Laurel Hedging

Prunus Laurocerasus Rotundifolia - cherry laurel - They bear glossy dark green foliage , small delicate white flowers and shiny cherry red berries. The Cherry Laurel is commonly used as a hedging plant as it is fast growing and forms a lovely bushy evergreen screen. It is also tolerant to a large variety of soil and sunlight conditions making it ideal for most gardens.

Planting your laurels

1. Decide how far apart you want to space your laurels and then dig a hole which is the height and twice the width of the rootball. Break up the compacted soil from the bottom of the hole. Laurels grow very quickly so can be generously spaced as they will quickly form a dense bushy hedge.
2. Place the plants rootball into the hole and fill the hole with a mixture of soil and organic fertilizer. Gently compact the soul to support the plant.
3. Water the Laurel regularly throughout it's first year to allow the plant to establish itself well into it's new home.

How do I prune my laurels?

Once the Laurels are established (you will know when this is as new growth will appear) you will be able to start trimming them. It is best to prune laurels over the summer months between April and August.

• If you want the new growth to be in a certain area, simply cut back the branch so only a couple of leaves remain. A new shoot will appear within a few weeks. Keep doing this until you have created a good canopy and have created your desired shape.
• Once you have your perfect shape, all you need to do is keep your hedge neat and tidy by trimming back individual branches as and when with a sharp pair of secateurs.

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Leylandii hedging

Cupressocyparis - leylandii -  are evergreen, quick growing conifers. They respond well to being trimmed as long as trimming is confined to the young growth. as regrowth is unlikely if the plant is cut back into the old wood. Leylandii form a dense living hedge which is ideal for providing privacy or screening off unsightly areas. A leylandii hedge makes a great addition to any garden - increasing security, reducing noise and filtering out pollution.

By trimming your leylandii every year you can control it's growth, keeping it at the preferred width and height. 



Planting Leylandii

Planting a leylandii hedge is a fairly simple job but it is important to get it right. This will give your Leylandii the best start in their new home - where they can live for over 150 years.

• To plant your leylandii you first need to rid the ground of any weeds, you can do this by using a weed killer such as Roundup (this is glyphosate based and, once dried has no effect on the leylandii.)
• Dig a hole to about twice the width of the plants rootball and deep enough for the top of the rootball to sit just below the surface of the ground.
• Using a fork, break up the soil at the bottom of the hole - this will allow the roots to penetrate the earth with ease and will allow any excess water to drain.
• If your soil is poor you can add compost to the soil. Mix the compost in with the soil from the hole. (I would recommend adding the same amount of compost as the size of the pot. ie. if the leylandii came in a 15 litre pot, add 15 litres of compost.)
• If your leylandii are over 4 feet high and they are not in a sheltered location, I would recommend staking them as this will stop the plants from rocking in the wind, causing the roots to break. It is recommended to stake the plants to about 40 cm from the ground with the stake at a 45 degree angle to the ground. Tie the tree to the stake with a tree tie and remove the stake after 12 months.

Maintenance of Leylandii

Leylandii can grow up to three feet a year so they need to be trimmed to keep them under control. It is advisable to trim the tree  once a year (trimming more than this can damage the leylandii and leaves the plant more susceptible to disease) in Spring or Summer. This gives the Leylandii the chance to recover before the colder Winter months.

To trim your hedge, all you need is a good pair of secateurs. Trim the tree to the desired height and then remove any dead or broken branches.

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Ligustrum Ovalifolium

Ligustrum - privet - tend to be semi evergreen depending on how cold the Winter is. Simple oval leaves and bears panicles of small flowers followed by black or purple fruits. Respond well to being trimmed to shape. 

Ligustrums thrive in full or partial sunlight.

How to plant a ligustrum

• Dig a hole to twice the width of the rootball making sure that it is as deep as the rootball. 
• Break up the soil that has been removed and dispose of any roots or stones.
• Remove the ligustrum from the pot and place in the hole making sure that the top of the rootball is level with the top of the hole.
• Refill the hole and give the plant a generous amount of water.
• Make sure you water the ligustrum every 5-8 days during it's first year to give your plant the best start in it's new home.

Pruning your ligustrum

It is best to prune your ligustrum in early spring. These plants are tolerant of heaving pruning, meaning they can be sheared with hedge trimmers in a shrub form or pruned with more selectively. 


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Lonicera Hedging

Lonicera -  Honeysuckle, is a very popular evergreen shrub. It bears densely packed small oval leaves and highly perfumed, creamy white flowers in Summer. Some varieties can be used as a dwarf growing hedge but all respond well to a hair cut. 

