Dip Your Roots

No root should ever go into the ground dry.

If you haven't already, be sure to check the contents of your package & quickly dip the roots of your plants in a bucket of water.

There is a hedge or tree to suit every site or soil, if you are unsure what to select, please get in touch to let us help you choose the right hedge for your location.

You want to dig a small trench that's just big enough for the plants to fit comfortably in.

In this tutorial, we're making a double row hedge with bareroot hornbeam trees. The trench is approximately 1ft / 33cm wide.

As you dig, be sure to remove sod, weeds, & any potential competition for your tree.

The trench should be deep enough so the trees sit at the same depth they grew in the nursery.

As you place the trees upright in the trench, ensure you don't cover the soil mark line visible at the base of the tree.

Depending on the hedge and the desired final height, planting distances can vary. For a dense hedge under 6ft, we recommend planting 5 plants per meter in a double staggered row. Please see the bareroot hedge how to video above at 0:55 for a visual representation of this.

Hedges like Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Beech, Hornbeam and mixed native hedges can be planted at this distance. If you want to let your hedge grow taller, than 3 per meter in a staggered row is sufficient.

Adding compost or manure is optional but gives your hedge an extra boost of nutrients. Be sure to use well-rotted manure that's matured for at least one year. We prefer Gee-up, an organic, rotted manure that's perfect for most hedging.

Cover your roots back in with soil and then firm the trees in with your heel. If you gently pull up on the tree as you firm in with your foot, this allows the roots to splay out & creates better growth.

Whenever possible, we recommend mulching your hedge. This helps with weed suppression as well as water retention. It also adds a little layer of insulation in cold weather.

Once you plant your hedge, we recommend giving it a prune. The slower you bring your hedge up, the more it will thicken up - just be careful not to overprune in the first year.

Once established, most hedges require pruning once a year between September and February. Remember hedge cutting is restricted in Ireland from 1 March to 31 August to protect nesting birds.

Don't forget to water in your hedge. Especially if there's a dry spell, you'll need to continue watering your young hedge the first few years.

As part of the ongoing care for your young hedge, we recommend:

- Weeding regularly

- Watering in dry weather

- Refirming after storms & winds

- Regular pruning