36 in) wide. Spacing for most hedging plants is 30-60 cm (12-24 in), although this will depend on the type of hedge you want to grow, and whether you want a formal clipped hedge or an informal flowering one. Plants for all dwarf hedges, knot gardens and parterres should be spaced about 10-15 cm (4-6 in) apart.

Take a look at the guides to informal and formal hedges for plant spacings, sizes and characteristics.

If you want to plant a hedge more than 90 cm (36 in) thick, you will need to plant a double, staggered row. This method produces a dense, impenetrable hedge, which is particularly useful for large gardens, or around very exposed smaller ones. The plants should be spaced 90 cm (36 in) apart within the row, and 45 cm (18 in) between rows, in a staggered format.

Planting Method

1. Dig a trench the length of the new hedge. For a single row hedge, this should be about 60 cm (2 spades) wide and about 45cm deep. A double, staggered row hedge will need a trench 90 cm wide.
2. Pile the soil along the sides of the trench as you work. Mix some slow-release fertiliser into this soil before you use it to fill in.
3. Remove all weeds, large stones and solid clods of earth.
4. Use your fork to aerate the soil in the sides and bottom of the trench.
5. Take one of the hedging plants and work out the correct planting depth. The trench should be deep enough to add a good layer of garden compost all along it beneath the plants.
6. Empty the compost into the trench and spread it with your fork.
7. Space the plants the correct distance for the type of hedge, placing them along the trench.
8. Plant each one to the correct level, scooping the soil from the sides of the trench around each plant and firming it in to exclude air pockets. Continue until you have finished the run, firming the soil well in around the base of all the plants.
9. Finish the surface of the soil along the new hedge by giving it a light rake, taking care not to disturb the plants.
10. Water the newly planted hedge thoroughly.
11. Water the hedge regularly, particularly making sure that it does not dry out in its first season.
12. Some hedging plants may require a light prune after planting. For example, beech plants will produce side shoots low down if the leading shoot or growing tip is cut back.

Maintenance

The first spring after planting the hedge, cut back plants to about 40-45cm above ground level. Apply slow-release fertiliser the length of the hedge. Water the hedge well and then apply a thick layer of mulch (7.5 cm or 3 in). In late summer, cut back the laterals; these will be the shoots that are sticking out from the hedge.

The majority of hedges have an upright growth habit, and in order to form a more dense and bushy habit you will need to encourage them to send out side shoots. This can be done by trimming back their leaders (main shoots) and laterals (the secondary side shooting stems).