Growing Lonicera

Lonicera are very easy grow and like to sit in well-drained soil in full sun.
Species such as Lonicera Japonica are excellent climbers which do not require regular pruning. Simply cut back any out of place shoots in Spring and remove any dead or damaged stems. Species such as Lonicera Nitida can be used to form a bushy evergreen hedge. These can be trimmed three times a year between Spring and Autumn to create a lovely dense screening.

Tip:  With Lonicera, generally, the brighter the flower, the fainter the scent.

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Photinia Red Robin

Photinia - christmas berry, red robin - make a lovely shrub or hedge. They have evergreen foliage which is a simple glossy dark green and new growth is often a stunning red that lasts through the year. Bears clusters of small white flowers usually followed by red berries. Trim with secateurs to encourage bushy new growth. Suitable for hedging, topiary or a stand alone shrub.

How do I prune my Photinia?

Photinia are a relatively quick growing plant and can grow up to a foot a year. It is best to trim them during the Spring/Summer to keep them neat and under control. If you want to grow your Photinia into a hedge, trim off new shoots (this can be done up to three times a year). This will encourage the bright red regrowth which is a prominent feature of the Red Robin. To trim, remove any dead or dying branches by cutting them all the way back to the stem. Then shape the Photinia by clipping off any protruding growth.

Full Standard Photinia

How do I plant a Photinia?

Firstly you need to decide where to plant your Photinia. They like to be planted in well drained soil and in full sunlight.

Dig a hole which is twice as wide as the rootball and the same depth. Mix a bit of organic compost with the soil, place the plant into the hole and then fill in the hole with your soil mixture. Pack down the soil around the plant to support it.
Give the Photinia a generous drink of water and continue watering throughout the growing season if the soil becomes dry.

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Prunus Lusitanica

Prunus Lusitanica, or Portuguese laurel are dense evergreen shrubs with elliptic glossy foliage. The leaves are reddish in younger plants with red stalks and turn a dark green when mature.The Prunus bears fragrant white flowers in early summer which smell of hawthorn. They are very easy to grow and maintain.

How do I plant a Prunus?

1. Dig a hole which is the height and twice the width of the rootball and break up the compacted soil at the bottom of the hole.
2. Place the rootball of the laurel into the hole making sure the top of the root ball is in line with the top of the hole. Fill in the hole, firming it down as you go to remove air pockets.
3. Water the plants in well and keep them well watered for two years.

How do I trim my Prunus?

Once the Portuguese Laurels are established, you will be able to start trimming them

• If you want the new growth in a certain place, simply cut back the branch so only a couple of leaves remain. A new shoot will appear within a few weeks. Keep doing this until you have created a good canopy.
• Once you have formed your perfect hedge shape all you need to do is keep it neat and tidy by trimming back individual branches as and when with a pair of secateurs.

Tip: Try to prune your hedge into an "A" shape - wider at the bottom and thinner at the top. This will make sure the bottom branches get plenty of light and air.

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Pyracantha

Pyracantha, or firethorn is a semi evergreen shrub with spiny branches that bare simple green leaves and corymbs of small white flowers in May and June. They make a beautiful and impenetrable hedge, especially when the bright berries appear in winter.

How do I plant my Pyracantha?

When planting a hedge, you generally want to place the plants close enough so that they almost touch.

• When digging the holes you need to make sure they are about as deep as the container the Pyrocantha arrived in and roughly twice as wide. 
• Using a fork, brake up the soil at the bottom of the hole and along the walls. Add a generous amount of compost to the bottom of the hole and sit your plant on top of it.
• Now you can begin to fill in the hole. Pack the soil around the roots and compact with your feet. This will hold your plants firmly in place.
• Give the Pyracantha a thorough watering. Make sure you keep watering the plant until it has settled in and is well established.

How do I prune my Pyracantha?

It is best to prune your Pyracantha hedge during the Spring and then twice during the rest of the year. (Make sure you wear gloves though to avoid those little thorns.) This will keep the hedge nicely shaped like the picture above. One point to remember is that the flowers are produced from the previous years growth so you want to leave as much of last years growth as possible when pruning to maintain the show of berries during winter.

If your Pyracantha has become exceptionally wild and overgrown, don't worry. They respond well to being cut back hard so you won't damage the plant by giving it a good cut back. If anything, this will only cause the Pyracantha to bush out more and give you a denser, thicker hedge - great for keeping out those nosey neighbors!

Will my Pyracantha attract wildlife?

Yes, many garden birds love to eat Pyracantha berries. The dense structure of the shrub also provides a great place for birds to nest.

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