NURTURE
Hedges
Six UK nurseries choose their top two British-grown hedges and tell us what these picks are best used for
Readyhedge
Instant Hedges
Johnsons of Whixley
1. Mixed native hedging Designed to mimic an old farm hedge with a wide range of species. Each trough has 60% hawthorn and 40% other species and there are five mixes available. These are available in a range of sizes up to 180cm tall depending on the time of the year.
1. Ilex meserveae ‘Blue Maid’ trough ‘Blue Maid trough’ is a holly with attractive dark green leaves that feature a hint of blue; it forms a dense, evergreen hedge, with red berries creating contrast in the autumn.
1. Crataegus monogyna Also known as hawthorn, this works well in a mixed native hedge and is known for its large thorns – a great way to stock and intruder-proof a hedge. Its berries are often used in jams, jellies, syrups and even wines.
2. Fagus sylvatica trough This native European beech hedge has lush, light green new leaf growth, which turns bronze in the autumn and holds on until the new growth of the following spring.
2. Corylus avellane Also known as hazel, this is a native variety known for its popularity with wildlife, including moth caterpillars, deer, woodpeckers and even dormice, who use its nuts for fattening up before hibernation.
2. Hornbeam (Caprinus betulus) For the more formal look Hornbeam is also available in a range of sizes. Happy growing in nearly every soil type, it clips into a stunning and dense hedge. WWW.READYHEDGELTD.COM
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Practicality Brown
Hedges Direct
Wykeham Mature Plants
1. Mixed Native Hedging Packs Grown in the West Midlands, these packs are some of Hedges Direct’s most popular products, and feature species such as blackthorn, hawthorn and hazel.
1. Instant Laurel Hedge Blocks These laurel hedge blocks are field-grown in Yorkshire, so guaranteed to be hardy and free from imported diseases, and have been trimmed twice per year for many years for maximum density.
1. Elveden Instant Hedge Grown at the Elveden Estate in East Anglia since 1998, this was the first instant hedge on the market and is available in eight evergreens and six deciduous species. 2. Practical Instant Hedge Practicality Brown is now producing its own instant hedge, grown in 1m troughs at its nursery in Iver, Buckinghamshire. Currently available in a native mix, Griselinia, yew or Portuguese laurel.
2. Yew One of the most popular choices for bare-root plants is the English yew hedge (Taxus baccata). Hedges Direct’s yew, also known as ‘King of Hedges’, is grown in Kent and is the classic British conifer hedge plant.
2. Pyracantha Evergreen and painfully thorny, this is ideal for use as security hedging to deter unwanted visitors. With summer flowers and autumn berries, Pyracantha also attracts wildlife.
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102 Pro Landscaper / April 2018
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