Bare Root, Rootball vs Container

When weighing up planting a hedge it is important to consider what format the hedge will come in as this can affect the cost, the time until the hedge is established and the take rate of the plant. 

Bare root hedging

Bare root hedging is typically the cheapest form a hedge can come in. They are typically planted between November and March. If it is dry immediately after planting you will definitely need to water them due to their vulnerability.

These arrive with no soil on them, making them much more susceptible to drying out and they take much longer to establish than root balls or container grown plants. 

They have the lowest take rate and take the longest to establish. This is something to consider when working out the costings. Beech is something to be particularly wary of as if it dries out in transit there it is unlikely to take. It is also particularly slow to take at the best of times taking at least a year to do anything.

We offer native farm hedging which is available in bundles in the winter months. This is great for wild life and is horse and animal friendly.

Rootballs

Rootball stock are plants that have been grown in a field. These have been dug out with the soil around them. These usually have hessian sacks to hold the ball of soil in place. Sometimes wire is used. Wire is better for more temperamental species of plants with a lower take rate such as Yew or Taxus bacatta as it ensures the soil stays on the root so there is less root shock and is therefore, more likely to survive.

The advantages of a rootball is that it is cheaper than a plant which has been grown in a container.

It is more reliable, is less likely to suffer root shock and become established quicker than a bare rooted plant.

The disadvantages are that they can only be planted at certain times of year. From November through to March/early April weather dependant.

Why buy a potted plant?

A potted plant has many advantages. It has an established root system so it is much less likely to suffer from root shock than bare root and root balled plants. This generally means they have a higher take rate and are quicker to establish. This makes a lot of difference if you are planting a hedge such as Beech (Fagus sylvatica), Copper Beech (Fagus sylvatica ‘Purpurea’)  or Yew (Taxus baccata).

The main advantage is you can plant them out throughout the year, this is a huge advantage if you are planting big hedges and need the longer days to plant, maximising your days. Again this is something to consider when doing the costings.