Keep a row of hedging straight by marking out the bed with stakes and twine.
A dense hedge is a good and natural substitute for a garden fence, especially if you choose evergreen plants. It will provide privacy, wind protection and a habitat for birds and other useful creatures.
The first task is to dig a planting trench for the hedge that is the correct length and width. The exact dimensions will depend on the purpose of the hedge, where it will be located and the type of hedging plants you have chosen. As a general rule, the trench should be at least 12 inches (30 cm) wider than the plant’s rootball and of equal depth.
• Position one or two plants every 3 feet (1 m) for a less dense hedge. For a dense hedge, place two to five plants in the same space.
• Stagger individual plants in a double-row hedge so that they can spread out better and make the hedge thicker.
• Plant a mixed hedge or tapestry hedge with different colored leaves or needles for an attractive effect. You might combine sweetspire with photinia and camellia.
• If the hedge is to be a windbreak, choose or Elaeocarpus spp.; conifers and other evergreens are particularly good choices for noise protection.
• Plant berberis, japonica, hawthorn or pyracantha to preserve privacy and keep out intruders.
• Hedge plants grow in a narrow space, so it is essential that the soil be loose and enhanced with compost. For heavy soil, mix in plenty of organic matter for maximum effect.
• If weeds are a problem, put down a layer of newspaper about 10 sheets thick, overlapping to avoid gaps. Cover with a 2–31/2 inch (5–8 cm) layer of mulch. This not only deprives weeds of light, but also reduces evaporation in summer and protects the hedge roots from frost in regions with cold winters.
• Distribute the plants so that the sideshoots just touch one another. If you put them too close together you will restrict their growth.
• Avoid air spaces by jiggling the plants thoroughly so that the soil gets between the roots.
A hedge’s first “haircut” should take place shortly after planting. Cut back deciduous bushes by half, as they grow quickly. Trim plants with needles to a consistent height.
• Once a deciduous hedge is well established, always prune back the new wood in the summer to encourage branching. In the winter, cut back into the old wood to encourage the formation of new, strong shoots.
• Trim evergreen hedges regularly, but avoid cutting into the old wood or the branches are likely to remain bald.
• Shaped hedges should be trimmed three times during the course of the spring and summer.
• To make hedges bushy and thick, trim the sides at an angle, so there is less on the top than the bottom. This allows the sun to reach the lower branches as the top branches do not overshadow them.
• Spread a sheet of plastic at the foot of the hedge to make it easier to pick up the trimmings.
Hedges are relatively easy to maintain. If you prepare the ground well at planting, you should only need to fertilize every spring and autumn.
• Fertilize evergreen hedges in the spring with blood and bone and top up mulches that have broken down.
• Keep a new or young hedge watered, especially during dry periods in both winter and summer. Evergreen hedges generally need less water than deciduous or flowering hedges.
• In late autumn, remove dead wood and weeds and, if necessary, restore the mulch layer around the hedge.
• Cover up bald spots in a hedge by planting a flowering climber such as star jasmine. Train the shoots over the empty spots.
STRETCH A STRING ACROSS TO help cut the hedge STRAIGHT.
GOOD TO KNOW 
A fragrant hedge
Fragrant hedges of Rosa rugosa or lavender awaken memories of days gone by. These hedges don’t need yearly trimming, are low-maintenance and they attract desirable guests such as bees, butterflies and birds.
Slow-growing boxwood with its dense, evergreen leaves is the ideal choice for low pathway hedging.
