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Bare Root, Root Ball or Container Grown Hedging?

Hedge Xpress
Aug 20, 2015 Plant Containers 0 Comment

The debate regarding the relative merits of the three main ways of buying hedging plants – bare root, root ball or container grown – rages on but, earlier this year, we came to a decision to offer only Container Grown Hedging plants and to stop supplying plants as either bare root or root balls.

The decision hasn’t been taken lightly, but customer research and our own tests pointed to an unacceptable failure rate. The problem is that while we ensure healthy plants leave our nursery, neither bare root nor root balls travel particularly well – root balls, for example, have a tendency to lose their soil in transit either by the vibration of the truck or train or simply by knocking against each other. The concern with bare root plants starts from the moment the seedlings are planted out. Because the whole point of bare root plants is their low price, they have to be planted close together – too close, in fact, and the plants quickly become too tall for their bed. They are effectively being forced and while this is fine for rhubarb, it’s not so good for hedging plants. The plants are consequently weakened and when they are pulled from the ground, they are prone to root damage. This, in turn, can prevent the plants from growing from the base once in their new home.

Both bare roots and root balls require immediate attention once they arrive at the client’s home. At the very least, they’ll need a drink and really should be planted the same day they’re received. Any delay at any stage, and the plants are at risk.

Also, we have confirmed our suspicions that because bare root plants in particular are especially cheap, few customers let us know if some of the plants don’t take – this is not how we like to run our business.

Finally, bare root and root balls can only be planted during certain months – November to March and mid-October to mid-April respectively. Container grown plants can be planted throughout the year and, as long as they are kept in an appropriate location and are watered, will happily wait to be planted.

View Our Recommended Hedges

Box Ball 55-60cm
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Box Balls, Variable Sizes

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£45.00 – £92.40 inc. VAT
Box cone 90-100cm
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Box Cones, Variable Sizes

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£52.32 – £79.98 inc. VAT
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Common Box, Variable Sizes

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£11.94 – £19.19 inc. VAT
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Purple Copper Beech Various sizes

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£9.60 – £47.94 inc. VAT
Griselinia Littoralis Variegata 10L 60-90cm
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Griselinia littoralis ‘Variegata’, Variable Sizes

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£19.74 – £39.54 inc. VAT
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Escallonia Macrantha 45-60cm

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£14.94 inc. VAT
Elaeagnus ebbingei
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Elaeagnus ebbingei

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£16.74 inc. VAT
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Elaeagnus ebbingei Limelight 60-90cm

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£21.00 inc. VAT
Euonymus Fortunei Emerald n Gold 5L 25-35cm
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Euonymus Fortunei Emerald n Gold

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£16.80 inc. VAT
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Euonymus Fortunei Emerald Gaiety, Various Sizes

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£7.49 – £14.34 inc. VAT
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Beech, various sizes

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£7.97 – £33.00 inc. VAT
Privet ligustrum ovalifolium
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Privet-Ligustrum ovalifilium 60-90cm

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£19.14 inc. VAT
Bare RootContainer HedgingRoot BallRoot Ball or Container Grown Hedging?
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