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Hedging, on the cheap
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Treacodactyl
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Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism
PostPosted: Sat Nov 07, 15 8:37 am    Post subject: Hedging, on the cheap Reply with quote
    

Ideally I'd grow my own from seed but I've not had much luck germinating hawthorn which I want to base my hedge on.

So, I'm going to buy the hawthorn @ 25p a plant. I've also had good success with using goat/grey willow cuttings and as I've got several plants to cut back that will form the starting point of the hedge.

I'll buy a few other plants to add variety, currently on my list are a few field maples and dog wood.

Possibly hazel and blackthorn as I can transplant them from elsewhere.

Any other ideas for doing things on the cheap? Any must have plants I've missed? I think a few crab apples and cherry plums might fall into my basket but they're a bit expensive.

The aim is to establish a basic hedge and add to it in future.

Nicky cigreen



Joined: 25 Jun 2007
Posts: 9702
Location: Devon, uk
PostPosted: Sat Nov 07, 15 11:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

willow takes very easily - we also managed to take some alder cutting sucessfully

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45377
Location: yes
PostPosted: Sat Nov 07, 15 1:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

blackthorn is invasive both along and across the hedge into the spaces both sides,it has thorns that should be banned under the un conventions on biological weapons as the wounds usually go septic,although sloes are nice most of it's habits are horrid.

ps it is a nightmare if you are trying to sneak up on a bunny or whatever as it is not only painful to press against on the bush or to hands and knees etc on the floor but it can be as tangly as a VERY TANGLY THING.

pps chainsaw trousers and a stab vest are the best clothing to wear if you must go anywhere close to it.

ppps ask rob what it can do through a welly sole

for a fruit component bullace are rather nice and seem to germinate well from bletted stones.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism
PostPosted: Sat Nov 07, 15 3:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Nicky Colour it green wrote:
willow takes very easily - we also managed to take some alder cutting sucessfully


I think I'll just use the goat willow for now, even though I do have access to my own various coloured willows.

However, thanks for reminding me about alder, I have indeed successfully rooted an entire alder post so know it does root from cuttings. It's something I do want to add but reluctant to import due to diseases. As we do have some mature trees about the place I may find some cutting material which would be great.

sean
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42207
Location: North Devon
PostPosted: Sat Nov 07, 15 3:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Elder? Dog rose?

Rowanlady



Joined: 21 Apr 2006
Posts: 195
Location: NE Hampshire
PostPosted: Sat Nov 07, 15 4:55 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

In my woodland edge wild garden my "hedge to hide ugly fence" - is hawthorn, hazel, field rose, spindle, blackthorn, holly, dog rose, dogwood, guelder rose, honeysuckle

With an elder, rowan, crab apple and birch as 'exclamation points'

Bramble and ivy are forbidden to grow on that side of the area

Apart from the birch and rowan all were either transplanted 'bird-sown' or cuttings stuck in the ground

Currently growing cuttings in pots since the summer to give my daughter a head start for her new house in the spring

Last edited by Rowanlady on Sat Nov 07, 15 10:38 pm; edited 1 time in total

Jam Lady



Joined: 28 Dec 2006
Posts: 2501
Location: New Jersey, USA
PostPosted: Sat Nov 07, 15 9:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I remember an old countryside type book that suggested where a hedgerow was wanted to put up a couple of posts and a wire between them. Birds would perch on the wire, "relieve" themselves, and you'd achieve a mixed planting of whatever the birds had been eating.

Hairyloon



Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.
PostPosted: Sat Nov 07, 15 9:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

dpack wrote:
pps chainsaw trousers and a stab vest are the best clothing to wear if you must go anywhere close to it.

Nah. Chainsaw trousers rip far too easily.

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45377
Location: yes
PostPosted: Sat Nov 07, 15 9:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

what a neat idea ,i recon somebody should try that and let us know how it goes.

however i dont recall "natural" hedges under phone cables etc but i will have a look .

Tavascarow



Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall
PostPosted: Sat Nov 07, 15 10:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

To grow hawthorn from seed you need to harvest the berries early before dormancy sets in.
Just when they start to show colour.
Put through a mincer & then float off the pulp & skin.
They will still need at least one winter & would benefit some cold (freezer) storage but you should get a reasonable number germ the first spring & even more the second.

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45377
Location: yes
PostPosted: Sun Nov 08, 15 12:48 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Hairyloon wrote:
dpack wrote:
pps chainsaw trousers and a stab vest are the best clothing to wear if you must go anywhere close to it.

Nah. Chainsaw trousers rip far too easily.


dressed for a days blackthorn hedge laying

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Sun Nov 08, 15 8:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Nice one Dpack. Willow might be all right if you keep it well cut. If it gets too tall it falls over. Hazel is always a good basis for a hedge as it can be coppiced or layed. Hawthorn can be layed, and grows quickly, and the others Rowanlady suggests would make a really nice hedge. Jam Lady's idea about a post and wire fence can also work. We have some yellow raspberries in the wood next to some permanent deer fence for that very reason I suspect.

NorthernMonkeyGirl



Joined: 10 Apr 2011
Posts: 4584
Location: Peeping over your shoulder
PostPosted: Tue Nov 10, 15 11:34 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I gather dogwood (Cornus) roots almost as well as willow, and is very pretty, also flexible enough to be woven across any gaps?

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Wed Nov 11, 15 6:45 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Dogwood is another one that will spread badly if not kept under strict control. I have it all over the garden and it is a pest. Pretty, but a pest.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism
PostPosted: Wed Nov 11, 15 9:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I know dogwood spreads very easily, but that is ideal for the hedges I want at the moment. I'll try taking cuttings and layering if the plants I order get established. The problem I have with it in my woodland is it's loved by the deer and is heavily nibbled.

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