Tree Spirals

[4Shoes]

Now coming up for 3 years since we planted a 60m "Bird Friendly" and "Fruit" hedge. Lovely Valentine weekend - not. It is coming on a treat - only with the spirals the bottom is looking a bit gappy. Been looking on like, but can't find info on when to remove the spirals.

Anyone know?

[Scarlet]

Rabbit guards? It depends really, but I have read "somewhere" that 4 years is sufficient. How is the rabbit population? If the hedge looks lovely apart from the bottom bit where the guards are I would just take them off.

Where did you get yours from? What pack did you buy? We've just put up 100m stock proof fence but are looking at putting hedging in too.

[4Shoes]

I bought a couple of packs from each of the suppliers to put in a wind break. Can remember these, but not the 4th.

https://www.ashridgetrees.co.uk/elspeths-edible-hedging

https://www.ashridgetrees.co.uk/bird-friendly-hedge-mix

https://www.best4hedging.co.uk/appro...y-bundle-pp203

Essentially, both suppliers were very similar, perhaps Ashridge had the edge, but nothing in it.

Was only after I'd got them that I read that Horses and Maple don't mix. It is the seedlings in the spring when there is not so much to eat that is the danger. Just didn't plant the maple in the hedge, so ok.

Read that the 40/60 size was best value, they don't get same shock and that they catch up on the 60/90 after 3 years - so bought that size. The hedge is looking good, so must agree.

Bought a tree planting spade... Best investment ever.

I put down weed fabric - held in place by running Digging spade down each side to clamp it. Then used Mr Stanley to cut slot. In with tree spade and OT dropped in plant. Heal each side and onto next. 2 days. Lots of inconsiderate stones. We also tried an Egg Spoon and a digging spade, but Tree space less half the effort.

Hope this helped

**
Rabbits population got a real hit with disease the end of the year, but see a few hopping about now. Some days looked out and there were easily 10 and more when you went round the corner

[1Bee]

FWIW it's worth looking around at your local ancient hedgerows to see what's native to your area. Suppliers often give a uk-wide mix which isn't quite right for some areas. E.g round here it's predominately blackthorn, hawthorn, hazel, honeysuckle, elder, dog rose. In the south maple, wych elm and guelder rose, wild privet are more common among the hawthorn, but rarely seen up here...

Just a slight bugbear of mine...

[4Shoes]

Think my bugbear is the annual trim. No spring blossom, so no haws or sloe berries.
There is no winter fruit for the birds or for that matter - My Gin .

My plan was to plant hedge filled with trees that I grew up with... and to try and keep the birds off my fruit trees and give me interest from season to season.

There were a few odd balls in the bundles, but as a whole, for a garden hedge it is ideal. - A few odd balls have not made it.

Next is the bee friendly section, a beach for the sparrows, and then more shelter belts and a section of willow for pea poles etc.

My park is just an orra bit of grun. No shelter - open to the elements Was the corn yard where they'd ca'd in the hairst (stooks) and build straa rucks.

The wind just howls round. Horses and cows either look over the fence or look away to keep warm. one day a year, they enjoy the sun

[Jimny14]

It's a good point 1bee. When we were sorting our hedge we looked about and found a local bare root hedging supplier and talked to him about what we wanted and what grew locally. We ended up with hawthorn, field maple, Hazel and guelder rose as the old hedge we needed to grub out and renovate already had more than enough dog rose, elder and Ash in it.

[Jimny14]

Thinking about your hedge 4 shoes are you planning on laying it? We've planted ours up and either next winter or the one after that we'll lay it, that's when we're going to remove the spirals on ours, laying will also make sure your hedge is nice and dense at the bottom.

[1Bee]

Oooh I love a bit of hedgelaying.

[4Shoes]

Yesterday was bugbear day - All hedges are nice and square

[4Shoes]

Thinking about your hedge 4 shoes are you planning on laying it?

Doesn't look like they layer hedges round here.

[Jimny14]

Are they all gappy at the bottom?

[Scarlet]

My brother planted a hedge about 4 years ago - I just asked and he laid his after 2 years. I thought it was common practice all over? It is how you get a thick dense hedge.

[Jimny14]

I'm with you scarlet, I can't think of another way of getting a decent thick hedge. We planted some of the hedge two winters ago and the rest last winter. Will likely lay in next year and the year after.

[4Shoes]

Are they all gappy at the bottom?

Yes.. Main Hawthorn stem, up a foot or so, then hedge. It is dairy country. None of that pesky sheeps that can spot a bolt hole from 100 ft.

[Jimny14]

Ah fair enough, just seems strange to me not to lay a hedge to make a nice thick base but guess if it's just for keeping cows in/out you should be OK. Gives you plenty of spaces to get creative with underplanting too!