Back garden hedge laying

I've just looked at a small strip of hedge that I laid in spring and it's looking quite good. This is not proper farm hedge laying but there was a strip of garden under a large Sycamore tree that needed some hedge.

In the Spring 2001 I purchased some small bare rooted 1 year Hawthorn whips and I planted a staggered row using some well rotted horse manure. I kept them watered in the first year and they took well, even on our chalky, shady soil.

This year I decided to lay the stems as I didn't need a tall hedge and I wanted to see what would happen. I used a sharp knife (taking great care) and cut through most of the stem and laid them towards the Sycamore. All the layered branches are still growing and there are 3 foot shoots growing from the base of the trees. Success!

I've included a couple of pics, note the chopped prunings in front of the hedge is to stop a fox digging up our voles we have living in the garden.

Gertie

Very impressed, Treacodactyl.

Years ago a lot of farmland/rural boundries were hedges, which were maintained exactly as you have kept your hege.

It's a dying skill - you seldom see kept hedges now, fields either don't have boundaries or they have pig netting or barbed wire/post fencing.

We've got hedges in the village which are just snarled back by some tractor attachment or other - they look dreadful.

Bring back the hedges, that's what I say!! The wildlife enjoy it as well.

alison

You still see a fair amount of hedging around here, but I suppose we do have a lot of livestock in this area, compared to arable farming.

Gertie

Treacodactyl - where did you find out where to do this, shown by someone or read up on it?

Treacodactyl

Both! I've seen it done at a couple of country fairs, on TV and it's in a couple of books and Country Smallholding.

The hedge was too small really, but it has worked and filled up nicely. I cut through about 50-70% of the stem and bent the small branches over.

That's one thing I will defiantly do when I get somewhere is to gradually renovate the hedges by layering and also plant more if required.

Guest

I'm doing a day's hedge laying course on Saturday!! Its something that has always fascinated me and our hedges are disgusting. If I can just get the basic idea I will them have a go - working on the assumption that if its my hedges I make a mess of it doesn't matter!

I'm sure there are similar courses all over the country. I found mine in a local free magazine.

Treacodactyl

It seems quite popular, you often find small parts round here where people have been shown the art.

Make sure you have good gloves and I'd recommend eye protection.

Guest

Thanks for that advice. Have strong gloves and will specs do?!!!!!

Treacodactyl

I wear specs but a pesky pond plant got me a couple of years back and I still notice it. Crying or Very sad

I would have a pair of the cheap goggles handy, especially as the best hedge laying plants often have spikes (hawthorn, blackthorn etc...)

Lloyd

I have a Hawthorn around my garden and would like to do the same. What time of year is best to do this, mate?

Treacodactyl

'In the Winter months'. If you have much hedge to lay I'd at least find someone local who's done it to either help you or give some advice.

Gertie

My dad used to do the hedges on the farm.

It's great to see that some of the old skills used by our forefathers are making a comeback.

I've got his old books in the loft so this weekend might have a look at them. If I find anything interesting I'll let you know.

Treacodactyl

Gertie wrote:

Any info or book recommendations welcome. Probably out of print but could be worth looking out for.

Gertie

I think these would be out of print (there are definitely 3 hard-backed huge books which my dad would have had after 2nd world war - it makes interesting reading as they are all about old methods of raising livestock, farming techniques (ploughing with horses and new(!) Massey F tractors- I would glady arrange to have anything of interest scanned, e-mailed or mailed out to you - no problem.

Lloyd

Thanks, Gertie. The problem is, it would ALL be of interest to me!...I have an old set of encyclopedias on Equine veterinary ailments and anatomy which is pre war if anyone wants to make me an offer I can't refuse. Wink

Treacodactyl

Same here, one of the reasons I know a little about many things is that we tend to collect books and read about all sorts of things.

martin

The BTCV have made their 125 page book on hedging available on-line here. (You can also buy it for £13.95 if you prefer.)

In all there are ten books available: Dry Stone Walling, Woodlands, Fencing, Hedging, Footpaths, Sand Dunes, Toolcare, Tree Planting and Aftercare, The Urban Handbook, Waterways and Wetlands!!!

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