Visit or call us on 01993 850979

Hedge Xpress - Buy Online - Hedges and ShrubsHedge Xpress - Buy Online - Hedges and Shrubs
  • Visit Our Shop
    • Hedging
      • Fast Growing Hedges
      • Root Ball
      • Smaller Hedging
      • Taller Hedging
    • Lavender
      • Lavandula Angustifolia (English)
      • Lavender Chaytoriae
      • Lavender Intermedia (Dutch)
      • Larger Lavender
    • Topiary
      • Decorative Box Hedge
    • Shrubs
      • Flowering Shrubs
    • Garden / Lawn Edging
  • Hedges
    • Shop Hedges
  • Edging
    • Shop Edging
  • Lavender
    • Shop Lavender
    • Larger Lavender
    • Lavender Angustifolia (English)
    • Lavender Chaytoriae
    • Lavender Intermedia (Dutch)
  • Shrubs
    • Shop Shrubs
    • Fast Growing Shrubs
    • Flowering Shrubs
  • Topiary
    • Shop Topiary
    • Box Balls & Cones
    • Yew Box Balls & Cones

Monty Don Talks Hedging 1

Hedge Xpress
Nov 15, 2016 Hedging Plants 0 Comment

The host of Gardeners’ World has a unique place in gardening so let’s listen as Monty Don talks hedging – compare it to Mr Titchmarsh thoughts below.

 “Get ahead, get a hedge: Dividing, lending structure, adding beauty – hedges are the secret to good gardens.”

“The bleaker the weather, the more I appreciate their stark outlines. I think that most gardens underdo hedges, both in quantity and quality.

I think that they are the secret of every good garden. Maintaining them is not much work – certainly much less than a lawn or border – and even a very small garden can usually be improved by subdivision.”

Monty Don talks hedging: “How to plant hedges…

Water or soak each plant well at least an hour before planting.

Dig a trench one spade’s depth and 1m (3ft) wide for any hedge. Remove all weeds and loosen the subsoil, but try not to mix subsoil and topsoil.

Don’t plant too closely together. Allow 30cm (1ft) for Hawthorn and Box, 60cm (2ft) for Hornbeam and 1m (3ft) for Yew. Place each plant slightly proud of the soil using the excavated topsoil, and work it carefully around the roots. Firm in well, water thoroughly, then mulch the full width of the trench generously with compost.

Water thoroughly every week for the first spring and summer.

Stake young plants with canes for the first two years.

Keep the line of the hedge weed-free.”

Monty Don talks hedging: “How to trim hedges…

Winter is an excellent time to cut deciduous hedges as it stimulates fresh, bushy growth.

Other than hawthorn, which should be reduced to half its height immediately after planting, do not trim the top of the hedge for the first three years, and then just reduce the growing tip enough to level the young hedge until it reaches the desired height.

But cut the sides back hard each year, keeping the growing hedge narrow, to encourage bushy lateral growth.

The base of a hedge should be wider than the top. This lets light get to the bottom half, so it maintains its thickness and density right to the ground.

I also have some yew hedges, which are, of course, evergreen and although slower to grow, create a really impressive and substantial green wall. These get trimmed once a year, in August.

…But it really does not matter what plants you use for hedges, as long as they are happy growing in your soil and situation.

What matters is that you create a really strong framework for the garden so that it looks good in midwinter and is better equipped to carry the beautiful floral decoration of spring and summer.”

Monty Don’s many books are available online and in the high street.

View Our Recommended Hedges

Box Ball 55-60cm
Quick ViewSelect options

Box Balls, Variable Sizes

Add to Wishlist
Remove from Wishlist
£45.00 – £92.40 inc. VAT
Box cone 90-100cm
Quick ViewSelect options

Box Cones, Variable Sizes

Add to Wishlist
Remove from Wishlist
£52.32 – £79.98 inc. VAT
Quick ViewSelect options

Common Box, Variable Sizes

Add to Wishlist
Remove from Wishlist
£11.94 – £19.19 inc. VAT
Quick ViewSelect options

Purple Copper Beech Various sizes

Add to Wishlist
Remove from Wishlist
£9.60 – £47.94 inc. VAT
Griselinia Littoralis Variegata 10L 60-90cm
Quick ViewSelect options

Griselinia littoralis ‘Variegata’, Variable Sizes

Add to Wishlist
Remove from Wishlist
£19.74 – £39.54 inc. VAT
Quick ViewAdd to basket

Escallonia Macrantha 45-60cm

Add to Wishlist
Remove from Wishlist
£14.94 inc. VAT
Elaeagnus ebbingei
Quick ViewAdd to basket

Elaeagnus ebbingei

Add to Wishlist
Remove from Wishlist
£16.74 inc. VAT
Quick ViewAdd to basket

Elaeagnus ebbingei Limelight 60-90cm

Add to Wishlist
Remove from Wishlist
£21.00 inc. VAT
Euonymus Fortunei Emerald n Gold 5L 25-35cm
Quick ViewAdd to basket

Euonymus Fortunei Emerald n Gold

Add to Wishlist
Remove from Wishlist
£16.80 inc. VAT
Quick ViewSelect options

Euonymus Fortunei Emerald Gaiety, Various Sizes

Add to Wishlist
Remove from Wishlist
£7.49 – £14.34 inc. VAT
Quick ViewSelect options

Beech, various sizes

Add to Wishlist
Remove from Wishlist
£7.97 – £33.00 inc. VAT
Privet ligustrum ovalifolium
Quick ViewAdd to basket

Privet-Ligustrum ovalifilium 60-90cm

Add to Wishlist
Remove from Wishlist
£19.14 inc. VAT
Beech HedgingHedgesHedgingMonty Don Talks Hedging
Hedge Xpress

Titchmarsh Talks Hedging 2Previous post
Monty Don Talks Hedging 2Next post

Recent Posts

  • Pittosporum tenuifolium flower arangments
  • Why buy a hedge?
  • Bare Root, Rootball vs Container
  • Why Evergreens Are a Great Option for Hedges
  • Winter Hedges: Part 1

Archives

Categories

  • Evergreen Hedging Plants
  • Fragrant foliage
  • Gardens
  • Green management
  • Hedging Plants
  • Latin Horticulture Terminology
  • Native Hedging
  • News
  • Plant Containers
  • Uncategorized
  • Wildlife
  • Winter Weather Hedges
Hedge-Xpress-Logo
  • Buckland Road, Bampton,
    Oxfordshire, OX18 2AA
  • info@hedgexpress.co.uk
  • 01993 850979

SOCIAL CONNECT

facebookinstagrampinterest

OPENING TIMES

  • Monday-Friday 9am until 4pm
  • Closed Bank Holidays
  • The company will not be operating from 23rd December 2021 until 4th January 2022

COMPETITIVE PRICES AND VALUE FOR MONEY

Delivery options are available for orders over £180.00. For more information please click here. For orders under £180.00 a free click and collect service is available. 

Professional gardeners, landscapers and other trade customers are welcome.

TRADE ENQUIRIES

Professional gardeners, landscapers and other trade customers are welcome. Contact us at info@hedgexpress.co.uk or call 01993 850 979.

USEFUL INFORMATION

  • About
  • Landscaping
  • My Account
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Map
©2021 Hedge Xpress. All Rights Reserved. Payment Method
Planting packs now available
Click here to order