Often seen as a large specimen tree, hornbeam can also be easily grown into a stunning hedge. once established it will soon form an integral part of any native hedging scheme. A blaze of autumn colour will extend the season of interest and then, as the leaves fall, the structure of the plant will be revealed, with it's grey, fluted branches weaving a winter web of fine twigs.
Beech is the perfect candidate for hedging and has traditionally been used on many large estates . It can be grown to almost any height as a hedge or privacy screen and will maintain a good density and tidy shape, usually only needing to be clipped once or twice a year. Over winter, Beech tends to hold onto most of its dead leaves, and sheds them in the spring when the new shoots start to appear, helping to keep privacy to a maximum.
Holly has just about every quality you need to make an effective secure boundary. The evergreen leaves will form a permanent dense screen for privacy, the spiky edges to them will also make a good deterrent. Berries in the winter add a touch of colour and give all year interest, and the birds will appreciate a tasty source of food too! Easy to grow and maintain, either formally, or left to grow to give a more natural look.
For an unusually coloured hedgerow, Copper beech is the perfect candidate. It can be grown to almost any height as a hedge or privacy screen and will maintain a good density and tidy shape, usually only needing to be clipped once or twice a year. Over winter, Copper Beech tends to hold onto most of its dead leaves, and sheds them in the spring when the new shoots start to appear.
Growing well in conditions that other plants would struggle in, Sea Buckthorn is a perfect hedging plant for coastal areas as it prefers dry, sandy soils. Its small, silvery leaves cover prickly/thorny stems making it great for security hedging and the yellow flowers which appear in late spring turn into bright orange berries that are packed with vitamin C!
Burnet Roses make a perfect low hedge as a decorative boundary to parts of your garden. ideal for front gardens where often height restrictions are in place but you still want to deter unwanted visitors.
Hawthorn hedging is perfect for security hedging, the dense growth and thorny stems will deter most intruders, including unwanted larger animals and once established it will create a virtually inpenetrable barrier.
Wild Cherry is a great option for creating a hedge that offers seasonal interest. In spring the hedge becomes full of white blossom, then followed by lush green foliage and red cherries in summer.
Yew hedging provides a very effective, evergreen boundary that can also be kept clipped to form topiary shapes and designs too. A dense growth habit means that the narrow, leathery, dark green leaves form an very effective barrier or windbreak and is tolerant to dry soils or adverse growing conditions. Male plants produce yellow cones in spring and female plants produce red, cup shaped, non edible fruits. Height: 12m (39'). Spread: 8m (26'). Planting Distance: 30 - 45 cm (12 - 18). (4 plants per metre for a single line hedge).